Are We Ready For Wearables?
With the increase of new wearable devices and the slow start of adaption from consumers, how will wearable technology progress?
In this age of always wanting to be connected, wearable technology seems to be the answer to all of our problems. It is seen to be setting us free but, is it imprisoning us?
The use of technology is increasing every day in our personal and business lives. Speaking at the Digital Doughnut meet-up, Markiyan Matsekh of ELEKS Software stated that we check our phones on average 100 times daily, getting lost in the virtual world, only dipping in and out of the real world and replacing human interaction with virtual interaction.
I attended the Digital Doughnut meet-up in Hoxton Square, London which opened my eyes to the ever changing world of technology. The discussion around the future of wearables was quite thought provoking and ignited different questions about our dependence on technology and the possibility that reliance on technology will only increase and going further, what does that mean for marketers?
As marketers, wearable technology is an amazing development allowing consumers to interact deeper with apps, check social media anywhere at anytime and they have the ability to deliver fresh granular data to companies. Although highly debated, wearables can be a great thing for consumers and marketers when used in a positive way to improve our lives.
It seems that social acceptance is the way these things progress. I didn’t own a smart phone until two years ago, now there are children as young as 7 years old use smart phones. If we choose to accept it, it will become ‘normal’. Will people adapt quicker to an area which is constantly changing?
Also, will we take our reliance on technology too far? For example, creating devices such as the ‘muscle based gesture’ can cause the average person to become lazy in everyday life. Could we end up relying on technology to such a point we are unable to think and act for ourselves? Markiyan mentioned the head band that monitored your thought base. Allowing a devise to monitor your brain activity, this for one can’t be safe but, will it happen?
The future of wearables lies in the acceptance of its audience. I for one believe we need to stay informed on this topic as not be blindsided by the advances in technology.