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Most people with a current smartwatch know battery life is a problem, especially coming from mechanical timepieces which last years without needing a replacement. Even in smartphones, which have a lot more space to pack-in a larger battery, manufacturers struggle to get devices to last even a couple of days.
The size constraints presented by most wearable devices – not just smartwatches –...
When it comes to fitness trackers, the most renowned players are Jawbone and Fitbit. Both of these companies push the boundaries when it comes to keeping us healthy, but of the two, only Fitbit has so far attempted to combine a powerful tracker with smartwatch functionality in their most-recent flagship, the Surge.
Has the company pulled off this ambitious feat? It's time for us to find out...
First and foremost the Fitbit Surge is a fitness device, and therefore...
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When it comes to wearable devices, reaching a harmonious balance of performance and power-efficiency is of vital importance. Most chips used in current wearables haven't been designed for these devices in particular, but ARM wants to change that with the debut of the Mali-470 GPU.
The Mali-470 is a highly-optimised chip which enables smartphone-quality visuals along with an enhanced user interface for power-constrained products. Along with the aforementioned...
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Watches should be stylish, but few smartwatch manufacturers know how to combine fashion with technology due to a lack of experience. Traditional watchmakers are looking to fill that void and deliver an iconic timepiece which pays homage to decades of history – and Fossil is next up to lend their expertise.
The watch manufacturer has announced four new smart wearables ahead of the holiday season – one of which is an interesting Android Wear...
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ReportBuyer has added a report from Technavio examining the current scenario in the global wearable electronics market while also elaborating on the potential for growth.
The report, titled, Global Wearable Electronics Market 2015-2019, is based on market analysis and has been augmented with viewpoints from industry experts. Analysts at Technavio project a 79.99% CAGR in unit shipment the period 2014–2019.
Market size has been ascertained by taking into account revenue gained...
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The athlete stands on a platform surrounded by thousands of spectators, tense with expectation. In front of him is a barbell loaded with 750 pounds. He failed his first attempted lift, but with close monitoring from his coach, using technology that senses form and muscle recruitment, he is able to adjust his strategy in between sets. The lifter can now approach the 750-pound...
You can look at the specs and features of a wearable device, but little gives you a sense of how it feels and performs day-to-day without using it. In this article, I'll go over my personal experience after spending a week using the Huawei Watch and exploring some of its unique features.
Earlier in the week I posted a review of the design of the Huawei Watch, which is superb. In this article...
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A survey by IT software company Ipswitch, polling 288 American IT professionals, provides insight on challenges and the extent of wearable penetration.
Consumer adoption of wearables is on the rise and the nature of the technology and associated benefits necessitates use throughout the day, leading to concerns for IT professionals at the workplace. Close to 53% of the respondents reported employees with wearables utilising the company Wi-Fi.
As a result, 36% spoke of decreased network...
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A patent has been awarded to Google for solar-powered contact lenses which sit on an individual's eyeball to monitor a variety of conditions and offer a range of detailed insights about the user's current health status.
Google is known for some crazy ideas, which is what makes them one of the most exciting companies to watch. Some of these ideas reach spectacular heights –...
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Wristly, which examines data on the Apple Watch, has released a new report that provides insight on the behavioural changes being witnessed among owners of the Watch.
The Apple Watch is gaining traction among consumers and is transforming the health and fitness of many. An earlier report from the firm had found that 78% of Apple Watch users were more conscious of their health after using the product. Recently, an American high-school student held that the wearable had helped him avoid a...
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Frost & Sullivan has released a report that names wearable electronics among the leading microelectronics technologies in the future, with the segment expected to make headway in terms of adoption soon.
Wearable electronics is expected to play a major role in consumer and healthcare applications and this development along with the rise in the use of smart devices is boosting the development of microelectronics technologies.
The demand for cost-effective and robust devices that...
For such a beloved item with a long history of tradition, smartwatch manufacturers have an uphill struggle to convince mechanical watch owners to make the switch. However, there's a strong argument to be made that Huawei's debut watch is the first to pay true homage to decades of classic timepieces and it could be enough to entice a few more wrists over to a new digital lifestyle.
Buyers of high-end watches like Rolex or Cartier will know the premium experience starts with the packaging. Most...
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Imagine you are the chief security officer for a large enterprise organisation and you suddenly find a small TV crew working its way through your offices, panning a video camera back and forth, recording who knows what: product schedules on white boards, financial reports lying about on desks, an org chart pinned to a wall, customer data displayed on screens—all sorts of confidential information. There would be an audio track, as well, recording hallway conversations...
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A research team from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas has published a paper on a new process to make health monitoring patches.
The patent-pending process aims to develop a tattoo-like disposable patch for epidermal electronics mass production. The team was led by Assistant Professor Nanshu Lu, who helped develop epidermal electronics technology in 2011.
The process involves a cut and paste method that reduces manufacturing time to 20...
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A new report by Research and Markets has found that innovations, cloud computing and diversity in applications will play key roles in the future of wearable technology.
The report found that innovations across the entire ecosystem will play a major role in the success of wearables. The ecosystem includes app developers, technology providers, software providers and original equipment manufacturers.
Cloud computing is also expected to play a major enabling technology among wearables. In...
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A company which is known for their incredible technological innovations, Google is here to impress us once again with its Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division. Following in the footsteps of their most famous Project Ara and Project Tango, Google has announced Project Soli – which hopes to redefine our interaction with wearables and smartwatches.
Entirely coherent with human gestures, Project Soli is ATAP’s attempt to make human...
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Wearable device manufacturers such as Fitbit and Apple have been able to generate demand among consumers with the younger generation at the forefront in terms of adoption of connected devices, according to a report by Forrester.
The outlook for wearables is optimistic as 21% of online Americans currently use a wearable device and connected device users even among the ‘golden generation’, on average, utilise at least three connected devices. The average American online...
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Wearable software and hardware supplier Hillcrest Labs has introduced its MotionEngine Wear software to improve development of wearables.
The software’s always-active, sensor-enabled attributes are capable of catering to wearable manufacturers seeking cost-effective, turnkey solutions that facilitate quicker development, more functionality and improved performance along with optimisation for the supply chain. MotionEngine Wear is well-suited for use in smartwatches, activity and...
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With the very real prospect of smartwatches and smart eyewear entering the workplace in the coming years, the potential productivity gains need to be taken with a pinch of salt in terms of protecting corporate data.
That much is self-evident; but Kate Bischoff, attorney at Zelle Hofmann Voelbel & Mason LLP, argues that wearables “require mindful adoption” from employers and that the risks, in a legal context are “real.”
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If you want to appreciate the promise and the challenge of applying new technology to healthcare, look no further than the UK National Health Service.
In 2013, the Secretary of State for Health Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt challenged the NHS to “go paperless by 2018." The goal of this challenge was “to save billions, improve services and help meet the challenges of an ageing population.”
A paperless healthcare facility would have many benefits. It would enable...