Wearable TechnologyThis new and innovative way of seamlessly connecting our

bodies and our environment has caused us to lose connection with our own bodies.

By Venus Chung

Cellular Phone

Smartphone

Smart phones have shown some major advances in technology.

What started as a simple way to communicate with someone has turned into a device capable of doing many other things.

Our smartphones have become an indispensable piece of our lives1.

1. Margalit, L. Why we’re addicted to our smartphones, but not our tablets. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/11/why-addicted-smartphones-not-tablets/

Mobile Phone + Camera + Media Player + GPS + … Smartphones now have the power to store vast amounts of information.

From finding a friend’s number to givingyou options on where you should eat lunchbased on places you have already been.

A push of a button can deliver pizza to your door or a car to drive you to your desired destination.

Image: Pexels via smartphone navigation

Image: Pexels via smartphone photography

Smartphone → Smart Watches

More convenient

Now everything that you check on your phone can be accessed on your

wrist! More easily distracted

No need to pull out a phone and open an app to see your

notificationsNo need to pull out a phone or open an app Decreases productivity

The Death of ProductivityConstantly switching tasks can kill productivity

When you are extremely focused on one task and then you get distracted and glance away, it can take up to 23 minutes to get back on track2.

2. Cole, S. How the apple watch will change office life. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.fastcompany.com/3043533/the-future-of-work/how-the-apple-watch-will-change-office-lifeImage: Pexels via technology

Why wearables are the next big thing...

- In our day and age, people are inseparable from their devices

- Wearables are essentially advanced technology that are made into everyday items that people wear regularly

- These include watches that notify you about incoming messages,rings that monitor your heartbeat or glasses that allow you to take photos

Image: Pexels via ring

Image: Pexels via smartwatch

Image: Pexels via glasses

Wearable Technology

5 REASONS WHY THEY WILL SUCCEED3

1. Promotes healthier lifestyles

2. Could help save lives3. Collect and analyze

data4. Headset for effective

training5. Monitor the health of

people

3. Bollag, C. 5 Reasons why wearable technology is the next big thing. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://www.wearablevalley.co/five-reasons-why-wearable-technology-is-the-next-big-thing/

Social Etiquette As wearable technology becomes more evident, our views on social etiquette will also change. Many believe that having your smartphone out during social engagements is rude and harmful to the group’s dynamic4.

In the same way, someone who glances down at their watch every time a text or email comes in is now also considered a distraction to the group dynamic. Although they may not be directly using their smartphone, they are still just as disconnected to their surroundings.

4. Rainie, L., Zickuhr, K. Americans’ views on mobile etiquette. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/26/americans-views-on-mobile-etiquette/

Image: Pexels via smartphone

Image: Pexels via smartwatch

Smart watches seem like an excellent investment so why don’t more people

wear them?

Generations of Wearables

- This is due to the fact that these wearable technologies are considered 1st generation5

- These are devices that are used mostly to tell time and to get notifications

- They are not exactly life-changing devices

So let’s explore the higher generations and their potential impact on our lives...

5. Postrel, V. Why nobody’s wearing wearables. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-03-03/why-nobody-s-wearing-wearables

Higher Generation Wearables2nd Generation

- Wearables would integrate sensors into our garments

- Making it much more comfortable and adaptable

- Clothes would collect and react to new kinds of data5

3rd Generation

- Wearables would discreetly collect news kinds of data5

- The data can then be analyzed and integrated with other information to provide new insights

5. Postrel, V. Why nobody’s wearing wearables. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-03-03/why-nobody-s-wearing-wearablesImage: Pexels via clothes

2nd Generation Wearables

An example of a 2nd generation wearable is a sports bra that can sense and adjust to your body temperature while you are working out. It would take this information and be able to open or close any ventilation in order to cool off the wearer5.

With the lack of enthusiasm and excitement over many 2nd generation wearables, are they really worth it?

5. Postrel, V. Why nobody’s wearing wearables. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-03-03/why-nobody-s-wearing-wearables

Image: Pexels via sports bra

Dependence or Addiction?As wearable technology advances, there is a fear of developing an unhealthy dependence on them6. With smartphones alone, 94% of college students feel troubled when they are away from their phones1.

If higher generation wearables become more apparent in everyday life, the consequences could be fatal. We will begin to rely heavily on these wearables and not on our own thoughts or feelings.

1. Margalit, L. Why we’re addicted to our smartphones, but not our tablets. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/11/why-addicted-smartphones-not-tablets/6. Fung, B. Why you shouldn’t confuse nomophobia with an actual addiction. Retrieved May 29, 2016 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/05/19/

Image: Pexels via smartphone

Wearable Technology: Pros and Cons

Pros

- More discreet

- Potentially more

fashionable

- Hands-free user experience

- Information personalized

to you and your needs7

- Personal assistant ready

to help you at anytime

7. Humavox. Wearable technology: pros and cons. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://www.humavox.com/blog/wearable-technology-pros-cons/

Cons

- Less versatile for things

like composing emails

- Not as widely accepted in

society8

- Data accuracy

- Constantly needing to

charge up the battery

8. Castleman, M. Advantages & disadvantages of wearable tech. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://blog.neongoldfish.com/social-media/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wearable-tech-3

“I am an excellent multitasker…”

The term “multitasking” tends to have a very positive connotation to it. Many people put this on their resume or mention it in job interviews. But is it a good trait to have?

Many psychology studies have found that when two complex tasks are completed at the same time, performance deteriorates9

9. Norman, D. The paradox of wearable technologies. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from https://www.technologyreview.com/s/517346/the-paradox-of-wearable-technologies/

Monotasking & Wearable TechnologyMonotasking: The performance by an individual of one and only one task at one point in time. Also referred to as single-tasking or uni-tasking10.

So will it still be possible to monotask with wearable technology?

Wearable technology is always on and alert. Information will be received immediately without delay. In some sense, you will always be connected.

10. Pfetten, V. Read this story without distraction. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/fashion/monotasking-drop-everything-and-read-this-story.html

Image: Pexels via smartwatch

Walking & Talking… Impossible?

- Tasks as simple as walking and talking at the same time can show a decrease in performance9

- If performing multiple tasksat once is detrimental to thequality of those tasks, whydo people think they can dothem flawlessly?- The impairment in mental

skills makes it difficultto notice the impairment.

9. Norman, D. The paradox of wearable technologies. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from https://www.technologyreview.com/s/517346/the-paradox-of-wearable-technologies/

Image: Pexels via people walking

Taking Advantage of Wearables

- While there are many ways that wearable technology can take over our own personal connection with the world, there are also ways to take advantage wearables11

- It is inevitable that wearables are the next big thing- The adoption of wearable technologies is expected to soar

in the years to come3

It is important to find the line between taking advantage and not being taken advantage of.

3. Bollag, C. 5 Reasons why wearable technology is the next big thing. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://www.wearablevalley.co/five-reasons-why-wearable-technology-is-the-next-big-thing/11. Schmitz Weiss, A. Wearable technologies: possibilities in the classroom. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://www.slideshare.net/digitalamysw/wearable-techineducationschmitzweiss

Losing Connection to

Reality

So while the idea of a comfortable, wearable computer on your wrist or your bodies as clothing seems to be extremely groundbreaking and innovative, as we rely more on these devices, we will eventually lose our connection with the real world.

References1. Margalit, L. Why we’re addicted to our smartphones, but not our tablets. Retrieved May 29,

2016, from https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/11/why-addicted-smartphones-not-tablets/

2. Cole, S. How the apple watch will change office life. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from

http://www.fastcompany.com/3043533/the-future-of-work/how-the-apple-watch-will-change-office-life

3. Bollag, C. 5 Reasons why wearable technology is the next big thing. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from

http://www.wearablevalley.co/five-reasons-why-wearable-technology-is-the-next-big-thing/

4. Rainie, L., Zickuhr, K. Americans’ views on mobile etiquette. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http:

//www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/26/americans-views-on-mobile-etiquette/

5. Postrel, V. Why nobody’s wearing wearables. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.bloomberg.

com/view/articles/2016-03-03/why-nobody-s-wearing-wearables

6. Fung, B. Why you shouldn’t confuse nomophobia with an actual addiction. Retrieved May 29, 2016

from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/05/19/

References (continued)7. Humavox. Wearable technology: pros and cons. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from

http://www.humavox.com/blog/wearable-technology-pros-cons/

8. Castleman, M. Advantages & disadvantages of wearable tech. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://blog.neongoldfish.com/social-media/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wearable-tech-3

9. Norman, D. The paradox of wearable technologies. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from https://www.technologyreview.com/s/517346/the-paradox-of-wearable-technologies/

10. Pfetten, V. Read this story without distraction. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/fashion/monotasking-drop-everything-and-read-this-story.html

11. Schmitz Weiss, A. Wearable technologies: possibilities in the classroom. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://www.slideshare.net/digitalamysw/wearable-techineducationschmitzweiss