Wearable tech has quickly become an emerging segment of the electronics industry. Wearable devices that transmit data directly from one body part to another provide information for remote consumption.
Fashionable examples include clothing featuring intelligent threads or jewelry equipped with notifications; others, like artificial intelligence hearing aids or Google Glass are highly functional solutions.
Fitness Trackers
Wearable devices were initially dominated by fitness trackers. Over time, however, as their features have been upgraded and technology advanced further, we’re seeing more diverse wearable devices appear; from novelty connected toothbrushes (imagine!) to medically certified devices designed to assist people with serious conditions like continuous glucose monitoring.
This expansion in functionality is made possible thanks to advances in telecommunication technologies, materials science, bioengineering and electronics – advancements which have allowed sensors to become much smaller and be integrated into devices suitable for wearable applications.
Alongside miniaturization, new fabrication techniques have drastically decreased device costs, opening the way to wide-scale integration of these technologies in consumer, business and professional wearables.
Wearable technology’s creation can also help alleviate some of the burden people carry around with them, by tracking key health indicators remotely and helping users manage their own wellbeing more easily – encouraging healthier lifestyle choices and living longer lives.
These developments have given birth to a new wave of wearable devices that offer all the advantages of advanced technology while remaining comfortable and practical for everyday use. To accomplish this goal, designers need to consider how people interact with devices within their environment and lifestyle rather than simply designing products with new functionality.
Emergence of these devices has been driven by an abundance of low-cost and high-quality microprocessors, batteries and internet connectivity – this enabling integration of sophisticated sensing, signal transduction and display systems within wearable form factors.
Successful wearable devices integrate technology seamlessly into their designs to become an integral part of user experiences. This approach is evident when designers combine function with fashion and utility in one garment; Emily’s “Belatenhet” for instance blends Nordic elegance with cutting-edge tech by featuring noise cancelling headphones and an adjustable drop-down visor that allows users to see schematics.
Activity Trackers
An increasing number of individuals rely on tracker devices to keep tabs on their daily activity and health. From steps taken and heart rate readings to sleep patterns and overall body composition data collection, these wearables give users insights into how their daily activity influences their health.
Even though wearable devices have proven immensely popular, some wearable devices may present issues for users. Privacy issues surrounding the collection and potential mishandling or misuse of user data is of particular concern for many. Furthermore, tracker devices may cause discomfort by rubbing against skin or structures on wearers’ bodies.
New wearable technologies aim to address these challenges by adapting with existing habits and behaviors, such as tracking sleep cycles for potential seizures. Wearables such as Empatica’s Embrace monitor someone’s sleeping cycle in order to detect possible seizures and offer peace of mind to loved ones.
First-generation wearables were limited to tracking physical movement; advanced sensors now offer much more sophisticated monitoring and analysis of various biochemical compounds. These sensors, commonly found on skin patches, tattoos and tooth-mounted films as well as microneedles and injectable devices, detect analytes with detectable signals1.
Biochemical sensors use electrochemical transduction technology to convert electrical signals from analyte samples into optical or electrical signals for analysis, but limitations in device materials, poor signal-to-noise ratios and complex integration of sensor elements into wearable devices have restricted their medical application.
Another breakthrough in ambient energy harvesting, which allows devices to operate without actively charging, has been implemented by companies such as Epeas. They have developed solutions that convert body heat, movement, or solar energy into power for wearable devices.
Students all around the world continue to demonstrate innovative design ideas through student projects, both addressing daily needs and more specialized human activity. From Lorenzo’s Pearl Band that helps commuters smoothly tap and dash across London’s public transport system to Zainab’s fidget bracelet designed to reduce anxiety or Anri’s smart brail that displays time in Braille, these projects demonstrate how designers are using technology to enhance people’s lives.
Smart Watches
Wearable technologies might seem like newfangled inventions to consumers, but wearables have actually been around since 1984 with smart watches first appearing and Microsoft UC-2000 being one of the earliest offerings that allowed users to program its keypad using BASIC programming language.
Early devices were relatively basic, focusing on tracking activity and providing data in easily exportable formats. Since then, smart watches have evolved into sophisticated electronic accessories; new versions feature fitness tracking as well as notifications and mobile payments.
Integral biosensors monitor vital signs, stress levels and other health metrics continuously for people to track their well-being and make informed lifestyle decisions.
Some sensors have been modified for wearable use, creating second-generation wearables in various form factors that range from on-skin patches and tattoos to contact lenses and even microneedles and injectable devices. These sensors detect changes in analytes (such as glucose or blood pressure) in body fluids by sampling an analyte before detecting its molecular interaction through biorecognition elements which convert this interaction into sensor output.
Second-generation wearables are used not only for wellness applications, but they’re also being employed to detect disease, track drug delivery and aid physical rehabilitation. Some examples include the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system and Gx Sweat Patch.
Wearable devices provide many useful purposes; however, for consumers to accept them as products it must be easy for them to use and maintain. This requires design that considers factors like usability, form factor, power scavenging capabilities, low power usage, novel connectivity options and flexible materials.
An essential aspect of wearable technology is wireless communications that enable its operation. Traditional Bluetooth, while functionally capable, was too power hungry to be worn every day; but with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), wearable devices could now function for weeks before needing recharge and connecting directly with any phone on the market – or even sending data onto cloud services if required.
Smart Jewelry
Motiv Ring stands out among smart devices designed to look like jewelry with its high-quality construction and impressive feature set, drawing much acclaim due to its unique combination of fashion and tech features. Although not the first attempt at merging jewelry and tech together, discussions about such devices have long been discussed within wearable circles; unfortunately most such devices fail to emphasize style over high tech gadgetry and end up looking more like high tech pieces than actual pieces of actual jewelry.
MIT students, for instance, have created a bracelet that integrates traditional jewelry elements with technology to produce heating or cooling sensations on the wrist that help users regulate their body temperature, as well as providing haptic feedback notifications of calls, text messages, or email.
But these devices can easily be compromised, giving hackers access to your location through GPS and personal details if it isn’t encrypted.
One popular solution for creating wearable devices is using natural materials in their construction. As opposed to plastics and metals, natural materials boast desirable physical properties like breathability and flexibility; plus they can be combined with functional materials for additional capabilities like conductivity or sensors – for instance by doping cotton threads with silver nanowires or coating wool fibers with optically active nanoparticles.
Not only do natural fabrics look appealing, they make for excellent clothing materials without compromising durability or comfort. Furthermore, these types of materials can also be used as base layers for 3D printing to create unique designs.
As with other wearable tech devices, it is critical that devices designed specifically for sports are functionally useful in their environment of use. Achieving this requires developing an in-depth knowledge of users and their needs through prototypes, surveys, trial runs, experiments, observation interviews or conceptualizing workshops; theoretical themes like uncertainty of innovation or user-centric innovation have also been employed as ways of gathering this data.
