Potential Advantages of Wearable Computers

In today’s society, there is a huge hype for new state of the art technology, which leads to a large market demand. As a result, companies are increasing their research and development skills for user-friendly technologies for both recreational and functional uses. As most of these new technologies are prototypes for future public retail, it is important to notice first whether the wearable computer will be beneficent. If the prototype is successful, the new technology can assist people do tasks more efficiently. For example, some of the applications that new wearable computers can potentially offer include the increase of:

-Communications
-Efficiency in inventory management
-Medical assistance
-Stylish entertainment appliances
-Military efficiency
-Optical devices
-And many more….

New portable computers can replace, or have the potential to replace, older technologies. This could mean a huge advance in how people interact with their jobs on a daily basis. Presently, there are a number of new portable computers and prototypes that can, if they not already have, change the course of job-management in organizations.

First, let us take a look at some wearable computers prototypes and what they could mean for organizations which acquire them.


- The Personal Performance Coach (PPC) is being designed by a group of researchers at the Accenture Technology Lab. Basically; their goal is to create a cell-phone capable of “coaching” the user through a series of applications for home and job activities. For example, a salesperson can improve his/her abilities to sell a product to a customer by having specific information about the features of the product handy.

- The European Union has a prototype of an amazing piece of wearable computer called WearIT@Work. This table-PC-like computer will replace the big screen, keyboard, and mouse of a regular computer and integrate it in a light machine that will let the user interact with the application via voice-commands and gesture control.

- Currently being developed by Bluetooth Special Interest Group (BSITG) and Nokia Corporation is the Wibree. This small wearable computer will be able to offer an all-in-one wrist-watch that will replace cell-phones, personal computers, heart rate monitors, wrist-watches, gaming sensors, keyboard and most devices that work via Blue-tooth. The idea is to create a small wearable device that can be personalized to pick up Blue-tooth signals from your other personal electronics and be able to use them through this unique device.

Sources:
http://www.redwoodhouse.com/wearable/

http://www.itsf.org/brochure/wearable.html

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/payload/projects/borg/