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A 13-year-old concept for wearable tech at MIT Media Lab
Here is a quote that may drive technology marketing to the pages of Vogue or GQ in the next few years, “wearable computing device market will grow to 485 million annual device shipments by 2018.” – ABI Research
According to ABI, sports and activity watches will make up a majority of the wearable technology (61%) this year, with smartphone enabled watches emerging as the next possible fashion forward tech. Apple has such a plan to introduce a smart watch – guessing iWatch – sometime in 2013 as depicted in this post on GigaOM. In addition to watches, glasses are also gaining ground. Long have we heard about Google Glasses, but one could imagine, Google will not be the only player in wearable eye-ware.
Beyond “accessories” like sports and activity gadgets think Nike iPod connectivity or their new Fuel Band), watches and glasses, what else could emerge in high-tech fashion? In my home state at the University of Minnesota College of Design, they have a lab dedicated to wearable technology. Current projects underway include: Garment-Integrated Body Sensing, Clothing Management and the Smart Wardrobe, and Creative work. Such projects, in their words, feature development of garment-integrated sensors for detecting physiological signals, body position, and body movement or activity, sustainable apparel consumption through more efficient use of the existing wardrobe, and the potential for reactive, responsive, and dynamic technologies to extend the borders of traditional aesthetic clothing design.
Perhaps it’s too soon to see such innovation grace the covers of fashion magazines, but let’s face it, it’s only a matter of time.
What technology would you wear?
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