The Season of Wearable Technology

Every now and then, usually at the most inconvenient times, your washing machine or dryer refuses to cooperate. The clothes you wanted to wear smell and are mixed with sweaty, wet sportswear, and you have a long day ahead filled with numerous obligations.

Few have not experienced a similar mishap, and the solution to the problem comes to us with new technologies, such as the one developed by Wool&Prince for a non-washable shirt, which has been offered for investment on the most popular crowdfunding platform – Kickstarter.
Indeed, trendsetters pioneering a new direction in fashion development, focused on the use of sophisticated sensor and wireless technologies, will initially seem at least a bit eccentric. However, despite this, we need to seriously consider and accept the fact that a new era of dressing is already on the fashion runways, which means it will soon be upon all of us. We won’t have time to turn around before we are already wearing Google Glass, Apple’s iWatch, shirts that do not retain odors and do not require ironing, bracelets that connect to smartphones… Therefore, it is worth looking at what kind of future new clothing technologies hold for us. This is one of the most exciting market niches of the digital age, as it should be noted that today’s ‘market pockets’ will soon become the mass markets of tomorrow.

Let’s start with watches, which are experiencing their renaissance this year. The new watches entering the market connect with smartphones, so you have a ‘personal body network’ on your wrist. It seems that Pebble, the smart watch of innovator Eric Migicovsky, will be the key point of transition to new technologies, while MuteWatch 2.0 aims to maximize functionality. Nevertheless, Pebble opened a brave new world last year, and now we already have watches that respond to voice commands, sports watches that measure bodily functions and calculate calories or kilometers traveled, have SOS alarms, and even those on which you can print short messages.
However, although everything sounds exciting, the technology has not yet advanced to the point where creators do not face tough choices – about form or functionality – so this year will be particularly important in that context. For example, MetaWatch follows an instinctive form, while Basis pursues pure functionality, and which will prevail or how form and function will replace each other over time remains to be seen. What makes this story uncertain are certainly some important open questions; will watch manufacturers stumble like some trampled applications, can this disrupt the market of exciting experiences, how will Swatch react?

Pioneers in the production of silicone bracelets, on the other hand, are not worried about whether their jewelry will have the full functionality of watches. Competing brands Nike FuelBand and Jawbone Up are setting a new strong trend and aesthetic. The idea continues with bracelets like those for entering Disney World, which store guest data, providing access to all paid content, and even opening room doors. The smartest bracelets will track the user’s pulse, heart rate, sleep rhythm, in short, be a help in seeing the holistic picture of your health. However, a high degree of design or aesthetics will have to wait until full product functionality becomes standardized. Luxury brands like Vertu create accessories for the iPhone that cost far more than any phone. However, the flexible or rounded ultra-bright OLED screen is awaiting refinement, reportedly for at least another year. Still, with the entry of luxury brands into the niche, along with waterproof design, personalization, and an added charm, sensors on the wrist placed on an elegant bracelet or something thicker like sports sweatbands will soon begin to conquer the market.

Quality and branded audio headphones have long become a street must-have, and new headphone systems will elevate good looks and product loyalty to a new level. Luxury brands have already recorded this change in the market, but for them, as well as for classic audio equipment providers, distribution through necessarily new channels will not be an easy task. New and absolutely trendy brands like Monster, Jawbone, and Parrot are trying to shape the market, while Longitech UE continues on its path; excellent value for money, quality, and style. How this direction will develop will be best seen with the entry of luxury brands into the electronics sector.

Positioning smart technology into everyday objects is one of the trends with the greatest potential demand. There, the internet applied to things and wearable technologies will converge. The beauty of the idea is that it gives users the power to decide which object should become ‘smart’, so manufacturers can create optimal software to track – keys, jackets, and even your car. The most common form is expected to be in the shape of a pillow, cube, or sticker. The Nike+ sensor pillow was the first developmental phase. Today’s hit is Bluetooth 4.0, crucial for bringing everyday objects into the new digital world. In this area, there is an opportunity for pioneering telecommunications companies, which can launch their first solutions.
Fitbit Zi and Misfit Shine are, on the other hand, the first generation of transformative clothing that can be adorned with covers or ornaments. This trend is already rapidly spreading to various accessories; for example, covers (such as Velcro) for cyclists’ shoes or waterproof bracelets for swimming, and of course, carefully styled accessories for social situations. It is expected that over time these covers will become capable of various tasks, allowing instant adaptation of sensor software. Of course, it will be interesting to see if the cover then becomes more expensive than the sensor. This technology is also suitable for connecting, for example, with your keyboard, so you can no longer easily forget the beats in your head.

However, most will be thrilled by smart materials, which, although they do not connect to a computer, when embedded in new shirts, jackets, dresses, or shirts do not need washing, like the shirt from Wool&Prince, which is raising funds on Kickstarter. Reportedly, for more than 100 days, the shirt has not emitted any odor and has ‘ironed’ itself after being crumpled. The shirt costs $98 and comes in several colors, and even after months of wearing, it is enough to lightly wash it, but not to machine dry it. The company is currently keeping its secret, diligently developing a patent.
However, few things carry the significance of a social revolution like Google Glass does. They are an example of the transformation of glasses from a fashion accessory to a functional interface. Google’s decision to enter this story is certainly brave as it changes user perception, which generally lasts for years. This partly relates to the fact that the built-in user interface changes our usual relationship with privacy and intimacy. It is hard to assume that everyone will be ready to accept that they are being recorded all the time or to welcome the idea that the interface is constantly between them and the world at every moment. Fortunately, Google likely has the patience to persist, as do the first customers who will participate in the development of the project. Their observations will significantly determine the direction of the development of these glasses, especially regarding direction, profile, and level of privacy.

The technologies we are talking about are already significantly influencing the development of new applications. The phone is becoming the new digital hub, and its larger screen will allow for greater personalization, clarity, and lavish visualization of information. The development of sensors has exploded across laboratories worldwide, so for example, Muse’s headband can sketch brain waves in real-time while you write an email, or your Vibe necklace shows your stress level. And these are just the beginnings. You will soon have to pay close attention to what you wear and whether your shoes are connected to your watch, bracelet, or smartphone.