In recent years, wearable technology has slowly began integrating itself into mainstream society by becoming part of people’s everyday routines, recreations, and even jobs. With the industry projected to reach $25 billion in value by 2019, the technology is still in its infancy and isn’t close to being perfected. Despite smartwatches comprising 60 percent of the market share, the future looks bright for wearable technology, and it’s believed that three major factors will be paramount to the future of this growing industry.
The first factor is improving the operating systems of these devices. In the past, vendors of wearable technologies (namely smartwatches) have learned from past mistakes to develop more user-friendly products. Recently, we’re seeing software updates for wearables always offer something new. Google’s Android Wear 2.0, for example, contains an array of new innovative features like Google Fit and a smarter more interactive Google Assistant. Another notable user-friendly feature is the addition of the Android Pay and Smart Reply system that gives the device a lot of equivalencies to smartphones.
Androids will compete against the Apple Watch, which already has Apple Pay services as one of its main features. Aside from tech companies like Google and Apple, watchmakers like Swatch and Tag Heuer have reportedly considered developing their own smartwatch OS brand. Swatch is supposedly looking to create an in-house OS focusing on many features that wearables lack like prolonging battery life. Company executives say the company is trying to think small and simple, which would require the device to use less power.
Another feature wearables manufacturers are working on would make these devices standalone and tether-free. Companies want to develop reliable cordless smartwatches that perform similar tasks to smartphones without having to sync the devices together. This would be essential in addressing the common perception that wearables are merely accessories to mobile devices.
Samsung successfully launched a standalone smartwatch that comes with its own SIM card, which will be able to run apps, connect to WiFi, or mobile data. Apple is also reported to be developing a tether-free watch of their own. While you can currently find different standalone smartwatches and other wearables on Amazon, almost every device has poor reviews that cite unreliable OS, operability, and compatibility. The market will soon see more reliable standalone and tether-free devices released, which will improve the mainstream perception of smartwatches and other wearables.
Following up the talks of unreliability and operational issues that wearable devices possess, another factor that’s essential to the future of this industry is improving GPS accuracy. Mitsubishi, for example, plans on accelerating their plans to deliver what’s being described as a “crazily accurate” GPS system. The project aims to sync up with four new satellites, and is projected to be released in 2018. The Japanese company isn’t trying to replace US-based GPS, but plan to address any inaccuracies in tracking service so location details can be plotted more precisely as the technology begins getting utilized by various industries.
It’s worth mentioning how the widespread availability of GPS led to the formation of the telematics industry, which integrated other technologies (like computers and mobile devices) to enable remote management of smartwatches, cars, and other equivalent technologies. Smartwatches will also be more reliable in tracking the whereabouts of its users, which is essential for demographics of certain age groups such as the elderly. As GPS increases in availability, accuracy, and innovation, more technologies and industries are expected to develop with hopes of utilizing its potential.
Simply put, the future of wearables looks extremely promising, and it looks like the best is yet to come.
