Emerging Technologies
Content
Program & Batch:
PGDM (2014-2016)
Term:
Term 4
Course Name:
ETNO
Name of the faculty:
Dr. Poonam Garg
Topic/ Title :
Body Adaptable Wearable Electronics
Original
or Revised Write-up:
Original
Group Number:
Group 1
Contact No. and email of Group
Coordinator:
Group Members:
08377853052/[email protected]
Sl
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Roll No.
140102035
140103023
140103055
140103028
140102133
140101092
140101018
Name
Ayan Saha
Ankita Rai
Deepika Kumari
Apalak Kashyap
T.V. Shankaran
Madhav Maheshwari
Anandamayee Agarwal
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................ 3
Current Scenario & Application.......................................................................4
Growing Number of Devices............................................................................. 5
Market Segmentation........................................................................................ 6
Future Trend........................................................................................................ 6
Challenges........................................................................................................... 7
Design Constraints............................................................................................. 7
High Power Consumption....................................................................................7
High Initial Cost.................................................................................................. 8
Lack of Data Privacy and Security......................................................................8
Usage Restrictions.............................................................................................. 8
Small Scale Project - LECHAL Footwear..........................................................9
Components....................................................................................................... 9
Overview.......................................................................................................... 10
Navigation........................................................................................................ 10
Fitness.............................................................................................................. 11
Interaction........................................................................................................ 11
Orientation....................................................................................................... 11
Smart Assist..................................................................................................... 12
Conclusion......................................................................................................... 12
References........................................................................................................ 13
Introduction
Gartner's 2014 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies Maps the Journey to
Digital Business. Gartner said that as enterprises set out on the journey to
becoming digital businesses, identifying and employing the right
technologies at the right time will be critical. The Hype Cycle for Emerging
Technologies report is the longest-running annual Hype Cycle, providing a
cross-industry perspective on the technologies and trends that business
strategists, chief innovation officers, R&D leaders, entrepreneurs, global
market developers and emerging technology teams should consider in
developing emerging-technology portfolios.
Technology is advancing at a rapid pace and devices are becoming
smaller, faster and more feature heavy due to factors such as:
Increased processing speed
Increased battery capacity
Precision sensor technologies
Wearable electronics refers to an integrated computing device or product,
which helps the person or the user wearing it to enhance day to day
activities. The technological advancement in wearable electronics, help
the user to avail advanced features and characteristics. Wearable
computing pursues an interface ideal of a continuously worn, intelligent
assistant that augments memory, intellect, creativity, communication, and
physical senses and abilities.
These virtually invisible devices include ear buds that monitor heart rate,
sensors worn under clothes to track posture, a temporary tattoo that
tracks health vitals, haptic shoe soles that communicate GPS directions
through vibration alerts felt by the feet and the likes.
Current Scenario & Application
Wearable Technology
The first form of electronic wearable electronic device was a calculator
watch. Wearable devices such as wrist bands, and watches, which can
record audio, video and process data on the go, were seen as something
very futuristic; however, advancements made in the past decade has
made it possible for users to realize the potential of these devices in the
current
age.
‘Wearable technology’ forayed in as a technological advancement only a
decade ago, and the interest in this sector still continues to grow. The
interest is mostly led by wearable fitness trackers, smart watches, and
bands. Lately, such is the impact of these wearable devices that, now
mobile operators are moving towards offering smart watches along with
fitness trackers, or smart phones with smart watches as a part of a
bundled deal to woo customers.
These are products that must be worn
period of time, significantly enhancing
the product being worn. Furthermore,
wireless connectivity and at least
processing capability.
Applications
on the user’s body for an extended
the user’s experience as a result of
it must contain advanced circuitry,
a minimal level of independent
The categories of wearable technology can be defined as follows:
• Fitness and Wellness - Devices which pass the two tests of
wearable technology and are used in the monitoring of activity and
emotions.
• Healthcare and Medical - Devices which pass the two tests of
wearable technology and require FDA or equivalent approval. They
are used in monitoring of vital signs, as well as for augmenting
senses.
• Industrial and Military – Devices that pass the two tests of
wearable technology and receive/transmit real-time data in military
and/or industrial environments.
• Infotainment - Devices that pass the two tests of wearable
technology and are used to receive and transmit real-time
information for entertainment or enhanced lifestyle purposes.
According to various estimates, the highest revenue generating products
sold in 2012 were wrist wear (fitness and activity monitors accounting for
anywhere between 60%-90% market share) and continuous glucose
monitors (wearable medical devices).
Such devices have seen high consumer adoption, which is expected to
pave the way for increased awareness and adoption of other wearable
infotainment devices such as smart watches and glasses
The Fitness market (estimated to be $2-$3 billion) dominated by players
such as Nike, Adidas, FitBit, Jawbone etc have led the charge in wearable
devices and brought it to the mainstream market.
However, the entry of big-name brands such as Google, Apple and
Samsung has lent credibility to the industry and increased awareness of
wearable devices of the infotainment sector among mainstream
consumers.
But still, the market is currently dominated by startups borne out of online
crowd-funding
campaigns such as kickstarter and indiegogo.
At the moment most existing devices are used to help people better
understand their personal health and fitness by monitoring exercise and
heart rate etc. The effect this has on the social environment is that it can
empower people to take a more active role in their personal well-being.
Presently, wearable electronics are only deemed to be an important
advancement in terms of luxury; however, the way this innovation is
catching up the imagination of current users, the global conglomerates
and businesses see this as a major opportunity to expand and increase
their market.
Growing Number of Devices
The market for wearable electronics is expected to grow at a significant
rate during the period 2013-2020. The market for wearable electronics
was largely dominated by North America, followed by the European Union
and Asia Pacific.
Overall, the market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 26% during the
forecast period. Growth of this industry is majorly driven by factors such
as high adoption rate of digital devices, convergence of technologies, and
penetration of wireless connectivity.
Market Segmentation
Wearable devices find their usage in a variety of applications. The
segments are broadly classified into two segments which are:
Consumer
Commercial
Market by Product Segment
Future Trend
The market for consumer electronics is predicted to grow at a CAGR of
26% with increase in the number of consumers adopting digital devices,
presence of internet mobility and convergence of technologies. Memory,
display and sensor components have huge growing markets with
applications in life style, fitness and defense. Global wearable electronics
market is expected to reach 25.19 billion dollars by 2020.
Large players like Google, Apple and the likes are penetrating into the
market of wearable technology, and definitely there is huge scope in the
future of wearable electronics. A lot of funds are going into research and
development to come up with better quality electronics.
Wearable electronics is still in its nascent stage and given this situation
the future is bound to see pattern changes in consumer behavior as it was
the case with smart phones. However to make it more appealing to
consumers, businesses must focus on certain factors:
Form Factor – Compact, sleek and convenient to carry
Battery Life – Improved battery life to give more backup and less
hassles
With respect to functionality of these devices, they have to cater to the
varying requirements of the consumers.
Global Wearable Electronics Market
14000
12642
12000
10920
10000
8862
7140
8000
Market Value in million US Dollars
5166
6000
4000
2000
0
6.3
630
2520
1260
Year
Challenges
Major challenges include lack of design features, higher power
consumption of wearable devices, high initial cost and users’ concerns
regarding data privacy.
Design Constraints
One of the major challenges in the Global Consumer Smart Wearable
Technology market is the design constraints of wearable devices because
most consumers use normal wearable accessories such as watches,
jewelry, wristbands, and glasses to make a statement about their personal
identity. In this case, the wearable item reflects the fashion trend of the
users.
Currently, most smart wearable device manufacturers are focused on
technology rather than on design. For instance, most of the smart watches
run on processors and components that are designed for smartphones so
they are bulkier than a normal watch. Similarly, smart wearable eyewear
may not reflect the fashion preferences of the user.
High Power Consumption
One of the major challenges for vendors in the market is the high power
consumption of smart wearable devices. Most wearable devices use
wireless networks, GPS, and other technologies that consume a lot of
power.
Currently, the battery power of wearable devices lasts for one to two days.
In the case of intensive usage, the battery lasts for less than a day. For
instance, the Google Glass battery lasts for 4-8 hours during intensive
usage.
Thus, the short battery life and high power consumption of wearable
devices are reducing usage and adoption, which is expected to hamper
the growth prospects of the market during the forecast period.
High Initial Cost
The high cost of smart wearable devices is one of the major challenges
that is expected to curtail the growth of the market during the forecast
period. Most manufacturers in this market are launching their products in
the premium product category.
For instance, the ASP of a smart wearable device is US$350-380,
depending on the application. The ASP of healthcare wearable devices
is US$720-750, while the ASP of fitness and lifestyle products is US$280350.
In addition, the prices of branded products are very high. For
example, Google Glass is priced at US$1,500. As a result, the mass
adoption of wearable devices is very low because of a general lack of
affordability.
Lack of Data Privacy and Security
Most wearable devices are small in size, but they are able to store a large
amount of data. The small size of these devices means that the chance of
them being lost or misplaced is high. Since they store a large amount of
sensitive information, smart wearable devices can cause a disruption in
work for users.
In addition, wearable devices use GPS navigation systems to receive
location-based information. Sometimes, users have to share their location
to obtain certain information. For instance, Google Glass users have to
share their location while checking-in at Foursquare, which is stored in its
database. This information can be retrieved and used by advertisers as
well.
Moreover, the data about a subscriber's location is owned and controlled
by the respective network operators, which includes mobile carriers and
mobile content providers. With operators privy to such information, endusers are concerned about their privacy, despite legal frameworks to
safeguard it.
Usage Restrictions
Though wearable technology hasn’t been around for long, it has been on
many companies’ radars for a while. As we all know, the possibilities are
endless for wearable technology. But while this is great for consumers, it
isn’t the best news for businesses that require strict laws and high
security to operate.
So far, wearable technology has been banned in casinos, movie theatres,
and even some restaurants have disallowed their patrons to adorn
wearables.
Small Scale Project - LECHAL Footwear
Ducere Technologies announced the launch of the world’s first interactive
haptic footwear under their wearable technology brand ‘LECHAL’
(pronounced lay-ch-al, meaning “take me there” in Hindi).
Components
Shoes that connect with your smartphone and help you navigate, stay fit
and interact. The Lechal App syncs with Google Maps to allow you to
navigate with ease wherever you are in the world. Get route guidance,
explore new places, find out more about where you live - go anywhere and
everywhere!
Bluetooth enabled insoles that fit into most shoes and transform them into
interactive haptic footwear. Lechal uses the technology of touch or haptics
to create a truly interactive experience for the user. The footwear uses
Bluetooth technology to connect to the user's smartphone. Using simple
foot gestures or voice commands, the wearer can use it as a navigational
tool or track their activity from a fitness perspective. The footwear
communicates with the user via vibratory responses, making it a handsfree
experience.
This kind of unobtrusive and intuitive user interaction is what sets Lechal
apart.
The World’s first interactive charger. Snap your fingers, listen for audio
feedback and know your charge status. One USB charger for all your
portable devices.
Overview
When you're out running, walking, or biking, it's inconvenient and
potentially hazardous to keep your eyes glued to the map on your phone.
Imagine if your shoes told you which way to go without you ever having to
take your eyes off the road or sidewalk. That's the idea behind the Lechal
smart shoes and insoles from Ducere Technologies.
The shoes sync over Bluetooth to an app that pulls your path from Google
Maps. The shoes buzz to tell you which direction to turn. A buzzing right
shoe means to hang a right. A buzzing left shoe means to go the other
way. The shoes were originally designed to help people with visual
impairments navigate more effectively, but the company's founders soon
realized there could be a much wider market.
Potential uses for the Lechal go beyond just getting somewhere. They can
also be used to send proximity alerts to phones, notifying tourists of
interesting landmarks nearby. The footwear will alert you should you
accidentally try to leave your phone behind so you don't get stuck out in
the middle of nowhere. The shoes also aspire to work as a wearable
fitness monitor, tracking steps and calories burned.
Keeping the insoles and shoes juiced up requires slipping a rechargeable
battery into the very back of the insole or behind the heel of the shoes.
The charger itself is kind of fancy. Dubbed "the world's first interactive
charger," it's designed to give audio feedback as to its charging levels
when you snap your fingers.
The shoes are expected to cost around $135/£80/AU$144 (a price that's in
keeping with a high-end pair of athletic shoes). Ducere Technologies says
sales to the general public will help subsidize Lechal footwear for the
visually impaired.
Navigation
An app loaded on a smartphone pairs with the footwear via Bluetooth. The
user interacts with the app and can set a destination. The phone’s GPS is
used to calculate location data. Directions are conveyed to the user via
haptics (simple vibrations) in the footwear. The footwear that vibrates is
the way to go.
Fitness
LECHAL footwear counts your steps, and calculates your calories burnt.
Through the App the user can create custom workout sessions and much
more.
Interaction
‘LECHAL’ footwear allows you to tag locations, set destinations,
start/stop/pause navigation and much more, all by executing simple foot
gestures. Control the entire LECHAL experience with just two buttons or by
voice commands.
Orientation
Intuitive shoe vibrations always point you in the right direction whether in
familiar or unfamiliar areas.
Smart Assist
Never leave your phone behind. Lechal footwear alerts you if your phone
is not in close proximity. While travelling to a new place, get automatic
notifications of landmarks around you. Customize your experience with
the device. Customize the vibration intensity, notification alerts, and much
more.
Conclusion
Usage of wearable is still at a nascent stage, the dawn of mobile wireless
systems, smart phones has sparked a new era for wearable electronics
globally. Gadgets which were deemed to be just used in industrial,
commercial applications are now finding its way into normal consumers
enhancing their quality of life through various applications such as
healthcare, sports and fitness, lifestyle among a few. As per our analysis,
the market will follow moderate growth within prevailing market
conditions. However, even to achieve this, whole lot of the onus is for the
manufacturers to do the following:
Educate customers to showcase the benefits of wearable electronics
even in the presence of substitutes
Position products wherein customers feel that the there is a fair
price value rationale
Ease of access and wear ability. Smart watches have already
gathered a lot of market even though wearable electronics are still
in its early stages.
We believe the following reasons are the most important which could help
the penetration for wearable electronics:
Watches are the most common form of wearable electronics worn by
consumers, smart watches replace that and the watches are not
only used to show time, calendar, altitude, but now these also track
heart rate, pulse and gives an analysis of users’ health which can be
further analyzed on their laptops or other devices. These watches
also include sleep timers to monitor sleep
On a single device, convergence has helped consumers to make
calls through their smart watches. In this case, from a single device,
consumers achieve a lot of things and when compared to three or
four different devices, a single device takes its place, which in turn
has resulted in the success of this particular wearable electronic. If
the same can be achieved for other wearable devices, there would
be mass consumption of these devices as we have seen with smart
phones
Adoption of smart phones is one bright spot which indicates that
given accessibility and options, with perceived benefits, which
showcases that there is a lot of potential for wearable electronics in
the market.
References
http://www.businessinsider.in/Here-Are-The-Top-10-EmergingTechnologies-For-2014/1-Body-adapted-WearableElectronics/slideshow/31057947.cms
https://techwearables.wordpress.com/
http://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/body-adapted-wearableelectronics-market
https://itea3.org/innovation-report/improving-the-quality-ofeveryday-life-through-wearable-computers.html
http://observer.com/2014/07/new-bluetooth-enabled-smart-shoesvibrate-to-give-you-directions/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a10922/thes
e-smart-shoes-vibrate-to-give-turn-by-turn-directions-17033713/
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/lechal-smart-shoes-sync-withgoogle-maps/
http://www.cnet.com/news/bluetooth-smart-shoes-vibrate-you-inthe-right-direction/
http://www.lechal.com/press-release/
http://www.technavio.com/blog/exploring-five-challenges-in-thewearable-technology-market
http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/mobile-andwireless/wearable-devices-privacy-security-worries-loom-large/d/did/1316833
PGDM (2014-2016)
Term:
Term 4
Course Name:
ETNO
Name of the faculty:
Dr. Poonam Garg
Topic/ Title :
Body Adaptable Wearable Electronics
Original
or Revised Write-up:
Original
Group Number:
Group 1
Contact No. and email of Group
Coordinator:
Group Members:
08377853052/[email protected]
Sl
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Roll No.
140102035
140103023
140103055
140103028
140102133
140101092
140101018
Name
Ayan Saha
Ankita Rai
Deepika Kumari
Apalak Kashyap
T.V. Shankaran
Madhav Maheshwari
Anandamayee Agarwal
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................ 3
Current Scenario & Application.......................................................................4
Growing Number of Devices............................................................................. 5
Market Segmentation........................................................................................ 6
Future Trend........................................................................................................ 6
Challenges........................................................................................................... 7
Design Constraints............................................................................................. 7
High Power Consumption....................................................................................7
High Initial Cost.................................................................................................. 8
Lack of Data Privacy and Security......................................................................8
Usage Restrictions.............................................................................................. 8
Small Scale Project - LECHAL Footwear..........................................................9
Components....................................................................................................... 9
Overview.......................................................................................................... 10
Navigation........................................................................................................ 10
Fitness.............................................................................................................. 11
Interaction........................................................................................................ 11
Orientation....................................................................................................... 11
Smart Assist..................................................................................................... 12
Conclusion......................................................................................................... 12
References........................................................................................................ 13
Introduction
Gartner's 2014 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies Maps the Journey to
Digital Business. Gartner said that as enterprises set out on the journey to
becoming digital businesses, identifying and employing the right
technologies at the right time will be critical. The Hype Cycle for Emerging
Technologies report is the longest-running annual Hype Cycle, providing a
cross-industry perspective on the technologies and trends that business
strategists, chief innovation officers, R&D leaders, entrepreneurs, global
market developers and emerging technology teams should consider in
developing emerging-technology portfolios.
Technology is advancing at a rapid pace and devices are becoming
smaller, faster and more feature heavy due to factors such as:
Increased processing speed
Increased battery capacity
Precision sensor technologies
Wearable electronics refers to an integrated computing device or product,
which helps the person or the user wearing it to enhance day to day
activities. The technological advancement in wearable electronics, help
the user to avail advanced features and characteristics. Wearable
computing pursues an interface ideal of a continuously worn, intelligent
assistant that augments memory, intellect, creativity, communication, and
physical senses and abilities.
These virtually invisible devices include ear buds that monitor heart rate,
sensors worn under clothes to track posture, a temporary tattoo that
tracks health vitals, haptic shoe soles that communicate GPS directions
through vibration alerts felt by the feet and the likes.
Current Scenario & Application
Wearable Technology
The first form of electronic wearable electronic device was a calculator
watch. Wearable devices such as wrist bands, and watches, which can
record audio, video and process data on the go, were seen as something
very futuristic; however, advancements made in the past decade has
made it possible for users to realize the potential of these devices in the
current
age.
‘Wearable technology’ forayed in as a technological advancement only a
decade ago, and the interest in this sector still continues to grow. The
interest is mostly led by wearable fitness trackers, smart watches, and
bands. Lately, such is the impact of these wearable devices that, now
mobile operators are moving towards offering smart watches along with
fitness trackers, or smart phones with smart watches as a part of a
bundled deal to woo customers.
These are products that must be worn
period of time, significantly enhancing
the product being worn. Furthermore,
wireless connectivity and at least
processing capability.
Applications
on the user’s body for an extended
the user’s experience as a result of
it must contain advanced circuitry,
a minimal level of independent
The categories of wearable technology can be defined as follows:
• Fitness and Wellness - Devices which pass the two tests of
wearable technology and are used in the monitoring of activity and
emotions.
• Healthcare and Medical - Devices which pass the two tests of
wearable technology and require FDA or equivalent approval. They
are used in monitoring of vital signs, as well as for augmenting
senses.
• Industrial and Military – Devices that pass the two tests of
wearable technology and receive/transmit real-time data in military
and/or industrial environments.
• Infotainment - Devices that pass the two tests of wearable
technology and are used to receive and transmit real-time
information for entertainment or enhanced lifestyle purposes.
According to various estimates, the highest revenue generating products
sold in 2012 were wrist wear (fitness and activity monitors accounting for
anywhere between 60%-90% market share) and continuous glucose
monitors (wearable medical devices).
Such devices have seen high consumer adoption, which is expected to
pave the way for increased awareness and adoption of other wearable
infotainment devices such as smart watches and glasses
The Fitness market (estimated to be $2-$3 billion) dominated by players
such as Nike, Adidas, FitBit, Jawbone etc have led the charge in wearable
devices and brought it to the mainstream market.
However, the entry of big-name brands such as Google, Apple and
Samsung has lent credibility to the industry and increased awareness of
wearable devices of the infotainment sector among mainstream
consumers.
But still, the market is currently dominated by startups borne out of online
crowd-funding
campaigns such as kickstarter and indiegogo.
At the moment most existing devices are used to help people better
understand their personal health and fitness by monitoring exercise and
heart rate etc. The effect this has on the social environment is that it can
empower people to take a more active role in their personal well-being.
Presently, wearable electronics are only deemed to be an important
advancement in terms of luxury; however, the way this innovation is
catching up the imagination of current users, the global conglomerates
and businesses see this as a major opportunity to expand and increase
their market.
Growing Number of Devices
The market for wearable electronics is expected to grow at a significant
rate during the period 2013-2020. The market for wearable electronics
was largely dominated by North America, followed by the European Union
and Asia Pacific.
Overall, the market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 26% during the
forecast period. Growth of this industry is majorly driven by factors such
as high adoption rate of digital devices, convergence of technologies, and
penetration of wireless connectivity.
Market Segmentation
Wearable devices find their usage in a variety of applications. The
segments are broadly classified into two segments which are:
Consumer
Commercial
Market by Product Segment
Future Trend
The market for consumer electronics is predicted to grow at a CAGR of
26% with increase in the number of consumers adopting digital devices,
presence of internet mobility and convergence of technologies. Memory,
display and sensor components have huge growing markets with
applications in life style, fitness and defense. Global wearable electronics
market is expected to reach 25.19 billion dollars by 2020.
Large players like Google, Apple and the likes are penetrating into the
market of wearable technology, and definitely there is huge scope in the
future of wearable electronics. A lot of funds are going into research and
development to come up with better quality electronics.
Wearable electronics is still in its nascent stage and given this situation
the future is bound to see pattern changes in consumer behavior as it was
the case with smart phones. However to make it more appealing to
consumers, businesses must focus on certain factors:
Form Factor – Compact, sleek and convenient to carry
Battery Life – Improved battery life to give more backup and less
hassles
With respect to functionality of these devices, they have to cater to the
varying requirements of the consumers.
Global Wearable Electronics Market
14000
12642
12000
10920
10000
8862
7140
8000
Market Value in million US Dollars
5166
6000
4000
2000
0
6.3
630
2520
1260
Year
Challenges
Major challenges include lack of design features, higher power
consumption of wearable devices, high initial cost and users’ concerns
regarding data privacy.
Design Constraints
One of the major challenges in the Global Consumer Smart Wearable
Technology market is the design constraints of wearable devices because
most consumers use normal wearable accessories such as watches,
jewelry, wristbands, and glasses to make a statement about their personal
identity. In this case, the wearable item reflects the fashion trend of the
users.
Currently, most smart wearable device manufacturers are focused on
technology rather than on design. For instance, most of the smart watches
run on processors and components that are designed for smartphones so
they are bulkier than a normal watch. Similarly, smart wearable eyewear
may not reflect the fashion preferences of the user.
High Power Consumption
One of the major challenges for vendors in the market is the high power
consumption of smart wearable devices. Most wearable devices use
wireless networks, GPS, and other technologies that consume a lot of
power.
Currently, the battery power of wearable devices lasts for one to two days.
In the case of intensive usage, the battery lasts for less than a day. For
instance, the Google Glass battery lasts for 4-8 hours during intensive
usage.
Thus, the short battery life and high power consumption of wearable
devices are reducing usage and adoption, which is expected to hamper
the growth prospects of the market during the forecast period.
High Initial Cost
The high cost of smart wearable devices is one of the major challenges
that is expected to curtail the growth of the market during the forecast
period. Most manufacturers in this market are launching their products in
the premium product category.
For instance, the ASP of a smart wearable device is US$350-380,
depending on the application. The ASP of healthcare wearable devices
is US$720-750, while the ASP of fitness and lifestyle products is US$280350.
In addition, the prices of branded products are very high. For
example, Google Glass is priced at US$1,500. As a result, the mass
adoption of wearable devices is very low because of a general lack of
affordability.
Lack of Data Privacy and Security
Most wearable devices are small in size, but they are able to store a large
amount of data. The small size of these devices means that the chance of
them being lost or misplaced is high. Since they store a large amount of
sensitive information, smart wearable devices can cause a disruption in
work for users.
In addition, wearable devices use GPS navigation systems to receive
location-based information. Sometimes, users have to share their location
to obtain certain information. For instance, Google Glass users have to
share their location while checking-in at Foursquare, which is stored in its
database. This information can be retrieved and used by advertisers as
well.
Moreover, the data about a subscriber's location is owned and controlled
by the respective network operators, which includes mobile carriers and
mobile content providers. With operators privy to such information, endusers are concerned about their privacy, despite legal frameworks to
safeguard it.
Usage Restrictions
Though wearable technology hasn’t been around for long, it has been on
many companies’ radars for a while. As we all know, the possibilities are
endless for wearable technology. But while this is great for consumers, it
isn’t the best news for businesses that require strict laws and high
security to operate.
So far, wearable technology has been banned in casinos, movie theatres,
and even some restaurants have disallowed their patrons to adorn
wearables.
Small Scale Project - LECHAL Footwear
Ducere Technologies announced the launch of the world’s first interactive
haptic footwear under their wearable technology brand ‘LECHAL’
(pronounced lay-ch-al, meaning “take me there” in Hindi).
Components
Shoes that connect with your smartphone and help you navigate, stay fit
and interact. The Lechal App syncs with Google Maps to allow you to
navigate with ease wherever you are in the world. Get route guidance,
explore new places, find out more about where you live - go anywhere and
everywhere!
Bluetooth enabled insoles that fit into most shoes and transform them into
interactive haptic footwear. Lechal uses the technology of touch or haptics
to create a truly interactive experience for the user. The footwear uses
Bluetooth technology to connect to the user's smartphone. Using simple
foot gestures or voice commands, the wearer can use it as a navigational
tool or track their activity from a fitness perspective. The footwear
communicates with the user via vibratory responses, making it a handsfree
experience.
This kind of unobtrusive and intuitive user interaction is what sets Lechal
apart.
The World’s first interactive charger. Snap your fingers, listen for audio
feedback and know your charge status. One USB charger for all your
portable devices.
Overview
When you're out running, walking, or biking, it's inconvenient and
potentially hazardous to keep your eyes glued to the map on your phone.
Imagine if your shoes told you which way to go without you ever having to
take your eyes off the road or sidewalk. That's the idea behind the Lechal
smart shoes and insoles from Ducere Technologies.
The shoes sync over Bluetooth to an app that pulls your path from Google
Maps. The shoes buzz to tell you which direction to turn. A buzzing right
shoe means to hang a right. A buzzing left shoe means to go the other
way. The shoes were originally designed to help people with visual
impairments navigate more effectively, but the company's founders soon
realized there could be a much wider market.
Potential uses for the Lechal go beyond just getting somewhere. They can
also be used to send proximity alerts to phones, notifying tourists of
interesting landmarks nearby. The footwear will alert you should you
accidentally try to leave your phone behind so you don't get stuck out in
the middle of nowhere. The shoes also aspire to work as a wearable
fitness monitor, tracking steps and calories burned.
Keeping the insoles and shoes juiced up requires slipping a rechargeable
battery into the very back of the insole or behind the heel of the shoes.
The charger itself is kind of fancy. Dubbed "the world's first interactive
charger," it's designed to give audio feedback as to its charging levels
when you snap your fingers.
The shoes are expected to cost around $135/£80/AU$144 (a price that's in
keeping with a high-end pair of athletic shoes). Ducere Technologies says
sales to the general public will help subsidize Lechal footwear for the
visually impaired.
Navigation
An app loaded on a smartphone pairs with the footwear via Bluetooth. The
user interacts with the app and can set a destination. The phone’s GPS is
used to calculate location data. Directions are conveyed to the user via
haptics (simple vibrations) in the footwear. The footwear that vibrates is
the way to go.
Fitness
LECHAL footwear counts your steps, and calculates your calories burnt.
Through the App the user can create custom workout sessions and much
more.
Interaction
‘LECHAL’ footwear allows you to tag locations, set destinations,
start/stop/pause navigation and much more, all by executing simple foot
gestures. Control the entire LECHAL experience with just two buttons or by
voice commands.
Orientation
Intuitive shoe vibrations always point you in the right direction whether in
familiar or unfamiliar areas.
Smart Assist
Never leave your phone behind. Lechal footwear alerts you if your phone
is not in close proximity. While travelling to a new place, get automatic
notifications of landmarks around you. Customize your experience with
the device. Customize the vibration intensity, notification alerts, and much
more.
Conclusion
Usage of wearable is still at a nascent stage, the dawn of mobile wireless
systems, smart phones has sparked a new era for wearable electronics
globally. Gadgets which were deemed to be just used in industrial,
commercial applications are now finding its way into normal consumers
enhancing their quality of life through various applications such as
healthcare, sports and fitness, lifestyle among a few. As per our analysis,
the market will follow moderate growth within prevailing market
conditions. However, even to achieve this, whole lot of the onus is for the
manufacturers to do the following:
Educate customers to showcase the benefits of wearable electronics
even in the presence of substitutes
Position products wherein customers feel that the there is a fair
price value rationale
Ease of access and wear ability. Smart watches have already
gathered a lot of market even though wearable electronics are still
in its early stages.
We believe the following reasons are the most important which could help
the penetration for wearable electronics:
Watches are the most common form of wearable electronics worn by
consumers, smart watches replace that and the watches are not
only used to show time, calendar, altitude, but now these also track
heart rate, pulse and gives an analysis of users’ health which can be
further analyzed on their laptops or other devices. These watches
also include sleep timers to monitor sleep
On a single device, convergence has helped consumers to make
calls through their smart watches. In this case, from a single device,
consumers achieve a lot of things and when compared to three or
four different devices, a single device takes its place, which in turn
has resulted in the success of this particular wearable electronic. If
the same can be achieved for other wearable devices, there would
be mass consumption of these devices as we have seen with smart
phones
Adoption of smart phones is one bright spot which indicates that
given accessibility and options, with perceived benefits, which
showcases that there is a lot of potential for wearable electronics in
the market.
References
http://www.businessinsider.in/Here-Are-The-Top-10-EmergingTechnologies-For-2014/1-Body-adapted-WearableElectronics/slideshow/31057947.cms
https://techwearables.wordpress.com/
http://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/body-adapted-wearableelectronics-market
https://itea3.org/innovation-report/improving-the-quality-ofeveryday-life-through-wearable-computers.html
http://observer.com/2014/07/new-bluetooth-enabled-smart-shoesvibrate-to-give-you-directions/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a10922/thes
e-smart-shoes-vibrate-to-give-turn-by-turn-directions-17033713/
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/lechal-smart-shoes-sync-withgoogle-maps/
http://www.cnet.com/news/bluetooth-smart-shoes-vibrate-you-inthe-right-direction/
http://www.lechal.com/press-release/
http://www.technavio.com/blog/exploring-five-challenges-in-thewearable-technology-market
http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/mobile-andwireless/wearable-devices-privacy-security-worries-loom-large/d/did/1316833
