Why Wearable Technology Will Be The ‘New Black’

Hipsters love all kinds of retro looking glasses as much as they love their smart phones, yet when Google unveiled their 'Google Glasses' in 2014, the product proved to be an utter failure. While Google Glass was described at the time as 'impressive and convenient', consumers just didn't take to it even with Google trying desperately to booster the Google Glasses PR.

Professor of Engineering at UC Berkeley and head of the school's Art, Technology and Culture lecture series Ken Goldberg, said of Google Glass when the product was initially revealed,

It makes people very uncomfortable, while people are ok with cell phones and cameras, when you place that device on the eyes, you've changed the equation."

Now relegated to the back of the closet of tech heads (or 'Glassholes' as they became colloquially known as) who jump on 'latest trends', the dislike of the product meant that as of January 2015, the sales were completely suspended.

The dream for wearable glasses technology is not completely lost.

I think it's pretty easy to imagine that in the future we will have something that we can wear,"

- stated Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg during a question-and-answer session in Colombia.

It will look just like normal glasses - it won't look weird like some of the stuff that exists today."

Google isn't the only company to take on wearable glass technology. Toshiba introduced the 'Toshiba Glass' late in 2014 to lacklustre fanfare, and this week Sony has unveiled their 'SmartEyeglass' much to the dismay of commentators that couldn't understand why Sony didn't learn from Google's failure.

Wearable technology or wearables are a part of the Internet of Things (IoT), and generally refers to computing devices that can be worn on or around our bodies. While the idea behind wearables is extremely exciting there still seems to be a bit of a disconnect between technical start-ups and end wearers.

The fact is, wearables that have been developed in recent years seem to have missed the mark in the looks department. These wearables might be able to do great things with connectivity comparable to that of smartphones, yet the final product ends up looking 'ugly', which in turn is putting off consumers.

Majority of technology commentators (both men and women) end up describing these as 'unstylish, unfashionable and geeky'. Looks over functionality seems to be an underlying struggle of the wearable technology industry to date.

It is evident that tech companies have yet to get the formula right for eyewear, however wrist wear seems to be where the money is right now. As Apple fans wait with baited breath, Apple CEO Tim Cook and design Vice President Jony Ive discussed the eyewear shortcomings in an article about Ive in The New Yorker.

According to Ive, then unaware of Google’s plans, “the obvious and right place” for such a thing was the wrist. When he later saw Google Glass, Ive said, it was evident to him that the face “was the wrong place.” Cook said, “We always thought that glasses were not a smart move, from a point of view that people would not really want to wear them. They were intrusive, instead of pushing technology to the background, as we’ve always believed.” He went on, “We always thought it would flop, and, you know, so far it has.” He looked at the Apple Watch on his wrist. “This isn’t obnoxious. This isn’t building a barrier between you and me.”

Before it has even been released, the 'Apple Watch' has become one of the most hotly anticipated wearable devices to enter the market. The swift rise in wrist wearable technology is also evident in the number of wearable fitness trackers, and jewellery pieces that have currently been developed and marketed towards women.

From the computer to couture, a wide range of fashion designers and jewellery makers have begun to design wearable technology pieces. These include Austrian jewellery house Swarovski who have teamed up with tech company Misfit Wearables to design a collection of accessories for women paired with two new fitness and sleep trackers; Kovert Designs who have designed a collection of bracelets, necklaces, and rings that connect to your phone; and fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff who has designed a notification bracelet which also works as a phone charger. In fact, during the Milan spring/summer 2015 Fashion Week, wearables such as a handbag that can display tweets, connected rings and flashing dresses, made their catwalk debut.

Intel have also made their first foray into wearable tech fashion, recruiting fashion designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim to develop a chic bracelet titled MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory). A stunning and aesthetically pleasing piece of wearable technology jewellery, Intel VP Ayese Ildeniz admitted that the tech giant enlisted the designers (along with retail giants Barneys and Opening Ceremony), because -

We're so focused on function and what it does, and we almost never worry about how it looks."

Ildeniz said of wearable technology -

I can think of about 50 different uses for wearables that would be fantastic for women, but we haven’t done it yet as an industry. My humble view is that we women have been ignored. It’s my sense that now everybody’s pretty much waking up to that, which is very, very exciting.”

Ildeniz goes on to describe a world where wearable devices can provide services such as helping to keep elderly people in touch with doctors and family, tracking what family members are watching on TV or eating, and helping parents ensure children arrive safely at school.

With the creation of 'The Intel? Curie? module' which was developed specifically for producers of wearable technology, who knows what the future has in store for wearable technology. Hopefully (fashion) designers and engineers can continue to work on wearable technology, creating pieces that are fashionable, IoT functional and beautiful.

Not sure if you are ready for the Apple Watch or a solar panel dress? Learn more about IoT in this article The Future Is Now With The Internet Of Things (IoT).

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