Category: Technology News

As runways were stomped by models in cutting edge menswear fashions, wearables were also in the spotlight.

As the first ever Men’s Fashion Week was hosted in Toronto, all eyes were focused not only on the very latest and hottest in menswear, but were also on high tech wearable technology in a range of different forms.

Everything from LED helmets to brain-sensing headbands – and everything in between – was present.

Even a wearable technology tie made its way down the runway in the Canadian city’s fashion shows for men that took place at the Fairmont Royal York hotel. The wearables were spotted in a number of shapes and designs and were used for several different purposes. The primary show for this tech was presented by We Are Wearables, which is an organization that is based within the city. Its goal was to make this type of device more accessible to both consumers and businesses alike.

The purpose of the inclusion of wearable technology in the fashion show was to promote innovation and adoption.

This emerging mobile technology is already starting to change the way that people think about fashion and tech. Now, We Are Wearables is hoping to facilitate the incorporation of one into the other. The participation in Toronto Men’s Fashion Week was only the latest in a number of broad scale efforts being made by the company to bring these mobile devices into everyday life. It has also already been holding the largest recurring werables meetup in Canada. That now occurs on a monthly basis and boasts a community made up of over 1,300 members.

On the runway, the organization was hoping to be able to showcase the breadth of the spectrum of wearable devices, ranging from gadgets to allow the wearer to better understand him or herself, to providing improved visibility as a combination feature between style and safety.

Among the featured wearable technology devices that were seen include the Muse brain sensing headband from IntraXon to MeU LED panel infused clothing. The organization wanted to show that this type of tech is equally a matter of design and function and that fashion remains a vital element to the success of these gadgets.

Post-secondary students will spend more time receiving their education online.

A recent study discovered that students engaged in post-secondary education spend a third of their time conducting school work online and this had nothing to do with the use of e-textbooks (electronic textbooks), the increase in online activity is due to mobile technology, which enables students to always remain connected beyond their desktop or laptop computers they may have in their homes or dorm.

Mobile tech gives students the power to create their own classrooms.

According to Canada research chair on information technology and communication in education at the University of Montreal, Professor Thierry Karsenti, “Mobile technologies are changing the landscape of the classroom, of post-secondary education.” Karsenti added that “Simply put students are capable of creating their own classroom, a classroom they can access almost from anywhere, at anytime.”

Karsenti explained that students underestimate how much time they spend online learning. For these students, using e-textbooks is normal so they don’t consider it as being online. There are times when they do not even realize that they are on the net.

The way in which students learn and how teachers provide course material is changing because of Mobile technology.

The study, which involved interviewing 845 students and educators, was conducted by H+K Perspectives, Hill + Knowlton’s research arm, and yconic. It found that the majority of online tasks in which students engaged involved collaborating with peers (87%) and communicating with professors and teacher’s assistance (86%).

That said, with the freedom to be online everywhere at anytime, this also means that the risk of engaging in distracting online activities, such as monitoring or posting on social media sites or playing games, becomes an issue. Thus, one of the challenges that professors face is to make certain their students will use mobile technology for the purpose of learning. Karsenti noted that “It is probably one of the greatest challenges teachers are facing.”

The professor also said that for students who are interested in using mobile technology for learning, they will want to invest in a device that is powerful, has a good battery life, and will suit their specific needs. It needs to be powerful and flexible so it doesn’t create learning barriers.