Understanding how wearable technology functions

Not long ago, using a computer meant staying at a desk or carrying mobile devices. Today, with smartphones and an explosion of wearable technology, you can process information anywhere, anytime.

Soon, you might not need to carry gadgets at all — they will be seamlessly integrated into your hat, clothes, and even your glasses. The era of wearable technology is almost here.

For many years, engineers and visionaries have been dreaming up ideas for wearable computers. However, microprocessor speeds weren't always fast enough, and power was a major concern, because without a reliable power source, electronics are just useless metal.

Thanks to improved batteries, faster processors, constant Internet connectivity, and innovative software, the possibilities for wearable technology now seem limitless.

Imagine the possibilities. Your yoga gear could assess your form and offer real-time corrections. Watches and jewelry can monitor a variety of health conditions, from heart disease to mental health, alerting both you and your doctor. Firefighting jackets equipped with sensors and cameras can track the health and locations of team members, enhancing safety and improving tactical performance.

Teenagers can keep up with their messages using Bluetooth rings. With a pair of smart glasses (including prescription lenses), you can perform many of the same functions as a smartphone. Even your dog can join the wearable tech movement. Attach a smart collar to your dog and you'll know if she's been chasing squirrels all day or roaming the yard.

The Quantified Self

The ultimate aim of wearable technology is to simplify tasks, enhance efficiency, improve performance, or just make life more enjoyable. These gadgets are all part of the so-called quantified-self movement, which merges various aspects of your life with technology that constantly collects and processes data.

Whether you're actively tracking every detail of your life or simply monitoring your morning run, wearable technology works in a variety of fascinating and useful ways. Ultimately, they are part of the Internet of Things, a broad term that refers to a network of interconnected digital devices that collect, report, and manage data from your body and the world around you.

Currently, smartphones are central to this ecosystem. When paired with the right app or hardware, they become a hub for countless activities and uses. By transmitting data to and from the Internet, they enable a seamless connection to a wide range of wearable devices.

Google Glass serves as a prime example of the ongoing evolution of wearable technology. It’s a pair of eyeglasses that functions as a computer, equipped with an optical head-mounted display. Essentially, Glass can perform many of the same tasks as your smartphone. For example, you can use voice commands to bring up a map, and then swipe through driving directions with your finger. While Glass has WiFi, it can switch to Bluetooth for internet access via your smartphone when you're out of range.

However, Google Glass is just one highly publicized example of wearable tech, and it's still undergoing testing. On the following page, you'll explore one of the largest markets for wearable devices.

Body Trackers Galore

The term 'wearable technology' suggests that these devices are worn on the body. As a result, it’s no surprise that many of them focus on the wearer’s health and fitness.

Smartwatches are some of the most well-known wearable tech. These stylish watches often come with built-in GPS to track your workout's distance and time, and many models monitor heart rate, cadence, and calories burned. Today, the technology is becoming even more advanced. With the right sensors and power source, a wearable device can track nearly any metric you desire.

Smart medical devices are already measuring blood glucose levels for diabetics, helping them manage their condition and prevent life-threatening situations [source: Guk et al]. Digital wristbands could alert food service or medical staff when they haven’t properly washed their hands, potentially preventing the spread of various diseases and improving public health.

Some products are already available, like Cityzen Smart Sensing fabric. This ‘smart’ fabric integrates small sensors into a comfortable garment, which could range from mittens to pants, depending on its intended use. When paired with a compact, battery-powered transmitter and connected to your smartphone’s Bluetooth, it transforms into a personalized body monitoring system.

The fabric communicates with an app on your phone to track heart rate, respiration, and other metrics. Ultimately, the system monitors your fatigue or stress levels and could even alert you to potential medical issues. Despite its advanced technology, the Smart Sensing fabric can be washed and ironed like any other fabric [course: Haseltine].

Wearing Your Fun

The gaming industry continues to grow, now with cinematic visuals and jaw-dropping special effects. However, the experience could be even more immersive with better control systems. That’s exactly what PrioVR seeks to provide.

Depending on the model, you’ll attach anywhere from eight to 17 inertial sensors to your body. As you play, these sensors track your real-life movements and sync them with your on-screen avatar. The wearable PrioVR suit, designed for motion-capture gaming, promises more accurate movement capture than remote cameras or handheld controllers, which the company believes will enhance the fun factor.

Looking to perfect your baseball, golf, or tennis swing? Simply attach a small, square Zepp sensor to your glove or equipment, and you'll get immediate feedback on speed, acceleration, line of sight, and power. The compact sensors charge through a USB port and work seamlessly with both iOS and Android apps via Bluetooth. For example, when practicing your golf swing, the Zepp app will give you instant data on club plane, hand plane, backswing distance, tempo, and hip rotation. Plus, you can view an animated replay of your swing to pinpoint areas for improvement.

Fashion Meets Form

One of the biggest hurdles for wearable technology is making it less conspicuous and more aesthetically pleasing. Let’s start with the design.

Whether you're a fashionista, a trendsetter, or a high-powered professional, your clothing speaks volumes about who you are. In a world where no one — no one — can rock a Bluetooth cellphone headset without drawing smirks, manufacturers are keenly aware that their products must exude a certain level of style, or they’ll be met with ridicule.

The Move tank top exemplifies wearable technology at its finest, merging both style and practicality. This form-fitting garment may resemble a chic yoga outfit, but it's woven with sensors and actuators designed to enhance your workout form. If you stretch too far during a specific yoga pose, the Move will gently vibrate in the area that needs attention, ensuring better form and reducing the risk of injury, all while keeping you looking sharp.

But functionality can be a tricky issue. Combining electronics with fabrics often brings to mind that unbearable itch from a shirt tag — but amplified. The mere thought of sensors rubbing against your skin all day is enough to make you shudder. Luckily, engineers are overcoming comfort and usability challenges.

Researchers from the Polytechnic School in Montreal have developed touch-sensitive technology embedded directly into clothing. By coating copper wires with a polymer so thin (less than a millimeter in diameter), they’ve made it possible to integrate this technology into textiles produced through traditional manufacturing methods.

The end product could be a shirt that controls the volume on your headphones, or a car seat that adjusts at the swipe of your hand, changing the position or even the temperature. These fabrics are just as washable as any other material, an essential quality for dealing with the everyday dirt and stains of daily life.

Naturally, electronics without a power source are rather useless. The same researchers have also developed a soft, flexible lithium-ion battery that closely resembles artificial leather. This innovative material can be woven into fabric, providing power to various devices and delivering hundreds of volts throughout the day.

Another Piezo of the Puzzle

For years, engineers have been striving to incorporate piezoelectric components into textiles. Piezoelectricity is the generation of electricity from mechanical stress — essentially, bending. The small piezoelectric elements that create this kind of energy are often referred to as nanogenerators.

When tiny piezoelectric components bend, they generate an electrical charge that can be detected. Imagine embedding these components into clothing and running for miles — could you help solve the energy crisis?

This concept is less far-fetched than it might sound. Dance floors in clubs have been outfitted with piezoelectric components, which bend as people dance. This energy is then harnessed to power other areas of the club, such as lighting or sound systems. Similarly, a company could place these components into a soldier’s boots, where each step would generate power for various battlefield devices.

One drawback of piezoelectric materials is that they typically don’t generate a significant electrical charge. The energy produced is often only measured in millivolts or nanoamps. However, with advancements in energy harvesting and storage techniques, it could be possible to capture and store that energy for powering high-demand devices in the near future.

For a soldier or explorer trapped for days without access to an electrical outlet, this technology offers significant promise. It could provide a means to recharge drained batteries in devices such as satellite phones or GPS units. A situation that once posed a serious threat to survival could be easily managed by simply walking around for a while.

Clothing designed to capture energy is still in the prototype phase. Unless there are unexpected breakthroughs in research and production, it could take years before we see consumer-grade shirts and shoes capable of turning physical movement into usable electrical energy.

Your Digital Self

Despite the clear potential of smart devices, you might wonder why these innovations haven’t yet fully integrated into our tech-driven lives. Predicting the success of a product has its challenges, and often, the conversation comes back to one major hurdle: cost.

Digital versions of products we already own are inherently more expensive to produce. Manufacturers are hesitant to invest in retooling their production lines unless they are confident in the potential for profit. On the consumer side, while the idea of owning smart pants that can charge your smartphone might seem appealing, the excitement may fade when faced with the hefty price tag.

There’s also the challenge of distinguishing between wanting and truly needing more technology. Sure, augmented reality glasses can offer immediate benefits like walking directions and restaurant reviews. But is this truly a necessary advancement in consumer tech, or is it just another way to boost your digital status and impress your friends who don’t own Glass?

Then there are the issues of privacy and security. By now, almost everyone with a cell phone understands that privacy seems to be a lost cause. However, imagine a health-monitoring wearable device being hacked by someone with malicious intent—sensitive, personal information could be exposed to the world.

Wearable technology presents an exciting frontier for digital gadget enthusiasts. Perhaps in the near future, losing your phone will be a thing of the past — as it could seamlessly be integrated right into your turtleneck.