Wearable technology will have a huge impact in our lives. The concept of wearables allows the common perception of technology to emerge from communication and entertainment purposes to more practical and beneficial uses.
I’m not talking about the iWatch. Although cool and very James Bond/007, that is still technology with mainly communication/entertainment uses. It's a luxury item.
I like writing about technology that adds value to our lives. I have admitted in the past that I'm not a fan of wearables - but that's because I prefer to see technology that improves our life (not a gadget to possess and make your friends jealous). I love home technologies for that reason. And I'd love to read more about wearables that are helping us do more in the world - like explore the ocean or space.
A few weeks ago, I met with Molly Cain and Clarisa Lindenmeyer at Tech Wildcatters to get their insights about the myths that women hear that prevent them from starting companies. One topic that came up was women in STEM. They told me that wearable technology may attract more interest from women and shared a story about this team of I believe 17 women who worked on a suit that kept track of temperature and a number of other factors to keep someone safe (I believe it was for first responders or possibly space - I need to re-read my notes). (More on this in a future article in the series I'm writing in InPowerWomen.com when I get to the section about STEM.)
Tech Wildcatters started a new accelerator focused on wearables, EMERGE, which is a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology.
This weekend, EMERGE is sponsoring a hackathon to encourage ideas for wearables for first responders. (I probably should have gotten this out earlier in the week, but better late than never, right?)
This should be an exciting weekend to see what people come up with! I almost want to crash at the end of the weekend to hear the ideas.
Two immediate ideas I would contribute to a group if I were to attend the hackathon:
- A suit made of a fabric could protect him from extreme heat (and light enough so it wouldn’t hold him or her down while doing his job and adapt to changing temperatures)
- Sensors that would let him see where people were - if under rubble or hidden during a fire (something in glasses maybe? or contact lenses?)
I could tell you how to use these items, but I’m not sure I could tell you how to start creating them. But this is why hackathons exist - technologists in different disciplines come together to collaborate and create something new.
When I consider wearables beyond that iWatch/entertainmnet/communication use, I have a few other ideas. And again, technology uses beyond communication and entertainment excite me because technology should make our day-to-day life simpler, safer, and better.
Technology shouldn't be just a curiosity to one-up friends. It should benefit our lives in some way.
Transportation
- Build a virtual dashboard in a motorcycle helmet that someone could use voice commands to manage. It could show a 360 view of what's around the driver and possibly let him know of traffic that is a little too close for comfort and a threat.
Medical
- Imagine putting on a medical gown and it scanned your body for symptoms before the doctor arrived to examine you? Talk about making the process easy.
- Or wearing glasses that could refactor anyone's vision to 20/15 immediately after a quick eye scan?
- Prosthetics that could help someone experience touch in a missing limb. I’m not sure how this would link to the brain, but it could have sensors that mirror feeling. (This may exist today…I would need to confirm)
Fitness
- Exercise clothes that regulate your body temperature (great for hot or cold climates) and prevent sweat in the cold so you don't get hypothermia. This is for more extreme sports, but could be amazingly useful for fitness and other uses (like first responders).
- Shoes that track the steps you take. Rather than the fitbit tracking what you do with movement (and if you speak with hand gestures, you can be in trouble and “walk" much further), track where you step - in your feet. Imagine fitness shoes coming with a tracking device to track your movements and strength? I'd sometimes like to know how much force I use when I work out.
Fashion (more convenience and less life or death use):
- Heaset/earrings combo. I'd love this! I wear earrings almost every day. It would make life easier if I could touch my earrings and accept a call. So convenient! This could extend to necklaces as well to be like the LG headset. (And yes, this kinda puts me in the curiosity camp...I think...)
What are your ideas for wearables and how they could change our perception of technology and have a simpler, safer, easier life?
And if you attend the hackathon (first prize is $25,000 and automatic entry into EMERGE), I look forward to reading about your creation!
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