What is Wearable Technology?
This video, created by the WearIT! team explores wearable technology, what it does and where innovation is happening.
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As society moves into a 21st century world of technological innovation, information technology is slowly becoming more ingrained into our daily lives. Wearable technology represents the next innovation of technological advancement, as it penetrates into “objects we wear”, and provides unique solutions in all industries. Wearable technology or “Wearables” function as part of the item and function on two levels: 1) They gather data from the wearer or environment around them, and 2) provide data to the wearer.
What are some examples of Wearable Technology?
Wearable Technology can be found everywhere and usually focus on a narrow task with a specific purpose. Some of these include: providing phone or social media messages, monitoring glucose levels in the blood, measuring fitness levels, calories, sleep patterns, steps, and heart rates. The device may function as part of the individual, without interference in daily routines, or it may require a break in order to process the information gathered. In both examples, the user is now operating at a heightened level of self-awareness.
What are some examples of Wearable Technology?
Wearable Technology can be found everywhere and usually focus on a narrow task with a specific purpose. Some of these include: providing phone or social media messages, monitoring glucose levels in the blood, measuring fitness levels, calories, sleep patterns, steps, and heart rates. The device may function as part of the individual, without interference in daily routines, or it may require a break in order to process the information gathered. In both examples, the user is now operating at a heightened level of self-awareness.
Why is it important in Education, Health, and Lifestyle?
Although wearable devices are evident in all industries, the use of wearable devices in the Education industry is still highly experimental. In areas such as Health Care, wearable devices are being used to transmit video operations to remote students in another location, and are also used in monitoring physiological states of patients with conditions such as autism. In the lifestyle area, wearable devices are merging phone functions, internet capabilities, and mapping all in one package. Some eyeglass display wearable models include tracking devices recording user activity and provide others with appropriate messaging such as “User has left the building.”
Wearable devices are important as the representation of our extension with technology in a world highly dependent on information tracking, collection and dissemination. They offer highly advanced solutions in health, education and lifestyle areas that work on a variety of levels. For instance, in the health field, a wearer of a device to track physical wellness is important for quick intervention in emergency situations; this type of device may help save more lives. In the education area, visitors and students may experience a form of augmented reality when visiting a historic site, and receive information overlay on a pair of eyeglasses explaining details, facts, and historic events. In the lifestyle area, users may use the eyeglasses while driving to provide GPS functionality, contact their friends, leave phone and video messages, and record data while fully experiencing a new sense of reality.
Wearable devices are important as the representation of our extension with technology in a world highly dependent on information tracking, collection and dissemination. They offer highly advanced solutions in health, education and lifestyle areas that work on a variety of levels. For instance, in the health field, a wearer of a device to track physical wellness is important for quick intervention in emergency situations; this type of device may help save more lives. In the education area, visitors and students may experience a form of augmented reality when visiting a historic site, and receive information overlay on a pair of eyeglasses explaining details, facts, and historic events. In the lifestyle area, users may use the eyeglasses while driving to provide GPS functionality, contact their friends, leave phone and video messages, and record data while fully experiencing a new sense of reality.
Where is it being developed? Who are some of the innovators?
Wearable technology is developed in innovation centres across the continent. Most of these centres are Universities with a research focus in mind. The Wexner Medical Centre at Ohio State University, students are using Google Glass while collaborating with doctors across the country. At Northeastern University, medical students are using the device to monitor their patients’ physiological states. Georgia Tech University is retrieving data from the web and presenting it on the glass for consultation at other sites. In addition, they are developing user tracking application to detect user location and provide appropriate messages to external contacts.
Engineering groups at other university centres, such as University of Washington and University of Illinois have been investigating complex wearable issues such as battery life, weight, and heat generated while wearing. They have been seeking solutions to increase the lifespan of these devices and make them more comfortable for the wearer.
Engineering groups at other university centres, such as University of Washington and University of Illinois have been investigating complex wearable issues such as battery life, weight, and heat generated while wearing. They have been seeking solutions to increase the lifespan of these devices and make them more comfortable for the wearer.
What are some of the examples of future advancements in wearable technology?
These research institutions are not only developing these wearable devices, but also improving their utility. The University of Washington has created a device powered on transmission reflections from TV and cellular signals. In addition to decreasing battery size, and increasing tenfold its power, wearable devices are taking on new dimensions. Some early examples include new tactile alerts to alert individuals for upcoming appointments, location-based notification, and biometric security features. Wristbands with biometrics may work to unlock laptops, cellular phones, and other electronic devices based on the identifying user unique heartbeat. (This is what the Nymi wristband does, currently on the market).
What are the the implications of Wearable Technology for Education?
Although largely experimental in this area, wearable devices are slowly altering the educational sphere. With funding, knowledge, and safety concerns largely the issue, their use in the educational industry is paramount. Students may find themselves involved in the creation as direct participants, observers, and reporters permitting them to understand the different points of views in an augmented life-blogging virtual reality experience. Data may also be collected with these devices supporting new researching methodology without external human interference; data will be more precise and untainted. The most profound use of wearable technology in education would be experienced with disabled learners, as the devices would enhance learning for visual, auditory, and physically disabled students. The devices would augment reality, assist in understanding, provide detailed information, increase visual or auditory perception, and provide translations for second language learners. This particular area is largely to be explored, and is essentially a marketplace to be cultivated!
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