Joe Gorman Blog 1: Wearable Technology

Wearable Technology:  Jackets That Keep You Warm and Moving In the Right Direction

Can't find your phone?  What if it was attached to you?  Recent trends in technology clearly point toward mobile, though not necessarily through a handheld device, but through “wearable technology.”  Wearable technology integrates into a user’s daily life more so than any other technology ever could, as it becomes a seamlessly part of a human’s life.  A piece of clothing or accessory, it becomes part of a person's fashion as well as his/her's toolkit to navigate the world.

The most well-known of this technology is Google Glass, which evolves hands-free technology to voice commands, getting directions and even surfing the web all through a pair of glasses.  While Google Glass potential applications are endless, it is expensive and not widely available to the masses, leading to its fair share of critics (Nobody Likes Google Glass, Business Insider).  Other, potentially less-known, wearable technology examples are omnipresent, and seem to be expanding by the day.  Web Urbanist recently summarized 13 new wearable technology innovations, running the spectrum from fun applications (like turning your fingers into a gun for a video game or wearing a jacket that helps to make you an instant DJ) to safety (e.g., pollution masks that monitor air quality or monitors for athlete head impact severity)  (Beyond Google Glass: 13 Real-Life Wearable Tech Inventions, Web Urbanist).

It is easy to see uses in the business world for the more practical and easily accessible wearable technology.  Take Wearable Experiments’ recently launched fashion-conscious Navigate jacket leisure industry.  Navigate has a built-in GPS system that uses vibrations and LED lighting to provide visualized directions for the wearer.  Leisure industry businesses such as Trip Advisor and online travel agencies (like Travelocity) could use The Navigate Jacket as a new way to connect with and guide customers.  Branded applications could include content for tours and local hotels, providing popularly rated user-generated information.   

Similarly, wearable technology could integrate the users social media applications (think Foursquare, Instagram, Facebook).  Wearers could receive a branded “e-scrapbook” of their evening out or travels, mapping exactly where they went, complete with photos and reviews, to share with friends and family.  Appealing to the consumers’ experience moves away from the traditional marketing “buy this product” approach to looking at marketing through consumers’ eyes to provide what they may actually want to use (i.e., posting and sharing their experiences), which in turn will provide exposure through social media as more people “like” it.

This technology is still in its infancy, but with the amount of attention and innovation out there, it is growing by the day.  Perhaps by this time next year, we will all be writing these blogs just by wearing an e-hat that transcribes words to our computer!