4 pieces of wearable tech to look out for
One of the perks of advancing technology is the comfort it adds to our lives. Wearable technology is a huge example of this. Wearing a wristwatch to answer phone calls or a pair of glasses to track how many kilometres you ran this morning may still sound strangely absurd. But such wearable tech is beginning to take ground.
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Forerunners in the tech world like Google, Samsung, and Motorola are introducing an array of innovative products. “411 million smart wearable devices, worth a staggering $34 billion, will be sold in 2020,” predicts Forbes. Nevertheless, wearable tech is progressing at a significant pace and has made some interesting contributions to the tech sector. Here’s a list of some wearable gadgets that were launched this year and some that you can look out for in the next.
Snapchat’s Spectacles
Price: Between $300 and $950
The image messaging app came out with Spectacles, a pair of funky sunglasses that can record ten-second clips that can then be transferred to your smartphone through Bluetooth. The 115-degree wide angle camera records circular videos much like how we normally view the world around us. After releasing their product with their Snapbot vending machines and on eBay on 10 November, the spectacles received a good public reception. The glasses are charged by the case they come in, with four full charges stored within it. Snapchat’s CEO, Evan Spiegel, explained that this is an attempt to put out feelers to explore their options with wearable tech. “It’s about us figuring out if it fits into people’s lives and seeing how they like it,” he told The Wall Street Journal.
Apple Watch Series 2
Price: Starts at $369
After Apple’s first attempt at the Apple Watch in 2015, the Apple Watch Series 2 that was released in September this year is a better equipped piece of hardware. It comes with an improved long-lasting battery and a built-in GPS, and is waterproof for up to 50 metres. Available in two sizes in a range of colours, it comes with an option of changing straps to suit your fancy.
Microsoft HoloLens
Price: $3000
Microsoft’s HoloLens is an impressive piece of tech that was released in October this year. This pair of mixed reality head-mounted display smartglasses based on the Windows Holographic operating system is progressing well in the gaming industry. It seems to be a formidable alternative to the Oculus Rift. This “poster child of augmented reality”, as TechCrunch described it, offers a favourable inclination towards augmented reality as compared to virtual reality, thus guaranteeing an excellent experience. Despite such awesome abilities, the HoloLens cannot be used the same way as Google Glass. Rather, its usage is more specific to controlled settings
The Levi's Commuter X Jacquard by Google
Pioneering a mix of clothing and tech, the Levi’s Commuter X Jacquard by Google is a piece of cutting-edge technology is aimed at commuting cyclists. It allows you to stay connected without the inconvenience of pulling out your phone for anything. With this addition, you can navigate your way around, play music, and answer phone calls by making gestures over the sleeves. The jacket is expected to hit the stores in 2017.
So which one of these has got you excited?
