The Future of Wearables

Jan 05, 2017

Although wearable technology has been publicized throughout 2016, I believe we have only just begun to explore the possibilities of what wearables can do. The end of 2016 gave rise to many newsworthy stories in the wearable industry. It all started when Fitbit Inc., the fitness wearable powerhouse, announced that they would acquire Pebble, a smartwatch startup. This acquisition was mainly in part for the engineering staff/developers, and for the intellectual property that the company owned. The key components were Pebble's operating system, their apps, and cloud services. As the wearable market becomes more competitive, companies need to innovate or risk losing their market appeal.

Image from BetaNews.com. Cartoon person wearing several high-tech devices such as watches,

glasses, headphones, belt, heart rate monitor and is holding an iPad and iPhone.

The second story that reinforced my previous statement was Google announcing that they will be releasing to new flagship smartwatches and entering the wearables market in the first quarter of 2017. Although they will not be specifically branded as Google products, they are strong influencers in the product's design and its technology. The manufacturer remains a secret and is a potential marketing ploy to create buzz and interest around the products release.

Although wearable technology has been publicized throughout 2016, I believe we have only just begun to explore the possibilities of what wearables can do. The end of 2016 gave rise to many newsworthy stories in the wearable industry. It all started when Fitbit Inc., the fitness wearable powerhouse, announced that they would acquire Pebble, a smartwatch startup. This acquisition was mainly in part for the engineering staff/developers, and for the intellectual property that the company owned. The key components were Pebble's operating system, their apps, and cloud services. As the wearable market becomes more competitive, companies need to innovate or risk losing their market appeal. The second story that reinforced my previous statement was Google announcing that they will be releasing to new flagship smartwatches and entering the wearables market in the first quarter of 2017. Although they will not be specifically branded as Google products, they are strong influencers in the product's design and its technology. The manufacturer remains a secret and is a potential marketing ploy to create buzz and interest around the products release.

Image from BetaNews.com. Cartoon person wearing several high-tech devices such as watches,

glasses, headphones, belt, heart rate monitor and is holding an iPad and iPhone.

The wearable market continues to see new entrants as companies see the potential in the industry.


Wearables offer a prime opportunity for growth in many industries. A few industries that can benefit from wearables are healthcare/fitness, manufacturing/warehousing, and fashion/entertainment.

HEALTHCARE AND FITNESS

Healthcare and fitness is the most obvious beneficiary. Wearable healthcare and fitness trackers can make doctors' visits a thing of the past. The ability for doctors to see real time data for patients can not only improve their care, but help to make the relationship feel more personal. Doctors can see their patient's habits for themselves and help improve their healthy lifestyles. Fitness wearables can recommend workout routines, sleeping habits, and even track your progress. With New Year's resolutions at the forefront of 2017, fitness trackers can be the help you need to make sure you succeed!


A big part of why this industry is thriving is through wearables is because of its social aspects. For example, Fitbit allows its users to share profile information, average daily step count, sleep data, activity data, and badges with Fitbit friends. In addition, Fitbit allows users to share exercise accomplishments, challenge results, landmarks in adventures, and badges via any app that allows photo sharing, including text message, email, Facebook, and more. The interaction with friends is a huge factor in why the Fitbit is so successful and continuously helps people reach their goals. We live in a time where people want to share and connect with as many people as possible and wearables gives us that opportunity.

MANUFACTURING/WAREHOUSING

When it comes to the manufacturing/warehousing industries logistics are key to success. Wearables can improve the logistics and efficiency in these industries. For example, wearables can be assigned to certain drivers/trucks and make sure those drivers are on time and pick up the right packages from their distribution centers. The ability to streamline and synchronize your IS (Information Systems) with wearables can create competitive advantages for your company. These advantages can lead to an increase in profit and overall efficiency. 

FASHION/ENTERTAINMENT

Fashion and entertainment has always been in the discussion for wearables as they should be visually appealing. However, companies like Under Armor are pushing to introduce new wearable technology such as Smart Shoes. These can be connected to apps and help improve an athlete's performance, a workout routine, or help promote a healthier lifestyle. Another recent example is Snap Inc.'s Spectacles. The Spectacles are fashionable sunglasses that also have a camera attached to its lenses that sync directly with the Snapchat app. Like I stated above, social viability is the key to success. The Spectacles record the 'Snaps' and the user can add location filters, drawings, text and effects which can then be shared with their Snapchat friends. The more social the wearable can be, the better. The ability to look cool and be trendy is a big part of why Spectacles has been so popular. "Smart" clothing is on the rise and we have yet to see the full potential of wearable technology and how it can connect people around the world.


The biggest aspect that all industries should consider is the massive amounts of data that can be generated by wearables and what to do with it. The data can be grouped together and analyzed to show patterns in consumer behavior. As patterns and trends emerge companies can improve their products or even develop a new product to meet consumer needs. The more you know about your consumers habits the more prepared you are to give them products they can't live without. Regardless of where we see wearables in the future, we do know that the data they create is crucial to the industry's growth. 

Never miss an update from “The Shoppe,” sign up for our email list today!

Subscribe

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.

Subscribe

We respect your privacy.

Person holding a phone using a search engine
27 Mar, 2024
Googles recent search algorithm update from March 2024 has marketers and business owners worried about ai-generated content. Read our blog to learn what the update really means and how AI-generated content should be approached.
25 Mar, 2024
In today’s rapidly changing advertising landscape, brands are leveraging cutting-edge technologies and platforms to connect with audiences in more personalized and impactful ways. From the strategic placements in high-profile events like March Madness to the innovative use of AI chatbots and social media promo codes, the advertising world is witnessing a transformation. This blog post explores the latest developments in advertising strategies and technologies that are setting new standards for consumer interaction.
19 Mar, 2024
As the digital landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, there's a new trend that's been making quite a splash - the rise of decentralized social media platforms. The most notable among these is Bluesky, a platform that was announced in 2019 by Twitter co-founder, Jack Dorsey. Initially operating as an invite-only application, Bluesky officially opened its doors to the public. Join us as we delve deeper into this new app, exploring the potential of decentralized social media platforms and how networks like Bluesky are changing the way we interact online.
Giant mammoths in the snow
13 Mar, 2024
OpenAi's latest invention, Sora, is revolutionizing how generative AI is used in content creation. Read more to find out how!
07 Mar, 2024
Many brands think about including celebrities in their marketing materials, attracted by the buzz around stars like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. However, it's important to understand the legal rules and fair use aspects in this situation.
27 Feb, 2024
Social media marketers have a lot on their hands when it comes to scheduling times to post content. Below are the best times to post to Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for your business to optimize your organic posting strategy and increase engagement.
More Posts
Share by: