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THERE’S A SENSOR in a bra, in your socks, on your wrist, attached to your chest, in the ears: wearable tech is spreading all over the body.
The growing use of embedded wearable devices connected to a smartphone is spawning a massive industry geared to fitness, health and other goals, offering potential benefits to everyone from the newborn infant to the infirm elderly.
It was also one of the hottest sectors on display at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the largest annual showcase of tech-related gear.
“Our vision is that the garment is the next computer,” says Davide Vigano, chief executive of Heapsylon, maker of the Sensoria Fitness bra, T-shirt and socks, which connect to a smartphone designed for runners and others who want to monitor their health and improve workouts.
The company, which is participating in CES panels and displaying the products on the sidelines of the giant expo, says its key features are “100 per cent textile sensors” woven into fabric to be more comfortable, and combine use of a transmitter on the socks with the chest monitor to more accurately track activity.
“We get a more accurate picture when the socks and bra work together,” Vigano said.
And like several new wearables coming on the market, Sensoria includes a “virtual coach” to help boost motivation and improve technique.
The fitness sector is one of the key areas in wearables, led by devices such as the FitBit and Nike Fuel Band.
Smartwatches are another big segment, with offerings from the crowd-funded Pebble, giants such as Samsung and Qualcomm, and others showing their wares in a new “wrist revolution” zone on the showroom floor, in addition to the large health and fitness section.
And several connected eyewear products are being shown, even if Google Glass is absent.
A $19-billion market
Juniper Research projects that the smart wearable-device market will reach $19 billion by 2018 compared with $1.4 billion in 2013, including segments such as fitness, health and security.
Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich told the CES the chipmaker is making a major push into wearable tech, and showed off some of its products to be released this year including a watch, earbuds which can monitor the wearer’s heart rate and a “onesie” for young infants that can allow parents to monitor a baby’s breathing, sleeping, temperature and positioning.
“We want to make everything smart. That’s what Intel does,” he said.
App makers are leveraging smartphone technology for medical purposes, such as monitoring blood pressure, heart rates and glucose levels.
“The whole idea of allowing you to take control of your own health care is one of the great benefits of this technology,” Samsung vice president David Lowe told a CES panel on Wednesday.
San Francisco-based Qardio produces wearable heart and blood pressure monitors which allow people to keep an eye on their health on a smartphone or even deliver the data to a doctor.
Qardio’s Rosario Iannella said the devices mean he can keep tabs on his elderly mother in Italy.
It also “allows doctors to give better care without spending more time with patients,” he told AFP.
The ‘geek factor’
But makers of wearable tech need to overcome the “geek factor,” or clumsy-looking devices which are unappealing, especially for women.
“The first products on the market are big and bulky and lend themselves to a male techno audience because it’s engineering-driven,” said Rob Enderle, a consultant and analyst with Enderle Group.
“For women it will have to get smaller and more focused on fashion.”
Analyst Jeff Orr at ABI Research said that the first wave of gadgets may not be appealing but “the second and third waves will be more important.” And he said any new devices must blend fashion with practicality.
Some of the more fashionable items are showing up at the vast Las Vegas trade show.
One item is the June bracelet from French startup Netatmo, which monitors sun exposure to help users avoid damaging ultraviolet rays, delivering data to a smartphone.
“This allows you to track exposure to the sun in real time, but it looks like a stylish gemstone bracelet,” said Netatmo’s Emanuelle Thomas.
“It also acts as a personal coach, with recommendations based on your habits. For example, if you are going outside for lunch each day, it might tell you you are spending too much time in the sun.”
British-based CSR is introducing Bluetooth wireless-enabled smart jewelry which can create customised colors and brightness to suit a user’s mood and also get alerts from a smartphone.
And Hong Kong-based watchmaker Ezio is concentrating on style, while gradually adding apps and connectivity to its devices.
“Most of the smartwatches out there are very techy looking,” said Ezio’s Terry Linebarger. “We are focusing on the fashion watch, but with smart features.”
- © AFP 2014.
“Think of something pleasant so you appear sincere” OR be sincere.
You forgot to mention that Winston Churchill spent most of his life in an alcoholic haze. His famous “fight them on the beaches” speech sounds so belligerent because he was apparently 3 sheets to the wind . The nation thought that it was his fighting spirit that made him sound so resolute but in fact it was more probably the contents of a bottle of brandy that gave him that growling tone. The only thing he didn’t do was finish off his speech with “the fugging bashtrds, I’ll take ‘em all on!”.
…rewriting history there Brian, are we?
Ya churchy baby loved the sauce, some of his hardest and best decisions were made late at night with a brandy bottle. He said that he got more out of booze than booze ever got out of him.
The Dude, far from it. Churchill was a renowned drinker who had champagne for lunch and dinner followed by brandy and was rarely seen without a glass of whiskey by his side. He reputedly got sick as a young boy and his doctor advised him to drink sherry as a remedy only he neglected to mention how much and more importantly when to stop, This article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11371641/The-day-I-tried-to-match-Churchill-drink-for-drink.html lays out what Churchill drank during the day. It would make most people completely useless by tea time but to someone who had being drinking for years it would be achievable.
Another notable person who was an working alcoholic for most of their life and still achieved success is Ingvar Kampard, the founder of Ikea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingvar_Kamprad . He reckons that he became an alcoholic by drinking large amounts of vodka while doing deals with suppliers and customers in Poland as he grew the business. He reputedly drinks 2 bottles of vodka a day but dries out 3 times a year.
It didn’t stop him from becoming the greatest leader of the 20th century!
I never said it did. Although calling him the greatest leader of the 20th century may well be a matter for debate.
Keep your hands out of your pockets as you shake someone’s hand. Solid advice
Mono Official
And politicians take note, – keep your hands out of other people’s pockets when shaking their hands…
” 2. Reduce how quickly and often you nod. ” – Mary (headbangin’ to a ‘Whole lot of Rosie’.) Robinson take note.
‘Make people feel like they’re the most intelligent, impressive and fascinating person you’ve ever met’
So.
If you’re talking to some boring a**hole then you’re actually suppressing your rational intelligence and becoming a two faced duplicitous a**hole yourself in the process.
Great.
That really makes sense.
One sure fire way to become the least influential person in the world….
Tell people what you really think of them.
That is the most intelligent, impressive and fascinating thing I’ve ever heard. Please, Oran, do go on…
Is that you Oprah?
Oran what if bullies read this and thing, yes we can bully someone and use these techniques against the victim they are bullying? By spreading lies about the victim to justify the bullying as craic or as excuses for the bullying by controlling the reasons for it or getting others to join in on it because they are stupid or immature not to know the difference?
……
Keep on noticing this trend: Take a common sense subject, go over think the subject for years & then write a book about it.
No to FG/Lab/FF
So what is the alternative ?
A shower of misfits !
Careful what you wish for
Seeing as it’s about being a false leader.
Should we not ad.
1 Be corrupt and willing to take back handers.
2 Get wealthy corrupt backers behind you and be willing to forward their agenda no matter how vile it is.
3 Loose all respect and love for fellow humans including your own family.
…and use a teleprompter.
Johnneary
And hire 25 personal assistants and staff to tell him what to say, – but heaven forbid that he takes part in any live debate, in case he’s found out…
…I was referring to Hussein Obama
Amen Guys.
Practicing all of the things in the above article won’t produce a charismatic/good leader.
It may produce a bought out, false also-ran puppet pseudo leader, kleptocrat or crony capitalist.
‘Think of something pleasant and a photo of Oprah underneath..bad call
This is a joke but did you mean… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SOvZmVD1kQ
I use to get drunk and loved everybody then and I didn’t have a good time unless the other person had a good time as well.
How about stopping this nonsense and become truthful to yourselves and to others, liking or loving people is the best way to becoming charismatic. Anything else just makes you a liar to yourself and to others.
I do dislike this as it is a way to make people fake in other to get what THEY WANT and that is using people. Another name for people like this is sociopathic…
13. Get confident, stupid!
Wave your hands all over the place whilst talking
Is not meaning and believing what you say the most important thing not good acting.
You wha? “Think of something pleasant so you appear to be sincere.” Become an excellent listener by deliberately pausing and asking questions.” and “Combine your power with warmth to create a full, charismatic package.”
Congratulations, you are now becoming a sociopath?
A bad handshake is the worst, men or women it doesn’t matter a limp,weak n slithering handshake has just ruined anything else you try to say! Also don’t touch me anywhere else when you shake my hand, my hand your hand end of,no shoulders, no elbows, no mid arm,no mid waist just the hand thanks!
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