In the ever changing and upgrading technology world, nothing is permanent. There was a time when a room was needed to fit a computer, and now the size of computers is measured in inches. The current trend is of compact devices, in the 1990’s it was the laptop, in 2007 Apple came up with iPhone and now the next big thing is wearable technology. So, what is wearable technology after all?

It is probably the first category of device that is named literally what it means, unlike Apple or Pebble. It is a technology you can wear(not carry). The products in wearable technology vary from wrist watches to eyeglasses. In order to fit in as the wearable technology, the device has to be incorporated into clothing, shoes or anything that can be worn by you. Big names like, Apple, Samsung, Nike, Motorola, Google everyone is in the chase for the next big thing and strike the right cord. However, none of the giants can claim that they have nailed it, Not just yet!

Some of the products in the market are:

• Galaxy Gear
• iWatch
• Zeo Personal Sleep manager
• Google Glass
• Nike’s fuel band and iPod sensor
• Pebble watch
• Second Skin
• Bio Beats

The above mentioned are just the starters. Now the questions begin, as does the future of wearable technology is only limited to wrist based devices? Or is it only limited to the fashion industry or can be used as a daily purpose? In the end, what is the future of wearable technology?

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Currently, the wearables are far from taking over from smartphones, but the expected growth of such technology over the past few years is simply astonishing. Here is what the experts have to say about the future of such technology:-

The competition is open

No one can clearly mention or claim that they have mastered the art of wearable technology. Nike, Google, Apple, Samsung, FitBit are some of the famous ones today when it comes to fitness products, but Sony, Motorola pebble offers more features, like clicking photos, notifications and access other apps on the phone.

Samsung claims that they have dominated the wearable technology market, but the claims are not robust. The sales figures of Galaxy gear are unclear and on the other hand Google is working on Google Glass and Apple on iWatch.

So, there is nothing one can say about who is the leader or dominator, but for now the opportunities are equal for all.

Health and fitness devices will rule – at least for now

• Most of the wearable technology is somehow related to health and fitness.
• Nike’s iPod device, or fuel band, the sales of wearable technology are mostly for fitness related products.
• The competitions have to find a way to be more appealing to the consumer and make the task less complicated.
• For now, most of the devices are far from being user friendly.

Expect a rise in competition with new entries

• To make such fitness devices or smart watches isn’t that costly or complicated.
• The companies who make the chip for such devices are opening up to many other new companies who can use the chip and get the ingredients together to make such devices.
• Such companies can make their own brand and build reference designs to deliver such products.
• Platforms like Kickstarter can help many small companies to make big in the market like it helped the Pebble.
• Even many traditional watchmakers can use such technology to add some smartness into their products as well.

More Fashionable

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• Some of the devices for example, Google Glass, looks more like a piece of technology, rather than a piece of wearable accessory. So the future development would be more inclined towards making them look more wearable.
• More fashionable, good design and different from others is the prime focus. “They have to look like something you really want to wear before they get mass adoption,” said Mike Bell, head of Intel’s mobile business. “A problem they have is everything is a square touch screen. I’m pretty sure long term that’s not what people are going to want to wear all the time.”
• Google has already released newer versions of the glass with lenses and regular looking glass frames.
• So as Pebble and Martian who’s watches look more like wrist watches than a piece of technology.

It doesn’t end with glasses and watches.

• Apart from accessories, health care industry is also working on effective wearables that can enhance the over all health care terminology and such mobile monitoring devices will make the job easier for doctors as well.
• Also pet related wearables are introduced, that can monitor the health of the pet and with tracking device the lost pet can also be located.
• Social interaction will surge to a new level and more voice command based. For instance, you will get notification about an important meeting or your loved ones commenting or liking the photos. Also, a ring lit’s up when the loved one taps on the other matching half.
• The clothing industry is also working on such technology. Buttons that can change the color of the fabrics or fabric that measure the exposure to UV in sports gear are just the starters.

Internet of things is just the starters.

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• Home appliances like washing machine, dryer or refrigerators work’s on such wearable technology and so far they have generated positive results.
• At CES(Consumer electronic Show) Samsung introduced on how smart phones let’s the user manage the appliances that are connected to the single device in a single application. Such, are just the starters, and more revolution IOT is predicted.

Smartphones and wearables will part ways

• For now, all wearables in order to operate has to connected to any smart phone device.
• Devices like Gear or iWatch, sends a notification when there is an email and lets you read some lines, but in order to view the whole message, you have to access the smartphones. Such won’t happen in near future.
• The link between the smart phone and wearable devices will break free.
• The beta testing of such devices has already begun and such devices have to do something different that makes them different form smartphone and not depended on any of them. Intel’s Bell said. “These devices have to be standalone and do something great on their own to get mass adoption. Then, if they can do something else once you pair it, that’s fine.”

Finally, The price factor

• The prices will go down. Yes, it is true, due to the release in initial stages and premium prices of the adaptors, the cost of wearable devices is high right now. With new devices to be introduced in the market, the prices are tend to drop.
• The rate and features will but obviously depend on the product, but if the device runs freely without any adaptor, it might cost more than other gadgets who requires smartphones to run on.

To conclude, no matter where the market of the wearable technology ends up, but the wearables will again revolutionize the technology market.

The best is yet to come!!