Smartwatches. Google Glass. Undoubtedly these are fashion statements in as much as they are items designed to make users’ lives easier. What’s still unproven – unlike the heads that will turn from wearing them – is their long-term market viability in line with their smartphone cousins.
A recent Wired article, however, makes the case that wearable tech, including smartwatches and Google Glass, has just as bright a future – pretty bold words at this early stage of the game. Given that fact, and coupled with recent high-profile releases like the Galaxy Gear, we asked our tester community what they thought: Will wearable technology be as big and commonplace as the smartphone?
While the above results tilt in favor of folks being skeptical, they’re definitely still a mixed bag as a whole (what can be derived without question though is that someone definitely enjoys pizza). Here is some of the best community commentary that came along with the poll results:
The skeptical:
They limit the user…when compared to smartphones, and in some or all cases, you even need to have the smartphone in order to use the all potential of the wearable device.
Big potential, just not fully realized:
Wearable technology will reduce the size of the devices we carry and improve the way we interact with the device. The question is when…not right now certainly.
Big future for an important subset:
I am thinking that it will take off in regards to medical devices (i.e. devices that will monitor your health or medical condition). Maybe something that a Diabetic can wear that will tell them when their sugar is too high or low and advise them on how much insulin to take…I see this taking off as there are a lot of people with these conditions that would benefit from some type of wearable device.
Will wearable tech go the way of the BlackBerry or be the next smash hit? There’s no doubt that wearable tech is still in its infancy stages, and the mixed reaction and some skepticism from the tester side isn’t shocking given that fact. While wearable tech is very much wait-and-see in 2014, what’s evident is that many of our testers in their responses have at least had their interest peaked, and realize the untapped potential. Bear in mind too, as Wired points out, that the smartphone had existed prior to the iPhone, but it really took Apple’s device to push them to the masses. Wearable tech could just be waiting for its ‘iPhone,’ perhaps? What do you think? Are you as skeptical as some of our testers? Or do you see the potential? Sound off in the comments below.