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Bethan wearing Google Glass at Google House. |
Fashion-wise, 2014 has started as it's predicted to go with the first big buzz of the year centred on wearable technology. It's one of the major themes of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which has been happening in Las Vegas this week. Such is the excitement about tech we can wear that there was even an item on the Radio 4 Today programme about the phenomenon. Whether you think it's going to take off in accordance with the hype is still a matter of opinion but the odds are in its favour. Nike's brilliant Fuelband has become a badge of honour in recent years and is at the forefront of demonstrating how we can be converted to putting functional, traditionally unfashionable items on our bodies and feeling stylish as a result- see all the street style girls and bloggers who proudly display their rose gold fuelband as part of their "arm party". Meanwhile, the Google Glass was a major attraction at the brilliant Google House event before Christmas- they don't have quite the style appeal of the fuelband just yet but they are mighty fun to try out and could easily become as commons as make-up or jewellery in years to come.
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Nike's fuelband is a key component in your arm party (via shefinds.com) |
Last year, online crowd-funding websites, such as Kickstarter
and Indiegogo, were at the forefront of this wearable tech revolution. Ben Wood (CCS Insight) has said that $100 million has been
invested in wearables through this method. Embrace+, a wristband aimed at
keeping you up-to-date with your smartphone activity while it’s in your
handbag, raised $264,527 through Kickstarter, over three times their aim of
$80,000. Pebble, whose second product launched this year, received
over $10 million via Kickstarter in 2013. The main players in the technology market also look set to enter the wearable marketplace sometime soon. Last year, Apple made significant appointments poaching Angela Ahrendts from Burberry and Paul Deneve from YSL to become Senior Vice Presidents. So although there's no official word on their wearable options it seems almost a foregone conclusion that there will be a major product launch at some point soon.
So, what are the wearable technology items which have been on show at CES, and which ones are we predicting will become an indispensable part of your wardrobe sometime soon?
1. The Sony Smartband goes beyond merely recording exercise
data. In coordination with Sony’s Lifelog App, the Smartband measures your
physical, social and entertainment activity through a tiny piece of hardware
known as ‘the core’ and creates a timeline. The wristband can monitor how you
feel, what you do and you can even log special moments through its “life
bookmark” feature. By monitoring activity, the aim of the product is to inform
life choices, such as motivating you to walk to work rather than take a taxi.
As the information is contained in ‘the core’, Sony hopes to develop the
product so that it could be worn on the neck, in shoes or attached to a tennis
racket in the future. The downside? It’s only compatible with Android.
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Sony's multicolour Smartbands (via Sony) |
2. The Pebble Steel Smartwatch is an update to the popular
plastic Pebble model from 2013. Following Pebble’s latest collaboration with
Mercedes-Benz, the watch is the ultimate tech gadget, enabling users to locate
their car, check fuel levels and ensure that their doors are locked. The
brand’s all-new app store will enable more brands to follow in the footsteps of
ESPN and Pandora and join the project. With over 300,000 units of the plastic
model sold in 2013, the prospects for the Pebble Steel are promising. The new
model is $100 more than its predecessor, with pricing expected at $250. Praised
as a “cosmetic overhaul” by Scott Stein (CNET), this sleeker version, available
in brushed steel or matte black, will expand Pebble’s market as a strong
alternative to a classic watch.
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The Pebble Steel (via TechRepublic) |
3. The Netatmo June is aimed at health and
style conscious women. The jewel feature on this guardian bracelet
tracks UV exposure. Alongside a companion smartphone app, the wristband will
notify users when to apply suncream, wear a hat and put on sunglasses. The
brand claims this is the first “fashion item” to hit the market.
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The Netamo bracelet (via Netamo) |
4. Skulpt Aim is the perfect wireless device to monitor fitness
levels. When the device, which is smaller than an iPhone, is pressed against
the skin, it measures how current flows and collects data on body fat
percentage and muscle quality. As with many of the gadgets at CES 2014, tech
start-up Skulpt raised nearly $290,000 via crowdfunding on Indiegogo. It's set for
release in May 2014 and will cost $149.
5. Heapsylon has introduced Smart Socks as part of their
Sensoria range. At a hefty price tag of £100, these socks will monitor how your
foot hits the ground, the rhythm of your footfall and calculate your stride
length. They will coach users to improve their running
technique. The socks, connected to a phone app via an ankle bracelet, could
also alert users as to possible injury or over-exertion. The Telegraph calls
these socks “the most outlandish example of a host of ‘wearable technologies’”
at CES this week. Gregory Ferenstein, from TechCrunch, deems these the most
useful of wearables demoed at CES. “It identifies a population eager for
self-improvement and delivers a product that conveniently solves a major health
issue.” The Sensoria range also includes t-shirts and sports bras which can
track your fitness.
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Not the prettiest things, but might useful if you're a runner (via Mashable) |
A word of caution, however, from Ben Wood:
“While this approach will undoubtedly produce some stars,
many wearable devices will have their five minutes of fame at shows like CES
before disappearing into oblivion.”
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