{"id":36584,"date":"2013-07-27T00:59:44","date_gmt":"2013-07-26T23:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=36584"},"modified":"2013-07-27T01:02:29","modified_gmt":"2013-07-27T00:02:29","slug":"36584","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/36584\/","title":{"rendered":"Wearables Won\u2019t Do Much Without Your Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than Looks<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Untitled-1\"<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/i><\/b>If I were Iron Man, I’d have this girlfriend who knew my true identity. She’d be wildly conflicted, which would only make her more crazy about me…\u201d<\/span><\/i> \u2013 Tony Stark, \u201cIron Man,\u201d<\/i> Paramount, 2008<\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

My mama said, \u201cIf you can\u2019t say anything nice about someone, don\u2019t say anything at all,\u201d<\/i> so I won\u2019t say anything about Google Glass. <\/span><\/p>\n

To its credit \u2026 the stupid thing did raise the awareness of wearable technology and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, as Apple\u2019s Cook (who wears glasses) said, and we paraphrase, \u201celegant, sexy it ain\u2019t.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Wearables could be the stimulus smartphone and tablet folks need to keep sales climbing, since they have just about peaked as far as the number of people who use them are concerned.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sure, there will be incremental growth; but it will be much slower and each new customer will be more expensive to obtain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the wearables we\u2019ve seen tie into the higher-performance, higher-capacity devices and then \u2026 the cloud.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But as Tony Stark commented, \u201c<\/span>I don’t like it when you have plans.<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n

So, if you don\u2019t have an iPhone or other smartphone and want the super cool wearable, you buy the phone\/tablet, add the app and the device.<\/span><\/p>\n

Actually, Glass isn\u2019t new.\"Untitled-2\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Early Glass \u2013 <\/span><\/i><\/b>Ever since Ben Franklin started wearing bifocals, tinkerers have been working on how to improve our ability to absorb more with our eyes. Even the \u201cstigma\u201d of four-eyes has gone away. Just can\u2019t say that your Glass makes you look any smarter.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

People have been fiddling with the idea for years and they\u2019ve come a long way with Google Glass; but for ordinary folks, really?<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong, <\/span><\/p>\n

Glass and similar hands-free solutions will be ideal for a lot of applications where people need technical and specific information such as warehouse people, fire personnel, electricians and other careers you can add.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Glass approach that \u201cmight\u201d tempt me is<\/span> the integration of a display into a contact lens that is worn directly on your eye.\"Untitled-3\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Tapping the World \u2013 <\/span><\/i><\/b>Technologists in South Korea could be on the right track in developing a wearable communications solution that keeps you in touch without being obtrusive. Less is often more.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The research on eye safe, flexible, transparent conductors was carried out by the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lens would be soft, stable and have all the functions of a wearable computer.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The researchers, and their partner Samsung, are happy with early test results but it will be a few years before you can get yours.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first few generations probably won\u2019t be cheap and won\u2019t have the appeal of Glass because no one can see you spent all that money on an eyeball computer.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But if I want to read my emails or search a website while I\u2019m walking, talking, whatever, I\u2019ll do what I\u2019ve always done \u2026 pull out my smartphone and do it.\"Untitled-4\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Just Checkin\u2019 \u2013 <\/span><\/i><\/b>It\u2019s difficult to remember what we did before the smartphone and how we stayed connected in our business\/personal lives. The devices often cause a lot of anxiety when we \u201cdisconnect\u201d– even for a few minutes.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Not only is it more versatile, it is exercise and lets people know how important communications and staying in touch is for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking around with a Glass or glasses, who knows?<\/span><\/p>\n

Agent Phil Coulson noted, \u201cI know. We’re working on it.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Wearables have been around for a long time in terms of products that monitor\/protect older folks and people with medical issues.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But the new wave that has the potential of being used by anyone\/everyone is the health awareness units.<\/span><\/p>\n

In combination they will deliver a whole new breed of wearable devices that are both stylish and functional.\"Untitled-5\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Multiple Connections \u2013 <\/span><\/i><\/b>While the number of devices talking with other devices could easily be 10 times our global population, we each do our share with multiple devices \u2013 computers, tablets, smartphones, wearables \u2026 just in case.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

While machine-to-machine (M2M) will account for most of the connected devices, we humans are going to make the best of the technology for ourselves \u2026 and we\u2019re going to look stylish doing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first are the healthcare monitoring, assistance wearables.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second are the personal monitoring\/improvement wearables.<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare Wearables<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Statistically the more countries spend on healthcare, the sicker the populations becomes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most pampered generations, Baby Boomers and beyond, may not live as long as their parents, they also seem to live in a less healthy state. People of all races and nationalities are seeing the quality of their life expectancies decline.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Wearable sensors are available for all sorts of health tracking, blood pressure, heart monitoring, steps walked, glucose levels and body weight. <\/span><\/p>\n

The monitors already connect to smartphones and computers, where their data can be analyzed by individuals and caregivers.\"Untitled-6\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Constant Care \u2013 <\/span><\/i><\/b>A key component to controlling healthcare costs and improving individuals\u2019 lives is the ability to keep tabs on important conditions to get assistance before it is needed so that costs are controlled and quality of life is improved.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

This provides immediate feedback on the individual\u2019s health and identifies deviations and problems at their early stages to let the individual, caregiver and healthcare practitioner take the appropriate action and eliminate\/minimize costly and sometimes painful care.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The monitoring of the health conditions leads to major concerns over insurance\/employer accessing the data and limiting or denying coverage or termination.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, there are legal concerns over the individual\u2019s misinterpretation of the data as well as the FDA\u2019s (Federal Drug Administration\u2019s) ability to evaluate and approve the devices for personal healthcare usage.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are issues that have to be addressed (along with the security of ultra-private healthcare information in the Cloud), according to leading healthcare professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Wireless Life Science Alliance found that in the U.S. alone, we waste over $210 billion in unneeded care, $190 billion annually in excessive administration, $130 billion in overpriced care and $75 billion in fraud.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Wearables can obviously reduce those costs and save lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be Healthy, Stay Healthy<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In line with the health issues, Pew Research recently reported that seven in 10 individuals in the U.S. track their health indicators:<\/span><\/p>\n