Tag: wearable technology

Omate X is the company’s first companion watch.

One of the biggest complaints consumers have against smartwatches is that they are not fashion-friendly, but the latest wearable device from Omate, which promises both compatibility with iOS and Android devices, has managed to design a watch that not only syncs with smartphones, but is affordably priced and has aesthetic appeal.

The Omate X offers a simpler user face than the Omate TrueSmart.

The new wearable has fewer functions than the TrueSmart. However, since it has been developed to be a companion device to a smartphone, in a similar way that Android Wear and Pebble are, it is not surprising that it lacks certain elements that a standalone device has.

The Omate X can be paired with an iOS device running iOS 6 or later or Android devices running 4.3 or later, over Bluetooth 4.0 low energy. It can display notifications of incoming messages, calls, social media updates, and other details from the wearer’s phone. Some of its other features include displaying weather information, customizable options (ex. clock, wallpaper, etc.), and it can function as a remote control for music playback on the user’s phone. Omate is also working on adding voice controls.

Omate’s attractive smartwatch comes with chic removable straps.

The straps that come with this wearable technology are genuine leather. Not only can the straps be removed, but wearers can swap the original strap with any strap that is 22 mm in size, providing them with more fashion control.

The watch’s 1.54 inch display is a 240 x 240 pixel TFT LCD curved touchscreen. The battery life of the 400mAh battery lasts up to a week with a single charge. On the side of the watch there are accelerometer buttons for power and to activate and control home functions. It also has a 3-axis motion sensor.

Beginning September 1 until September 30, the Omate X smartwatch will be available for pre-order for $129, which is less than half the cost of the Omate Truesmart ($299). The company intends to start shipping out the product in October and the first 1,000 pre-orders will receive a watch engraved with an Early Bird/Limited Edition serial number.

Adoption of wearable technology is slow going due to consumer security concerns.

A recent study from Acquity Group and Accenture Interactive found that while over 69% of American adults intend to own an in-home IoT (Internet of Things) device by the year 2019, only 13 percent are likely to own one by the end of next year, and the primary reason that adoption rate is so low is Americans are worried about their privacy when it comes to using wearable tech devices.

The study also found that only 9% of consumers would share free data with brands.

The percentage of consumers who would share data for free increased when they were offered a discount or coupon in exchange for their information, however. According to the 2014 State of the Internet of Things Study, of the 80% of consumers who were concerned about privacy, half of them stated they would be willing to share personal info that was collected by IoT devices with third-party retailers if they were compensated in some way for providing this data.

The president of Acquity Group, Jay Dettling said that “Our data reveals a gap in consumers’ fears of data privacy and their actual purchasing behavior.” He added that “To capitalize on these opportunities, companies should focus on specific benefits that sharing data will deliver to consumers.”

In addition to sharing with retailers, the research learned that 53% of consumers are willing to share their personal information with doctors. Furthermore, 27% said they would share with family and 17% would share with friends. Fewer than 40% of consumer said they would not share their personal data with anyone.

Location based coupons are the feature most consumers look for from wearable tech IoT devices.

This is particularly true when it comes to coupons or offers for recipes or for goods that the consumer frequently purchases. Moreover, one third of those who participated in the survey said that to receive extra deals or coupons, they would watch heavily targeted commercials at home.

Dettling commented that it is “important for businesses to understand ways to overcome barriers to adoption and create digital device strategies.” He added that their study reveals just how important a “value-added” user experience is and that Brands that don’t evolve their techniques to match customer expectations will miss out on key revenue opportunities in the future. Companies need to assure consumers that their wearable tech devices and personal data are protected.