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

kdarling said:
Good question. Perhaps the technology isn't quite here yet at a price point that many people would pay. Perhaps the device's mission hasn't been defined well enough, either.

As for design, well, you could mimic big old square watches:

View attachment 454634

Slight curves are a popular design idea these days:

View attachment 454636

Or you could go super futuristic with an unusual shape:

View attachment 454637View attachment 454638

Nokia has a concept where it's a set of little screens linked together in a bracelet, and you can either twist your wrist to see the display of interest, or swipe to shift them all up a screen at a time.

View attachment 454639
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Some of those definitely work better. It took me a while to get used to just a Fitbit Flex, which is nothing compared to any of these watches. It could still use a more breathable band, but I often don't notice it.

Mission is definitely lacking. Samsung was nuts to make one that required a phone to use at all. Made me think of if Apple required cell service on an iPad instead of selling the WiFi models.

Just guessing at hardware, I can't imagine Apple making an iWatch that doesn't work with the iPhone 5 and up. Maybe $250 for a device that does all the little stuff this Fitbit does plus sort of AirPlays stuff from your phone. Like if my phone dings for email, I can look at my wrist to check it instead of finding the phone.

Oh, and the battery needs to last a week. This Fitbit lasts five days. Not bad, but mentally not as satisfying as a week. That would allow you to always charge on Sunday or something.
 
Jayse said:
Think outside the square and really, anything is possible with wearable tech like a smartwatch.
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I agree with you, but as with many, to see devices being sold with no real tangable value attached to what the device does is dumb. I'm all for a smart watch but show me why I should buy one? I have yet to see any value in them. Especially if it's tethered by Bluetooth thus negating the one need I would have and that is notifying me of a meeting or task while my phone is more than 33ft away from me.

MrHype said:
VOYCE? LOL - what a joke.
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The video is intriguing, but as a lifelong dog owner, I've been able to understand my dogs very well. From when they need to go outside "potty dance" to the stair under the end table..."my ball is under there" to the barking and jumping by the front door " I want to go on a walk" to the begging by the food dish "I'm hungry" and the let's not forget the drinking out of the toilet, "I'm thirsty and you're not being observant to me" sound....

The list goes one to include, I know when they bark at the front windows if it's a dog walking by or someone actually in the driveway. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what they say.

Side note, our one dog today I swear can hear my wife's car coming down the street. We've even tested the theory, the moment she turns down our street, he'll goes bolting to the doorway in our kitchen to wait for her whining and crying for her. Cool stuff.
 
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I love stuff like this. I'm always surprised to see how many people on here hate even the mention of a smartwatch. Yes, it is a new market, but in time I think we'll see some really attractive products come to light. And beyond that, the best thing about every product is, if you don't want it, you don't have to buy it. A lot of people cry about these things as if they are going to be forced to buy a device they are certain will disappoint them.
 
I cannot ever see Apple make a product that will work on an Android phone or anyone else's. Any other company making smart watches or another type of wearable tech may have the same philosophy.

This is where companies like Pebble have a distinct advantage - being an independent they can design their tech to work with anything they want.

The Pebble was originally designed to work only with Apple, however, when they saw that there was sufficient interest from the Android community they added that functionality to Pebble as well.

It may be that this is were we will see the tech of the future coming together; in the independent tech companies designing equipment that crosses platforms.

But that may be something for another thread of its own.
 
FYI

Pebble is releasing a stain steel version of their watch. Will have gorilla glass. Going to cost around $240.
 
Wearable Technology at CES 2014: Smart Watches, Activity Trackers, Glasses, a...

Don't expect anything interesting. Wearables will only matter once Apple steps into the game. Until then, it's all noise.
 
Well, yes that is a nice watch but why would a so called smart watch ever look anything like that? You like the mechanical engineering aspect which would not be part of an electronic watch. It is almost like saying that until a calculator is a slide rule you won't buy one. :p

jdag said:
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.
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gatearray said:
This all sounds like just more garbage for the landfill and lots of answers to questions no one asked.
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The history of mankind is filled with inventions that didn't take off. However, if we don't try, we'll never advance.

I think you can't see the forest for the trees...
 
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