What’s Happened in Two Years?
Back in 2014 we wrote a post about Wearable Technology, and where we saw the future going. Making predictions is tricky. Let’s have a look at what we said two years ago. While we’re at it, let’s make a new set of predictions… so we can laugth at those in 2018!
Wearable Technology: Looking Back & Forward
What did we think was the Next Big Thing back in 2014:
- Google Glass. The Google website for their Glass offering says it isn’t the end. At least for now it seems like it might as well be. Like many technologies in their first iteration, it seems that Google Glass wasn’t quite ready to take the mass market by storm. The first hurdle was the hefty price tag. Then you submitted an application for a wait list. Two years later the idea is still in the works and the competition is catching up. Microsoft recently patented a similar idea that presumably they hope to bring to market sometime soon. We’d give ourselves a 5/10 for this one.
- Narrative. The idea behind Narrative is simple. It’s a camera that goes everywhere with you. It automatically records. No more “I forgot the camera” or “could you do that again” moments. While Narrative itself hasn’t exploded the concept behind the narrative (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun), the technology still has promise especially with dash cams. The idea idea of recording your daily commute originally started out in Russia as a way to help combat crazy driving and corruption. Now their use is becoming more widespread, particularly for motorcyclists and cyclists. I think we get a 6/10 on this one.
- Smart Watches. Similar to Google Glass, the biggest adoption barrier has been the price. According to Business Insider, 34% cite the price tag as too much. 31% of respondents said it wasn’t useful and 16% say they are too ugly. Ouch. On the upside, 12% are waiting for a better version. The smartwatch with the greatest name recognition and market share is Apple. While the Apple Watch hasn’t dominated the scene like the iPhone, iPad or iPod when they were released. Various competitors — like Samsung and Garmin — are trying to drive the wearables market forward. As the price is driven down, we’ll probably see more adoption. Companies like Pebble offer a more affordable alternative starting at $99. Our score: 6/10 for this prediction.
- Fitness Trackers. We called it! Okay, maybe the easiest prediction of the bunch, but fitness trackers are big business. With a much more accessible price point than smart watches, fitness trackers have definitely caught on and not just within the fitness community. FitBit and Jawbone are the market leaders at the moment. The trend has proved that customers are interested (perhaps obsessed?) in gathering data about their daily habits as a way to improve their health. Here we get a solid 9/10.
- Virtual Reality. Why didn’t we mention VR? I have no idea. It appears that VR is going to shape the future of computing. Companies like Oculus first pushed the envelope with Rift. With possible applications like those demoed by Microsoft on their Hololens site, they are already taking orders. All you need is $3,000 and you too can help build the future of holographic computing. StarTrek here we come! Our score: 0/10 for not seeing this on the futuristic radar.
What did you think was going to dominate the future of wearable technology? Are you still holding out for mini disc’s to come back?
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Photo credit – Top: Ted Eytan
Photo credit – Bottom: Karlis Dambrans
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