Rise and Fall of Wearable Technology
Read any tech magazine, look at any gadget website and you will see that the NEXT BIG THING is wearable technology. Current generations have been raised on movies like Tron, Star Wars, Star Trek, even Bladerunner, and we all want that suit that can change colour at the touch of a button, or the awesome coat with a inner lining of lights. But the sad thing...we're still not there.
If you do check out any decent tech/product websites or magazine and read an article on wearable technology it will inevitably come down tp a smart watch that Apple or Samsung has launched. This is exactly where the whole industry has gone wrong. Wearable technology in 2015 now means a watch, and I'm not debating that a watch isn't wearable because of course it is, but it is mine and a large other peoples belief that werable technology is to do with fabric and integrated circuits and components. What has happened? Big companies ie. Apple have decided that a perfect accesory for their phone range would be something that can notify you when you've got a text or when that girl you knew once from college has like your picture rather than really pushing the boundaries of modern technology to make something groundbreaking.
I admire Google for attempting the Google Glass. Though it was not a complete success they have shown ambition to see how wearable technology can enhance the users quality of life rather than squeeze another £150+ out of their loyal customer base.
My point is, if its not clear, is that wearable technology is/was meant to be a fun, crazy, quirky and maybe even a little stupid. Its meant to make an adult feel like a kid thats just got that one shiny card everyone else wants, but by slapping a touchscreen on to a watch companies are content to brand this as wearable technology.
We can only hope Nike saves the term wearable technology with their Back To The Future Power Lace Shoes.
