Smart technology is all the rage at the moment. Everywhere you go you will likely see adverts for various smart gadgets. And every year we see new innovations in the field of smart technology. Our smartphones are constantly improving. With AI technology enhancing their functionality in amazing ways. Smart homes are moving out of the realm of science fiction and becoming a reality. And many public services, such as hospitals, are using smart technology to improve the quality of service they offer.
One area that is often overlooked in the discussion around smart technology is the rise of smart clothes. Wearable technology is nothing new. But, in recent years, we have seen it take huge leaps forward. Today we are going to take a look at how much wearable technology has changed over the years. And look at where it could go next.
Wearable Tech
As we said before, wearable technology is nothing new. The first bit of wearable tech dates all the way back to the 13th century. The invention of the eye glasses. And in 1810 the first wrist watch was created. This is perhaps the most obvious example of wearable technology. And humanity has not stopped innovating on these two classic designs since.
Wearable technology is now a huge market. It is estimated that it is worth $55.5 Billion dollars as an industry. And that number is likely to increase as smart technology advances. In recent years we have seen some of the major players like Apple and Google throw their hat into the ring as well.
Smartwatches
Perhaps the most recognizable and iconic piece of wearable technology. The first smartwatch was technically created back in 1983. But these models were nowhere near as advanced as the kit we have today. Modern smartwatches are extremely versatile. They can function as remote controls for our phone. Allow us to make contactless payments. Take phone calls and even send messages.
They have also become extremely sleek and stylish too. There are hundreds of independent businesses creating various cases and straps for major smartwatch brands. And app creators are constantly creating different UI’s, allowing an endless degree of customisation for users.
Smart Textiles
The FitBit was one of the most popular bits of wearable technology in the early 2010’s. This device would track all your biometrics while you exercised. Allowing you to effectively track your progress. This function has now been replaced by our smartwatches and smartphones.
But we have also seen the rise of new smart textiles as well that serve a similar function. Smart textiles are things like shirts and trousers that are fitted with sensors that can monitor your body like a smartwatch would. But they have the advantage of being able to monitor a lot more than a smartwatch can. Some of these pieces of clothing can monitor the exact movement of your body while working out and tell you if your form is correct or not.
And you don’t need to worry about washing these products either. A lot of companies, like this laundry service in Seattle called wewash24, have started looking at specialized smart textile cleaning services. The items are also designed to be water resistant too.
Virtual Reality
In a lot of classic science fiction movies one of the biggest tropes you would see would be virtual reality. People would put on a headset and be transported into a realistic virtual world. Indistinguishable from reality. Back then this was nothing more than a far off dream.
Today, we are lucky enough to live in a world where VR technology is getting closer to this point every year. VR is now commercially available and is being used in a number of different industries. Gaming is perhaps the most obvious example of how VR technology can be used. Players can immerse themselves in their favorite gaming worlds like never before.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been putting a lot of emphasis on how their VR technology can be used in a wide range of industries. Surgeons can use VR to help hone their craft. Welders and construction workers can use VR to train every day from the comfort of their home. And VR technology has been used in flight training for a number of years now.
Where Next
There is absolutely no chance of the smart technology revolution slowing down. As technology improves so will the quality of the products that are commercially available. So what can we expect to see in years to come?
Smart glasses are most likely the next big thing. Apple’s Vision Pro was recently released. And, while it is still very clunky and difficult to wear, it will only become sleeker and more effective in the years to come. Elon Musk’s Neuralink is a seemingly huge step forward for VR technology. The ethical concerns about this technology is still under a lot of debate. But we predict that it won’t be too long before we see it becoming commercially available.
