Wearable Devices free essay sample

Introduction Wearable technology, wearable devices, tech togs, or fashion electronics are clothing and accessories incorporating computer and advanced electronic technologies. History Wearable technology is related to both the field of ubiquitous computing and the history and development of wearable computers. With ubiquitous computing, wearable technology share the vision of interweaving technology into the everyday life, of making technology pervasive and interaction frictionless. Through the history and development of wearable computing, this vision has been both contrasted and affirmed. Affirmed through the multiple projects directed at either enhancing or extending functionality of clothing, and as contrast, most notably through Steve Manns concept of sousveillance. The history of wearable technology is influenced by both of these responses to the vision of ubiquitous computing. Feature 1. Introduction SixthSense is a gestural interface device comprising a neckworn pendant that contains both a data projector and camera. Headworn versions were also built at MIT Media Lab in 1997 that combined cameras and illumination systems for interactive photographic art, and also included gesture recognition (e. g. finger-tracking using colored tape on the fingers). SixthSense is a name for extra information supplied by a wearable computer, such as the device called WuW (Wear yoUr World) by Pranav Mistry et al., building on the concept of the Telepointer, a neckworn projector and camera combination first proposed and reduced to practice by MIT Media Lab student Steve Mann. 2. Construction and workings The SixthSense technology contains a pocket projector, a mirror and a camera contained in a head-mounted, handheld or pendant-like, wearable device. Both the projector and the camera are connected to a mobile computing device in the user’s pocket. The projector projects visual information enabling surfaces, walls and physical objects around us to be used as interfaces; while the camera recognizes and tracks users hand gestures and physical objects using computer-vision based techniques. The software program processes the video stream data captured by the camera and tracks the locations of the colored markers (visual tracking fiducials) at the tips of the user’s fingers. The movements and arrangements of these fiducials are interpreted into gestures that act as interaction instructions  for the projected application interfaces. SixthSense supports multi-touch and multi-user interaction. Iwatch 3. Introduction It’s a new type of wearable computing devices which is still under development by Apple and Intel .Some analysts expect that it might help Apple to open up the market of wearable devices . Although there have been many kinds of smart watches ï ¼Å'a disruptive product hasn’t come up yet .So people are expecting that Iwatch could be the disruptive product which can set up a concept of smart watch. And it might be released in 2014. 4. Five functions speculation Personalized physical feedback Connect with other Apple devices Support iTunes Exclusive Nike support Notification Center Google Glasses 5. Introduction Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, that can communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands. It is a typical wearable device which has attracted the world’s attention. 6. Functions Bluetooth, wi-fi, speakers, cameras, microphones, touch panel, music player Voice activation Photo without hands Connect to the Internet at any time Navigation Real-time information collection Application Disadvantages Lack of major function which can show the potential of this technology High price Intelligent Bracelet It is called the UP24.An intelligent bracelet, packed with microchips and a smartphone application will be on the market soon. This will help you track and analyse your movements, food intake and sleep patterns. the UP24 fitness-tracking band improves on many features of its predecessor. But the larger promise of the device is what it signals for the future of wearable computing: seamless syncing and interactions, passive real-time updates, and a burgeoning ecosystem of connected devices. Except for a subtle texture change, the $149 UP24 is similar to the original UPs form factor. Like before, the band stretches around and clenches to your wrist, measuring everything from the steps youve taken to the calories youve burned to the hours youve slept. The major difference is that UP24 has Bluetooth, enabling users to track fitness metrics wirelessly in real time, without the hassle of plugging the device into your smartphone to sync your data. The talking shoe Google unveiled the latest in wearable technology: an interactive running shoe designed to motivate its owner. It reportedly makes encouraging comments such as I love the feeling of wind in my laces and You have made me a very proud shoe. What would it be like to put one on? One of the shoes is capable of talking to you. It has certain electronic components inside such as a speaker, accelerometer, pressure sensor, computer and gyroscope that connect the shoe to your cellular device and through this link it speaks to you with words of encouragement that push you to strive for more movement and physical activity. For some people this shoe might be a ‘pain in the ass’ but for those who need entertainment to push them towards physical activity, the talking shoe is definitely worth trying out. It will make sure that you become enthusiastic to leave your state of inactivity and get started with physically enduring exercises Glove Phone Glove Oneis a wearable mobile communication device. It presents a futile and fragile technology with which to augment ourselves. A cell phone which, in order to use, one must sacrifice their hand. It is both the literalization of Sherry Turkle’s notion of technology as a â€Å"phantom limb†, in how we augment ourselves through an ambivalent reliance on it, as well as a celebration of the freedom we seek in our devices. Emotional investment becomes physical, as the functionality of the device depends on the dysfunctionality of the wearer. While we enjoy the fantasies they offer, we rethink the technologies we construct and reflect on how they construct us.Glove One is not an exercise in innovation, but rather this project asks the question What are we willing to sacrifice in order to participate in technology and social media? Conclusion Theres still a great deal of skepticism out there about how big the market potential is for wearables — gadgets like smartwatches, connected fitness bands, and smart eyewear. At BI Intelligence, Business Insiders paid research service, we believe this represents a failure in imagination. The important thing about wearables isnt so much about how strange they look or seem now, but the many problems they will help consumers solve. Those betting big on wearable computing also believe an assorted new crop of gadgets — mostly worn on the wrist or as eyewear — will transform the way in which we interact with the rest of our devices. A wristwatch or Google Glass means you can read instant messages, take photos, or Google something without reaching for your smartphone. But wearables wont just complement smartphones. Wearables will help us track our time, our fitness regimes, our health, and our daily routines. Wearables are about taking the ubiquity of the Internet one step further. An Internet connection on a fitness band or on a wristwatch may seem a strange frill now. But over time it will seem like a no-brainer feature. A multi-time zone travel watch is a much simpler proposition with an Internet connection. So is a wristband that tracks your heartbeat and loads your beats-per-minute to the cloud, where an app might help you store and analyze real-time health data. In another word, Wearable Devices are still in the development.