Wearable Technology

Developed by IK Multimedia the iRing is a gesture based wearable device that allows the user to create different musical sounds. The touch-less MIDI controller and associated music app uses the front facing camera on mobile ios devices and an advanced algorithm to detect the dot patterns of the wearable device. These patterns are then paired with various functions on the mobile device being used.

Whilst the iRing has a lot of potential, it is still limited in its usage unlike some of the more powerful gesture based technology on the market such as Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Kinect. Users need to be no more than five feet away from the camera and their movements must also be very defined and rigid for the iRing to pick them up correctly.

Wearable technology for the golf market, car mapping system makers Garmin have developed the Approach S6. Designed for use by advanced golfers and beginners alike, the analytical watch is aimed at helping golfers improve their golf swings and keep track of their progress.

With a colour touchscreen interface, the Approach S6 has an inbuilt audio metronome designed to help golfers time their swings and an accelerometer for them to measure the strength of each swing. In addition, the watch is able to measure the tempo of a golfers swing by measuring the strength of their upswings and downswings and can offer tempo training to optimize swings.

Acting as a digital caddy, the Approach S6 also offers advice on the percentage of strength to use when hitting the ball with different clubs and includes colour graphics of over 30,000 golf courses internationally.

The accompanying app, Garmin connect allows users of the smart watch to keep track of their statistics and progress.

A project developed by researches from Boston University and Massachusetts General Hospital, the bionic pancreas brings wearable technology into the medical field. Designed to aid patients with Type 1 diabetes, the bionic pancreas offers a better form of glycaemic control.

Consisting of an app and cradle designed for an iphone 4s and a G4 platinum continuous glucose monitor which communicates with a sensor worn by the user, the bionic pancreas uses algorithms to wirelessly control subcutaneous injections of insulin and glycogen. This is a more accurate way of emulating the physiological function of the pancreas than any existing forms of treatment currently available.

The blood glucose levels are streamed from a sensor worn by the user into the iphone receiver which then passes the data onto the app. The specifically designed algorithm then makes a therapeutic decision to release a dose of either insulin (which lowers blood glucose levels) or glycogen (which raises blood glucose levels) into the body. It is hoped that this type of medical technology will help users to live a more normal life and regulate their medicine more easily.

Developed by Kickstarter company Kiwi Wearables, Glance is a wristband prototype that can transform a regular watch into a smart watch. The device alerts the wearer of incoming calls or text messages and can even be used as a remote control for smart televisions. Using a 3D motion detector to measure movement, the Glance device can also be used to track the number of steps taken in a day or the amount of miles biked.

Battery life is an issue for many wearable devices but the makers of the Glance device have solved this problem, giving it a battery life of up to a week without the need for charging. When the device does need charging, it uses a simple USB port like many other smart devices.

The makers of the glance wearable device are currently trying to crowd fund the project and are looking to raise $150,000 to begin production.

The wearable technology market is ever expanding with exciting designs being revealed regularly. Have we missed any? Tweet us @Evonomie and let us know!