Wearable technology is all the rage, and it’s only the beginning of an array of connected devices that will invade our homes, cars and even our bodies.
Imagine a small adhesive strip that can collect intimate biological data and tell your smartphone that you need to apply sunscreen or hydrate.
How about a sensor for service dogs that enables them to transmit “verbal” commands to their handlers?
Around the world, researchers are working behind the scenes and around the clock on jaw-dropping applications for wearable technology, driving innovation into areas that were considered science fiction just a few years ago.
We no longer just use technology. The fact that tech is now all around us, on us, and even in us has given birth to a new buzz phrase, the internet of things. The very diversity of internet of things applications is staggering, ranging from smart consumer products to devices that monitor health and behavior—human or animal.
The first entries in the wearable tech space were watches and corrective lenses. Evolution brought health and fitness monitors to the scene. After that came smart watches and activity trackers.
Samsung recently unveiled its new Android-powered Galaxy Gear smart watch, a touch-screen timepiece that acts as an extension of your smartphone to stream music, track exercise and fitness goals, install apps and make phone calls.
With just one small wristband, Jawbone UP tracks sleeping, movement and eating patterns—real-time vital information for a holistic approach to optimal health.
The driving force behind the development and adoption of IoT is the wireless connectivity that frees technology to be anywhere and do anything. Sensor-embedded devices can transmit our personal data to the cloud for analysis and safekeeping, but they can also connect to processors like smartphones and tablets that can negotiate data from multiple wearable devices.
Wearable technology has the potential to enhance our surroundings, improve our health and change the way we interact with each other. The only two ingredients anyone needs to make the future a reality is imagination and a strong foundation of standards-based connectivity technology. So exactly where is wearable tech heading? The answer is the internet of everything!
by Shane Turner via NursingFacultyJobs.com
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