Trends in Tech: Smart Wearables

Wearable technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. In 2018, it had an estimated value of 11.3 billion USD and is projected to grow to 33 billion USD by 2025. Why? In simpler terms, wearables are created to make life easier for us.

What are wearables?

Wearables are clothing or accessories that users wear on their bodies. The primary function of these devices is to record data. This is done by monitoring the data using sensors and then transmitting it in real-time to relevant applications. These devices have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular data capabilities.

Problems faced when creating wearables

Device size

As these devices are small and portable, it is arduous to have an attractive user interface on the device. Additionally, battery life could be an issue when creating a wearable. Therefore, developers must choose between reducing the battery life or creating a more expensive product with a smaller but more powerful battery.

Limited functions

Due to the size of these devices, the hardware often limits the performance of specific applications. To overcome this, devices are connected to a mobile device to offset some of the computational power required to function effectively.?

No cross-platform compatibility

Most apps are cross-compatible between various platforms and devices. However, wearable apps run on specific application programming interfaces (API) which prevents them from reaching out to more users. As a result, wearable apps are often tied to one platform.?

Security issues

Wearables experience security issues when transferring data to the cloud or to related applications. For example, smartwatches can leak the user's location and visited places. Thus app developers must focus on creating high-quality security to ensure that users' private details are secure.

What industries most use wearables

Health Care

The real-time collection of data from sensors in wearables has a lot of utility in healthcare. Notably, patient data can be collected to make more accurate judgments when treating patients. They accomplish this by collecting data from the some of the wearable devices listed below:

1. Fitness trackers: Wearables such as Fitbit are equipped with sensors to track the user’s activity and biometrics including heart rate and blood pressure. These statistics can then be analysed to provide the end-user with insights and fitness recommendations that are communicated via the corresponding mobile app. Interestingly, wearables that track fitness are not limited to watches. For example, companies such as Oura have developed smart rings that track fitness and sleep patterns.?

Figure one: Fitbit by Andres Urena

1. ECG monitors: These wearables have the ability to measure electrocardiograms. Notably, this information can be relayed to authorized healthcare experts to ensure that emergencies are promptly addressed.?
2. Blood Pressure monitors: This type of wearable helps measure ongoing blood pressure. This information can then be shared with the user’s doctor for analysis. (Link apple watch saves woman's life)

Fintech

In today’s world, contactless payments have been a helpful tool to prevent the spread of infectious respiratory diseases. These wearable devices have made paying for goods more convenient than ever, from wearable rings to apple watches.?

Manufacturing

Safety in manufacturing has improved since the introduction of wearables. For example, some workplaces have implemented wearables to the track and relay the location and heart rate of workers. This information can be relayed to supervisors to improve the response time to work-related incidents. In addition, the use of augmented reality has made the manufacturing process more efficient. For example, augmented reality has been used to help workers automatically measure the dimensions of materials for manufacturing. Due to this implementation, companies are able to save resources on staff training and allocation.

Fashion

More recently, the sports industry has made some progress in creating suits that can track movement dynamics during sports. This data can be collected and then reviewed to improve the performance of athletes. Interestingly, wearable clothing has also been experimented with for quite some time. For example, ‘smart jackets’ that have thermoregulation controlled through a centralised app on your smartphone.?

Final thoughts

It is clear that wearables are making a substantial impact in various industries. From their utility in healthcare to daily consumption, wearable technology is changing the way we live our lives. Importantly, wearable technology is not just about the hardware. The software used to program these devices cannot be forgotten. Notably, it is essential that the software is appropriately programmed on these devices to seamlessly communicate with the hardware. As such, selecting the right partners to develop such software is critical for the success of a wearable. Here at Rofi Labs, our engineers are equipped with the technical capacity to optimise the link between software and hardware. In order to take full advantage of wearables, partner with us here at Rofi Labs to ensure that your products can be best utilised.?

Author

Thakshila Jayasundara, Copywriter @RofiLabs