介绍:
Johnny:
A quick go through of Wearable Technology
In the very recent past, using a computer meant sitting at a desk or toting around your laptop bag. These days, thanks to smartphones and an avalanche of tiny portable computing products, you can crunch bits and bytes anytime, anywhere. And soon, you may not even need to carry your gadgets -- they'll be integrated into your hat, your clothes and your eyeglasses. The age of wearable technology may finally be upon us.
For decades, engineers and dreamers have been conjuring ideas for wearable computers. But microprocessor speeds weren't always up to snuff and power concerns were paramount, because without power to bring them to life, electronics are just dead metal.
Iris:
Now, with better batteries, ever-increasing processor speed, ceaseless Internet connectivity and clever software programming, wearable technology's potential seems not only realistic but unlimited.
Consider the possibilities. Your yoga outfit can monitor your form and provide instant feedback. Watches and jewelry can monitor you for a whole range of health conditions, from cardiovascular disease to bipolar disorder, and communicate alerts to you and your physician. Sensor- and camera-laden firefighting jackets track the vital signs and locations of squad members to keep them safe and to maximize tactical effectiveness.
Aubery:
The Quantified Self
The end goal of wearable technology is to make tasks easier, more efficient, more effective or simply more fun. All of these devices are part of the so-called quantified-self movement, which is about blending each aspect of your life with technology that continuously gathers and crunches data.
Whether you're consciously seeking to collect data regarding every moment of your life or you just want to track the metrics of your morning jog, wearable technology is sprawling into all sorts of products. Ultimately, they're all part of the Internet of things, an all-encompassing phrase that describes interconnected digital gadgets that log, report and control data from your body and across the planet.
Johnny:
Right now, smartphones are a linchpin in this system. Smartphones paired with the right app or hardware become a hub for hundreds of activities and purposes. Because they can send data to and from the Internet, they provide a way to integrate connectivity options into all sorts of wearable goods.
Google Glass is a prime example of the current evolution of wearable technology. Glass is a computer in the form of a pair of eyeglasses and includes an optical head-mounted display. In short, Glass does a lot of the things that your smartphone can do. For instance, you can use a voice command to display a map and then use your finger to swipe through driving directions. The Glass does have WiFi capability, but when you're out of range, you can switch to Bluetooth, which connects to the Internet via your smartphone.
Iris:
It has GPS, a camera, a microphone and 16GB of internal flash memory (12 user accessible). You can conduct video calls, send pictures and video clips, check your e-mail, post to Facebook and Twitter and a whole lot more.
Glass, though, is just one well-publicized incarnation of wearable technology -- and it's still in testing.
Body Trackers Galore
The term wearable technology implies that these devices rest on your body. So it's only natural that many of them focus on the wearer's health and fitness.
Sports watches are among the most established wearable tech. Often, these wristwatches come with integrated GPS to log the distance and time of your workout, and many versions will keep tabs on your heart rate, cadence and calories burned. Nowadays, the tech wizardry is getting more magical. With the correct sensor and power source, a wearable item can track just about any metric you want.
Aubery:
Imagine a bra that could monitor heat patterns and breast shape, serving as a watchdog against cancerous tumor development. Or sensor-laden socks that track form, weight distribution and other data during workouts. And underwear with built-in electrodes could stimulate the muscles of bed-bound patients, helping to reduce excruciating bed sores.
Soon, sensors may measure blood glucose levels, helping diabetics monitor their condition and preventing life-threatening situations. Digitized wristbands could warn food service or medical technicians when they haven't sufficiently washed their hands, which could prevent the spread of myriad diseases and improve public health.
Johnny:
Some products are already a reality, including Cityzen Smart Sensing fabric. "Smart" because it combines tiny sensors into a comfortable garment, which can be anything from mittens to pants, depending on the application. Connect the garment to a compact, battery-powered transmitter, turn on your smartphone's Bluetooth connection, and suddenly you have a customized body monitoring system.
The fabric communicates with an app on your phone to keep tabs on heart rate, respiration and metrics. Ultimately, the system notes how tired or stressed you are, and could even alert you to the onset of a medical problem. In spite of its high-tech nature, you can wash and iron the Smart Sensing fabric normally. Cityzen is even researching a way to recharge the battery by harnessing the rotating motion of your washing machine.
Iris:
Fashion Meets Form
One of the primary challenges of wearable technology lies in making it less visible and less, well, dorky. For starters, let's talk looks.
Whether you're a fashionista, hipster or Wall Street huckster, fashion matters. Your choice of clothing provides social cues to others about who you are as a person. And in a world where no one -- no one -- is cool enough to pull off a Bluetooth cellphone headset, manufacturers know that their products must have a certain amount of sex appeal, otherwise they'll draw ceaseless chortles and rolled eyes.
Aubery:
The Move tank top is a prime example of wearable tech being both functional and fashionable. This stretchy garment looks like a hip yoga outfit, but it's interlaced with sensors and actuators to help you improve your workout form. Bend too far for a specific yoga move, and the Move gently buzzes the offending area of your body. The end result is better form and reduced chance of injury, all combined into an outfit that draws eyes in a good way.
Function is another matter entirely. Intertwining electronics with fabrics brings to mind that horrible shirt tag itch, times 10. The skin recoils at the thought of sensors scratching away, all day long. But engineers are surmounting comfort and user-friendliness issues.
Researchers at the Polytechnic School in Montreal have built touch-sensitive controls right into clothing. They coated copper wires with polymer in a size small enough (less than a millimeter in diameter) to be woven into textiles that, notably, are made with legacy manufacturing processes.
Johnny:
The end result could be a shirt that changes the volume of your headphones. Or a car seat that you swipe to change the seat position, or perhaps turn the heater up or down. These fabrics wash just like any other type of material, an important trait when battling the dirt and stains of everyday life.
Of course, electronics without a power source are rather pointless. The same researchers have also found a way to make a soft, flexible lithium-ion battery that looks a lot like artificial leather. This material, too, can be woven into clothes to power a range of gadgets, providing hundreds of volts throughout the day.
