Gone are the days when wearable technology was all about fancy prototypes and main attractions at tech shows. Today, wearable tech has firmly is an everyday occurrence and has established itself as an in-demand and growing product category.
Major players in the tech world such as Apple, Samsung, Sony, etc. are betting big on wearable technology. Even chipset manufacturers such as Qualcomm and Intel are foraying into the wearable tech arena in the form of wearable sensors. This clearly tells us that the craze to own a wearable gadget isn’t a passing fad, it isn’t going to fade away anytime soon.
For wearable tech lovers, 2017 has been an excellent year so far. With a bunch of exciting launches and upgrades, wearable technology has gained a lot of traction this year.
Let us have a look at some of the latest and the best wearable tech to watch out for in 2017.
1. Apple Watch Series 2
Photo by If wearable technology were a kingdom, then the Apple Watch would be in first in line to the throne. Like its predecessors, the Apple Watch Series 2 sports a sturdy design, bright display and a great battery life. It also comes with onboard GPS and swim functions, which means the new Apple Watch is completely waterproof. Fitness enthusiasts can use the watch as a fitness tracker, thanks to the heart-rate monitoring functionality. All in all, it’s a great choice for anyone looking to buy a smartwatch or a fitness tracker that delivers solid performance and comes with a feature-rich OS.
If wearable technology were a kingdom, then the Apple Watch would be in first in line to the throne. Like its predecessors, the Apple Watch Series 2 sports a sturdy design, bright display and a great battery life. It also comes with onboard GPS and swim functions, which means the new Apple Watch is completely waterproof. Fitness enthusiasts can use the watch as a fitness tracker, thanks to the heart-rate monitoring functionality. All in all, it’s a great choice for anyone looking to buy a smartwatch or a fitness tracker that delivers solid performance and comes with a feature-rich OS.
2. Fitbit Fitness Trackers
When we talk about fitness/activity tracking gadgets, Fitbit is the first name that comes to mind. The ability to offer fitness tracking devices that come with trendy designs, robust hardware and a minimalistic yet hassle-free OS has made Fitbit a household name in the wearable tech world. Fitbit offers a range of fitness trackers each with its specialties and functions. While the Fitbit variants like Blaze, Alta, and Surge are meant for sports-lovers and fitness enthusiasts, affordable options such as Flex, Charge, and Zip are perfect for those starting out on their fitness journey.
3. Google Glass
Photo by When we heard about Project Glass from Google for the first time, it sounded straight out of a sci-fi movie. The gadget comes in the form of a tiny display that sits on an eyeglass frame (without lenses). In addition, the Google Glass comes with a small camera for taking pictures. Through voice commands and touch (on the frame), the Google Glass will display various information such as time, weather, etc. You can also click pictures and browse the internet. If it’s too hard for you to understand how Google Glass works, imagine it as a stripped-down version Robert Downey Jr’s HUD from the Iron Man film series. Unfortunately, due to privacy and safety concerns, the Glass project is still at a nascent stage.
4. Fin Wearable Ring
Have you heard about the Fin Wearable Ring? Well, probably not because the manufacturers of this tiny wearable gadget haven’t spent much time and money on publicity. On the surface, it looks like any ordinary plastic ring. However, it has some really innovative features that will put a lot of expensive wearable gadgets to shame. The Fin Ring is equipped with Bluetooth Technology and offers gesture-based control for operating other smart devices. Gestures like tapping on the thumb and rolling your thumb gently over other fingers while wearing the Fin Ring can be used to play music, open apps, and more. With this Bluetooth capability, you can access apps on your smartphone and other compatible devices.
5. ili- The real-time translator
Language barriers might soon be a thing of the past as real-time translators hit the market. A Japanese company known as Logbar has come up with ‘ili’- a device that can translate words and sentences in real time without internet connectivity. At present, ili is limited to three languages – English, Japanese and Chinese. However, with time, more languages will be added to the database. So, the future looks bright for real-time translating devices and within 3- 4 years, there may be commercial models of ili in the market.
So, what do you think? Which of these wearable tech devices looks promising to you?