Are you a wearables fan? Are you thinking of buying one? Do you believe that Fitbit and Apple are the only real alternatives? Well, they are not; and there are some exciting new technologies from less-known companies that are right around the corner.
Consider these observations from James A. Martin, writing for CIO:
“Everything is ‘smart’ these days, it seems, especially when it comes to gadgets designed to help people improve their health and boost fitness levels. Smart mirrors and body scanners, smart running socks, a smart vest, smart drinking cups, smart sleeves, and smart sleep masks are all now available, or will be soon. Many of these Internet of Things things are wearables — except for the ‘naked 3D’ full-body mirror, of course — while others are designed to be carried in a pocket or clipped to a belt or bra. The following 12 devices, many of which aren’t yet available, are all notable for some reason. So sit back, relax, take a sip from your smart water bottle, and check them out.”
Click the image to access a slideshow about the 12 new wearables, and to read more about them.
(1) Do the products work as advertised? There’s a lawsuit against Fitbit with the accusation that the product is unreliable, the metrics it collects are not accurate. Reportedly, something as simple as heartbeat measurement can be off by as much as 20/minute.
(2) Is there a market for all of these things? There have been other columnists joking about startups that are trying to insert chips into anything imaginable, including tampons.
(3) What about health risks? There are potential radiation issues. The IEEE has graphics showing radiation penetration into the skull from cell phones, although there has been no research on the safety or lack thereof. There are hypothesized links between brain radiation and both tumors and behavioral issues. Google Glass emits radiation. High end Bluetooth devices emit radiation. The radiation from both is above what some consider safe levels. My view is that the research on radiation now is comparable to where we were in the 1960s regarding cigarettes.