Wearable technology: that’s when we (literally) wear technology. Information and Technology goes beyond our personal computer: think about smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and connected objects. And if designers and inventors did not limit their imagination, maybe unthinkable wearable tech objects would exist.
Looking at what happens today in the technology world means to have a look directly into the future, because marketed products are a miminal fraction of experimentations in research and development laboratories.
Carlo Mazzucchelli, in his e-book “The Devil wars Tecno – wearable technology and near future technological revolution”, wrote about these topics. His book was described as “a journey through various already existing wearable technology products and those about to arrive in the future, such as eyewear, smartwatches, smart bracelets, wellness tools, dresses, tech jewelry, futuristic and revolutionary products with sensors and RFID“.
It’s hard to imagine, today, but technology is about to transform the reality in which we live, and the environments in which human beings are used to live in. A confirmation comes from an IDTechEx study, which states that within 2026 the wearable technology market will have a 150$b value. The products categories where investments will be gratest will be:
- Smartwatches
- Fitness trackers
- Smart eyewear
- Smart clothing
- Medical devices
Looking only at wearable technology (meaning: tech and smart clothing), which are the most innovative and curious examples that we found on the web?
The Butterfly Dress by Intel, with the proximity sensor
Are you ready to experience amazing? Intel showed what innovative technology can create with the Experience Amazing campaign. Among these examples, which you can watch in this video, there is the Butterfly Dress: an intelligent dress, designed by Ezra e Tuba Cetin, realized in luxury jacquard with metallic Lurex fibers and decorated with forty butterflies. The dress has also a proximity sensor, which works through an Intel chip, and allows butterflies to react to external stimulations, for example noticing a person approaching. A dress that reacts to the environment and, uniting aesthetics and technology, provides a spectacular effect, which you can admire in the following video:
The t-shirt that calibrates with your mood
With a little help from neuroscience, in order to perfectly understand their customers’ mood, Uniqlo created t-shirts that promise to be perfect. UMood will allow you not to fear the choice of a particular design for your t-shirt: a brainwave sensing technology changes the design of t-shirt that you’re trying based on your mood. The research started with surveys to map more than 600 different styles. The project was launched at the end of 2015 in four australian flagship stores, but maybe in the future UMood may become the standard for Uniqlo itself and for other producers!
The shoes that will give you direction
Easyjet developed Sneakair, the first smart shoes prototype. Imagine you are a tourist in a city you don’t know well: you probably will use Google Maps to have directions. What if you don’t have to constantly hold the smartphone in your hand, because there are smart shoes that vibrate left or right when you have to turn left or right? That’s the purpose of Easyjet Sneakair. But it was a prototype: Easyjet does not aim to launch this product in the market, but insoles provided to you at the end of the air trip, which you will be able to use in every pair of shoes via Bluetooth with your smartphone.
Technology aims to improve our day-to-day life experience, remembering us that every tech object needs to be human-centered designed. People are the very heart of this experience, with their needs and desires. And soon these desires, thanks to wearable technology, will be wearable desires.
Any other examples in your mind? Share it in the comments!
Credits cover image: Raconteur