Wearable Technology at CES 2014: Smart Watches, Activity Trackers, Glasses, and More

[jdag]

I do believe you are right. Can't imagine wearing anything remotely like any of them. Most look like a 5 year old kids toy from a happy meal. I'm sure Apple's will be nicer looking, but still . . .

Until they look like this, count me out.

I LOVE watches, and to me they are as much about the underlying mechanical engineering as about the beauty and telling time.

 

[Stella]

very few people ever said those things.

LOL / BS - enough people on here for starters. Many people outside of these forums also.

and if you consider the fact that there are many people who choose to stick tiny pieces of glass or plastic directly to their eyeballs instead of simply correcting their vision with a pair of eyeglasses, it is hard to imagine a future where Google Glass or any other eyewear technology saturates the market. and lets not forget the people who choose not to correct their vision at all, simply to avoid wearing glasses.

What about smart contact lenses? all very possible in the future.

People wear sunglasses.. not so much of a jump to wear 'smart glasses'. So wearing smart glasses isn't dependant on whether you need corrective lenses or not.

If you don't like wearing glasses then you won't buy it, you'll opt for an alternative product. Just like anything else.

Its only hard to imagine or predict if your not willing or unable to for one reason or another…

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It's not time for wearable devices yet. Smartwatch won't be so smart if batterry won't last at least a week. Btw, wtf is it for?

My Fitbit Force lasts at least a week w/ BT 4.0 always on and it's a fairly compact device. I suppose it all depends on why type of display is being used. If not color the battery can last a while.

 

[Stella]

Until they look like this, count me out.

Image

I LOVE watches, and to me they are as much about the underlying mechanical engineering as about the beauty and telling time.

What like, this smart watch?
http://smartwatches.findthebest.com/l/11/Citizen-Eco-Drive-Proximity

Smart watches that look similar to your picture do actually exist today. That Citizen was just one example - with the soft strap. It would look better with a different strap.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I LOVE watches, and to me they are as much about the underlying mechanical engineering as about the beauty and telling time.

I don't understand why people can't understand the "watch" description is just a metaphor same a music album is no longer a vinyl disc that spins around at 78 RPM. Providing the current time is not the main function of a smartwatch.

 

[Rigby]

You never know, many didn't see the appeal in a 3.5 touchscreen phone in 2007, and look where we are now.

Well, when I saw the first teaser video for the iPhone, I knew right away I had to have it. It was immediately clear to me that this was "mobile phone done right". All this wearable stuff leaves me cold (mostly because I haven't seen any really interesting application yet).

PS: Am I the only one who finds this "quantified self" device for dogs completely ridiculous?

 

[scbn]

So far all we hear are noises as far as wearable is concerned. Those watches and glasses are so ugly, you probably have to pay people to wear them.

 

[Piggie]

Still don't see the appeal in the glasses or the watches...

Of course not. Apple don't make them

 

[mpantone]

Still don't see the appeal in the glasses or the watches...

It will likely take several years for the technology and services to mature to the point where a larger percentage of the population will find these devices useful, interesting and worth spending money on.

Clearly, you are not part of that group who finds the current attempt of wearable technology to be of enough value to shell out your hard-earned dollars. That's fine, most people aren't.

My guess is that both items (glasses, wristwatches) will need 3-5 years of improvements (functionality, design, battery performance) before they achieve a broader market appeal.

Of course not. Apple don't make them

Note that there are persistent rumors of Apple researching wearable technology. Most likely, there are prototypes somewhere in a lab in Cupertino.

It's not like Apple waves a magic wand and a new product rolls off the manufacturing line. In most cases, years of R&D go into investigating hundreds of concepts and designs, yet only one product eventually ships, if at all.

 

[djtech42]

Based on the examples shown to date, is it an industry requirement that "smartwatches" be butt ugly?

They look like "smartphones" that came before the iPhone. Really dated.

 

[Piggie]

So far all we hear are noises as far as wearable is concerned. Those watches and glasses are so ugly, you probably have to pay people to wear them.

I feel that way about most normal watches

Horrid big bulky things, Rolex etc etc in reality all horrid things used to just pose with.

My idea of a nice class watch is a slim, when they call dress watch on a man.
Very much a Less Is More issue.

 

[mpantone]

Until they look like this, count me out.

Image

I LOVE watches, and to me they are as much about the underlying mechanical engineering as about the beauty and telling time.

Not bad.

I'm in when they look more like this:

No dorky digital watches for me!

 

[KimJonNumberUn]

LOL all these smart watch companies gonna belly up once apple releases theirs

 

[Tom G.]

To those who disparage new technology just because they don't understand it, I feel sorry. You'll always be a step or two behind the true dreamers.

I will admit that a lot of the "Smartwatches" currently available are not that good looking nor even all that "Smart." However, and it's a big "however" that does not hold true for all of them. I am the owner of a "Pebble" watch,(note I did not call it a "Smartwatch") and I find it to be a lightweight, comfortable wearing, useful piece of tech kit. Much more so than the clunky last century clunky looking and heavy Citizen, and Omega watches shown in this thread. I don't know how either one of them can notify you of an incoming email, text message, or notification, nor control your music, nor show your running stats to you including heart rate if you want it. They just weigh your wrist down and tell time. Most likely very accurately, but that's it.

It is still very early in the "Wearable Technology" game and the offerings such as the Kronoz ZeNano shown in the News Article, and the Pebble and the Samsung are all less than a year old. I find it fascinating to think where they will go.

At my local Best Buy store, here in the middle of nowhere, they sell a deadbolt lock that you can not only control with your smartphone, but also will respond to a small keychain fob that opens the door when you approach it. Very handy to get inside when it is storming badly and you don't want to mess around with putting a key in a lock. Also handy when you have an arm load of groceries. In another version of this device, there is no fob it works totally by Bluetooth from your phone.

As always in a new field some will make it and some will fail. Pebble and Samsung are among the front runners in the wrist technology, but there will be many other things out soon as well.

Enjoy.

Tom

 

[Tiger8]

well now this is completely not true. the reason the iPhone was so successful was that it WAS a technology people were readily waiting for. with phones from samsung, nokia and motorola at the time continually increasing in screen size while including more functionality with each release, the "smart phone" was a proven market. the fact that Apple was able to produce a phone that very well enhanced all of the most important aspects of the smart phones available at the time made it feel as though they had created an entirely new segment in the market. but smart phones existed already and weren't considered novelty items, not to mention the fact that whereas smart phones replaced several items at once, a "smart watch" would be adding an item back in, without reducing the need for any of the other things people already carry around with them.

True the smartphone market already existed, but it was limited to 'business pros' and let's face it, we all thought a smartphone is the blackberry style (i.e. half screen half keyboard) since no one could fathom the idea of 'typing on glass'. Millions of people had little interest in smartphones in 2007, but got their hands on an iPhone a year or two later.

I am not saying wearable technology might mimic modern smartphone success, but I wouldn't write it off so early either. You are probably turned off by all those rushed products **cough** Samsung **cough**, let's wait and see

 

[Futurix]

Smart watches have soared in popularity over the course of 2013

With manufacturers maybe... not with consumers (yet).

I haven't worn watches since I got my first mobile phone - and do not want to go back to wearing anything. Watches, glasses, fitness trackers, etc. I prefer my limp wrists free, and same with my face.

 

[adamneer]

LOL / BS - enough people on here for starters. Many people outside of these forums also.



What about smart contact lenses? all very possible in the future.

People wear sunglasses.. not so much of a jump to wear 'smart glasses'. So wearing smart glasses isn't dependant on whether you need corrective lenses or not.

If you don't like wearing glasses then you won't buy it, you'll opt for an alternative product. Just like anything else.

Its only hard to imagine or predict if your not willing or unable to for one reason or another…

people wear sunglasses as a temporary fix to overly bright conditions and generally take them off as soon as they are no longer needed. corrective lenses are needed to correct a problem that exists 100% of the time. I would say people typically carry their smart phones with them much closer to the average amount of time corrective lenses are worn, as opposed to sunglasses. it's not that I or other people are unwilling to see the possibility or potential in wearables. whereas the form factor, usability and functionality of smartphones have progressed very little from where they were when the original iPhone was announced, the form factor, usability and functionality of a smart watch or glasses is still far from being where it would need to be for these items to be unobtrusive (the whole point of wearables is that they make accessing technology more seamless and convenient). smart watches and glasses are still FAR off from filling the same form factor as the items they are designed to emulate. i have always loved the look of a nice watch, and have owned many, but have never been able to wear one on a consistent basis for extended periods of time because i just don't like how they feel on my wrist. the watches that i have owned are far smaller than any smart watch currently available and based on the technology seen in high end phones and tablets, is unlikely to reach a point soon where they diverge with traditional watch sizes. the same can be said about glasses. i have actually worn eyeglasses since i was about 12 and considering how expensive a simple acetate frame can be, i can only imagine what a pair might cost with a tiny computer seamlessly integrated inside. and again, we are years and years away from this even being remotely possible. wearable tech has so many more obstacles to overcome than the iPhone ever did in order to become a viable market, and that is not just an opinion formed from a lack of acceptance of possibility or potential.

 

[bobenhaus]

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


As it was during last year's Consumer Electronics Show, wearable technology, in the form of a variety of smart watches, fitness trackers and even smart glasses, will be a major focus of CES 2014, which is slated to begin next week.

This year, CES will feature an all new TechZone exhibit called "WristRevolution," featuring smart watches (both already released and upcoming) from a wide array of companies highlighted by PCWorld, including Kronoz, Cookoo, Sonostar, Metawatch, Archos, Burg, and Pine. Major companies like Qualcomm and Sony will also exhibit smart watches, as will seasoned veteran Pebble.

ImageKronoz ZeNano​

Some of the watches, like the Cookoo, offer notifications and more bundled in a standard watch style design, while other products, like the Sonostar, carry a more futuristic wraparound design. Some, like the Kronoz, allow users to answer calls directly on their wrists, and others, like the Pine, also include biometric sensors for measuring heart rate.Smart watches have soared in popularity over the course of 2013, following the release of the Pebble Smart Watch and an onslaught of rumors about Apple's smart "iWatch," inspiring companies like Samsung to launch their own smart watch offerings.

Along with smart watches, wearable activity trackers like the Fitbit, the Jawbone UP, and the Nike FuelBand are expected to be a popular exhibition category at CES. The show will see old favorites from companies like Fitbit and Basis, showing off their newest offerings the Fitbit Force and the Carbon Steel Basis Tracker, respectively, as well as newer devices like the Lifeband Touch from LG.

Spurred by the popularity of Google Glass, several companies will show off smart glasses, with Epson, Vuzix, GlassUp, and more exhibiting various smart eyewear products. GlassUp, like Google Glass, is designed to allow wearers to view incoming notifications like emails, text messages, app updates, and more, but it is far more simple than Google Glass, lacking key features like a camera.

Image​

Wearables that don't fall into other categories, like the MYO armband, will be exhibited as well. First introduced last year, the MYO armband is designed to detect motion and muscle movements, allowing its users to control a Mac, PC, or other device through gestures. The Kiwi Move, a small motion-tracking dongle, works similarly to an activity tracker but can be worn anywhere, while the Lumo is a back brace designed to sense and correct posture. Intel has also promised to unveil some non-specific "innovative wearables" during CES.

Image​

Wearable technology will also veer into some radical new arenas at CES, with i4c debuting VOYCE, a wearable monitor designed for dogs. The collar, which includes a number of biometric sensors, measures vital signs.

​

In addition to the above mentioned products, many other wearable surprises are expected to debut at CES this year, skyrocketing wearable technology to a new level of popularity. CES 2014 will take place from Tuesday, January 7 to Friday, January 10 in Las Vegas.

Article Link: Wearable Technology at CES 2014: Smart Watches, Activity Trackers, Glasses, and More

I'm waiting for the responses from the arrangant/iSheep when comparing all these new wearable devices to the new iWatch from Apple that hasnt been released yet. Yeah I know Apple makes the best of everything in the world.

 

[adamneer]

True the smartphone market already existed, but it was limited to 'business pros' and let's face it, we all thought a smartphone is the blackberry style (i.e. half screen half keyboard) since no one could fathom the idea of 'typing on glass'. Millions of people had little interest in smartphones in 2007, but got their hands on an iPhone a year or two later.

I am not saying wearable technology might mimic modern smartphone success, but I wouldn't write it off so early either. You are probably turned off by all those rushed products **cough** Samsung **cough**, let's wait and see

your last statement is absolutely correct, and that won't be changing any time soon. until a smart watch can be made to fit in a space no larger than a current analog watch, it will be a rushed product. and until smart glasses take up the size and weight of no more than a set of eyeglasses, it will be a rushed product as well. and both devices will STILL have to prove that they offer functionality that rivals that of the capabilities of the smartphones we are all used to by now.

 

[Popeye206]

To me it seems like the wearable bandwagon has started rolling and everyone is trying to jump on and hope their solution catches on.

With all the "misses" in the wearable segment, this is almost like a repeat of the tablet market or the smart phone market. Everyone was trying but it took one company to get it right.

It will be interesting to see who "gets it right".

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I'm waiting for the responses from the arrangant/iSheep when comparing all these new wearable devices to the new iWatch from Apple that hasnt been released yet. Yeah I know Apple makes the best of everything in the world.

Best, no. Best design, yes. Not perfect design mind you, but best among existing product. How can I positively say this factually? Because everyone copies Apple's look and feel. Again, talking about design, not functionality.

I can't say what Apple's "iWatch" will look like but based on past performance it's a safe bet it will be more stylish and therefore more desirable than anything that currently exists and style sells as much as functionality. (Note "as much as" as in equally, not form over function). Now what level that desire is at hard to say in the post-Jobs era. But, as a user of the FuelBand and Fitbit Force I'm anxious to see what Apple proposes.

 

[Jayse]

I continue to be thoroughly uninterested in these products. I can imagine the pebble being useful, but the price is far too high. Nothing the competitors add seems evenly remotely useful.



These watches don't do anything particularly well.

I love how you know this when;
a) you've probably never used a smartwatch,
b) half of these smartwatch manufacturers are yet to divulge the specs and features of their newest watches
c) your famed industry knowledge of smartwatches is highly sought after

Personally, anyone who discounts the ultimate capability of smartwatches or Apple's efforts in that product category must live a very dull and boring closed-minded lives.

Think outside the square and really, anything is possible with wearable tech like a smartwatch.

 

[MrHype]

VOYCE? LOL - what a joke. Go to their website - it's ONLY the same video, which of course says NOTHING about the device.

The name and the description "understand your dog like never before" clearly imply some sort of communication/translation technology, but in reality the thing just measures vital signs.

This company should be sued for misrepresentation. What a joke.

 

[Stella]

I think wearable devices are much closer to mass market than you think, for example, Health Bands are getting quite popular. I'd class these as wearable devices.

Smart watches will take off very soon, and yes, they still are immature products. Smart glasses, in bit further in the future than smart watches.

people wear sunglasses as a temporary fix to overly bright conditions and generally take them off as soon as they are no longer needed. corrective lenses are needed to correct a problem that exists 100% of the time. I would say people typically carry their smart phones with them much closer to the average amount of time corrective lenses are worn, as opposed to sunglasses. it's not that I or other people are unwilling to see the possibility or potential in wearables. whereas the form factor, usability and functionality of smartphones have progressed very little from where they were when the original iPhone was announced, the form factor, usability and functionality of a smart watch or glasses is still far from being where it would need to be for these items to be unobtrusive (the whole point of wearables is that they make accessing technology more seamless and convenient). smart watches and glasses are still FAR off from filling the same form factor as the items they are designed to emulate. i have always loved the look of a nice watch, and have owned many, but have never been able to wear one on a consistent basis for extended periods of time because i just don't like how they feel on my wrist. the watches that i have owned are far smaller than any smart watch currently available and based on the technology seen in high end phones and tablets, is unlikely to reach a point soon where they diverge with traditional watch sizes. the same can be said about glasses. i have actually worn eyeglasses since i was about 12 and considering how expensive a simple acetate frame can be, i can only imagine what a pair might cost with a tiny computer seamlessly integrated inside. and again, we are years and years away from this even being remotely possible. wearable tech has so many more obstacles to overcome than the iPhone ever did in order to become a viable market, and that is not just an opinion formed from a lack of acceptance of possibility or potential.

 

[MrHype]

Not bad.

I'm in when they look more like this:
Image

No dorky digital watches for me!

I have that watch. It died after 5 years. It'll cost $500-$1000 to send it to Switzerland to be repaired, so I no longer wear it.