Wearables are becoming prevalent. Once limited to watches, wearables are the next paradigm shift in the relationship between people and their things. It would be quite intriguing to explore why this became a focus.

Computers, watches, rings, earphones, headphones or rather any kind of hardware that went on the body or behaved as an extension of the body were thought of as objects on their own. More specifically, purpose-driven objects. These objects were created on fragmented ideas of tomorrow and how humans can access information. The Internet made it possible to bring information at the tip of a finger and make it accessible whenever needed. In today's times when mobile phones are equipped to function similarly to a laptop that carries your daily tasks like sending emails, and text messages, using software to make drawings, plans etc. depending upon what your work is.

The emergence of the Internet of Things gave the hardware a new purpose of harnessing present data. Harnessing data brought an understanding of our subconscious needs which we were unaware of or which created the need we were unaware of. So where do wearables stand in this cycle?

The flow diagram shows the cycle and relationship between the data and purpose-driven hardware. Let me explain what I mean by purpose-driven hardware with some examples below:

• Computers: made to solve numerical calculations

• Mobile phone: to release people from cords and confined devices to talk/communicate with each other

• Watches: to tell time, day and date.

• Cars: a machine that transports goods and people from one place to another

• Audio devices: Experience music

you get the idea!

In today's information-driven world, the next step for any hardware is to effectively collect, store, and transmit data. The healthcare and medical industry stands to benefit the most from this progress. Devices such as EKG/ECG monitors, sleep trackers, and smartwatches have already proven to be incredibly impactful in improving sleep quality, promoting physical activity, and enhancing overall well-being. Chronic diseases are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Accessible smart devices like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin watches, Withings, Dexcom glucose meters, and Accu-Chek, allow individuals to monitor their heart rate, daily steps, and distance walked. These devices also enable real-time tracking of essential vitals, such as glucose levels, providing valuable insights into our bodies' performance during various activities.

So, what’s next? Where is the wearable market headed?

The current state of wearables is limited to body parts like the wrist, eyes, ears and in some cases, the chest. But can wearables be everywhere on the body? The current wearable technology comes in all forms and functions that can measure biometric signals from the body. Most of these devices are generally developed for monitoring and tracking certain parameters. There are groups of people who are developing implantables, some are working on lactate and ketone sensors that give a comprehensive data about your body. The location of these wearables matters since high biometric quality signals are important as they enable advanced metrics that are increasingly important to helping wearables provide deeper insights into an individual’s health and fitness.

The future of wearables promises a leap in functionality and integration. Devices will evolve beyond fitness tracking to offer advanced health monitoring, including real-time diagnostics and personalized health insights. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) integration will enhance daily experiences and productivity. Wearables will seamlessly connect with other smart devices, creating a unified digital ecosystem. Advanced materials and miniaturization will lead to more comfortable, discreet designs. Enhanced AI will provide more intuitive interactions, predictive capabilities, and automated responses. Wearables will become integral to managing health, enhancing communication, and augmenting reality in increasingly sophisticated ways.

…so, if you have stuck around until now, I appreciate you and would love to hear your comments.

I am Amruta, an industrial designer building physical products and experiences in the field of healthcare, climate change and sustainability to make new technology, easily accessible. I love to talk about tech that impacts how we take care of our health and some disrupting processes. Thanks for visiting my website :)