With the advent of devices called wearable devices that have smartified everyday items we wear such as glasses, hats, and watches, the dreams we had as children—like glasses that display images and watches that respond to voice—have become reality.
This article explains what can be done with wearable devices and what types of wearable devices exist.
Wearable Devices
Wearable devices refer to computer devices worn on the body, such as on the arms, head, or feet. Unlike portable devices like smartphones, these are devices that can be used while worn.
What Wearable Devices Can Do
Health Management
They can record daily step counts, calories burned, and distance traveled. By analyzing data such as heart rate and sleep information, you can visualize how your body is functioning day to day. Beyond personal health management, medical institutions and care facilities can constantly monitor patients' conditions. Additionally, by collecting data such as athletes' heart rates during exercise, they can be utilized for research to improve future sports education.
Music Playback
Music can be played from devices such as smartphones using Bluetooth. There are also wearable devices that allow music to be downloaded directly to the device itself. This is very convenient when you don't want to carry luggage, such as while running.
Electronic Payment
There are wearable devices that enable electronic payment by downloading dedicated apps. You can shop at convenience stores and supermarkets even if you forget your wallet. Also, with wearable devices compatible with Mobile Suica, you can pass through ticket gates.
Notification Function
Notifications for incoming calls, emails, and SNS can be displayed on wearable devices. With notifications coming to wearable devices that are constantly worn, there's no worry about missing important messages. Additionally, wearable devices equipped with reply functions allow you to send simple text messages right then and there, as the name suggests.
Voice Support
Voice-enabled wearable devices can be activated and operated by speaking to them. Even when both hands are occupied, you can make phone calls, write texts, play music, and perform various operations using only voice commands.
Life-Saving Activities
There is a function that contacts emergency services as needed when the wearer of a wearable device falls or has a seizure. By utilizing GPS functions that accurately determine the current location, rescue can quickly reach the wearer. Also, by registering emergency contacts in advance, notifications will be sent to the registered emergency contacts when something abnormal happens to the wearer.
Crime Prevention
In cases of kidnapping where small children or women are taken, items like mobile phones that obviously share location information may be destroyed by perpetrators. This makes investigations difficult and time-consuming, but by smartifying accessories like earrings or rings that appear ordinary, accurate location information can be obtained without arousing suspicion. Faster rescue becomes possible. Additionally, for elderly people, their whereabouts can be tracked using GPS functions when they go missing.
Main Wearable Devices
Smartwatch
A smartified wristwatch is called a smartwatch. The Apple Watch released by Apple is perhaps the easiest to visualize.
The most typical use of smartwatches is linking with smartphones. Even without your smartphone at hand, you can remotely check and respond to emails, incoming calls, and SNS notifications. There's no worry about missing important messages.
Smart Wear
Smart wear using conductive fibers exists. By using conductive fibers, electric current can flow through clothing, enabling visualization of values such as the wearer's heart rate, body temperature, and perspiration. In the sports industry, it is used for managing athletes' physical conditions and analyzing data for further performance improvement. Additionally, in the medical industry and care facilities, patients wear them to measure pulse rates without stressing the body, and accumulated data helps improve future treatment methods.
Smart Shoes
Sensors are built into the inside of shoes to visualize distance run, route, speed per kilometer, form tendencies, and more. Based on walking and running data, habits and problem areas can be improved. When worn by elderly people, they can detect muscle deterioration and areas of inflammation. Additionally, if a fall occurs during running or walking, family members are notified. Since location information is also available, they are useful for preventing children from getting lost.
The design is no different from conventional running shoes, making them easy to use in daily life.
Smart Glasses
Simply by wearing them like glasses, you can enjoy movies and music. They can merge the real world with virtual images; for example, when wearing smart glasses inside a historic building, they can display people and events from that era. You can have a special experience as if you've traveled back in time to that era. Also, using camera-equipped models, you can photograph the scenery you're viewing at any time. You can take photos without taking a camera out of your bag or pocket.
Smart Hat
Some have Bluetooth speakers built into the brim, while others have bone conduction speakers built in. They look no different from ordinary hats, but they are hats that allow you to make phone calls and listen to music. Even when a call comes in, you can converse without taking out your smartphone or mobile phone, and since they don't block surrounding sounds like earphones do, the risk of traffic accidents is reduced.
There are also smart earrings and smart rings, called smart jewelry. Regarding smart rings, when you link your home's smart key to the ring, you can unlock by holding up the smart ring.
You can enjoy healthcare and a convenient lifestyle while staying fashionable.
Summary
By using wearable devices that smartify items we normally wear, we can visualize small changes occurring in ourselves.
Additionally, by using them as a family, it's possible to check children's safety and physical condition.
By linking with smart houses and other systems, our lives will undoubtedly become richer.