The identification and monitoring of problems through wearable technology has been suggested as what will ultimately decide wearable technologies success and rapid expansion.

In an article that was recently brought to my attention, Wired outlined a particularly innovative technology of what essentially is intelligent use of simply accelerometers, GPS, a Bluetooth connection and display screen (all of which you already have in your smartphones). A Canadian swimmer identified a problem, he didn’t know his lap times in the pool, he wanted to know how long each split was taking him so he could pace himself and perform better than ever before. After years at engineering school after his swimming career had finished he proposed a unique business opportunity, goggles for swimmers displaying performance data, the only problem… lack of demand in swimming.  To address this lack of uptake he looked into other markets.  Skiers and snowboarders are a lot more open to innovative design and opening up their wallets! Dan Eisenhardt and his team implemented the same proposed technology for swimming into winter sport goggles, the unique technology connects via Bluetooth connection and chunky buttons on a remote easily clipped to a winter jacket that provides easy adaptation of information visible through the goggles with data displaying if you glance in a certain direction. GPS display or whereabouts on the mountainside aiding direction around resorts, music choice, call answering and text messages through connection to a smart phone are just some of the capabilities of the Recon Snow which has now sold over 50,000 units!

I recently wrote an article on the expansion of current technologies and how before advancing yet further it may be more beneficial to optimise what we currently have, the Recon Snow hasn’t implemented any technology that isn’t readily available through an app on your common smart phone, they identified a problem, visual representation of this data.

The explosion of the Recon Snow is just one example of the stage at which the wearable technology market is currently positioned, it’s a rocket ready for launch. The development of glass, wrist band, watch, strap and all kinds of technology is beginning to answer more common real world problems. All that’s required now is the aesthetic design rocket fuel to fire the technology onto every individual on the high street. A problem that was identified by apple in the development of their smartphone, the iPhone… and we all know what happened with that particular product!

So what can you expect? Rapid development and implementation of current technologies solving your problems. As competition inevitably increases you can expect prices to come down and use to be wide spread. So sit back and enjoy the whirlwind that is the development of wearable technology, I’ll try to keep you up to date!

Jack Barton (Researcher, Rescon Ltd)

Links

http://www.reconinstruments.com/products/snow2/

http://www.wired.com/2013/12/wearable-computers/

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www.reconinstruments.com