Industry expects 26 million smart garments to be shipped in 2016
Wearable technology is no more a thing of the future. It is a reality that can take over our wardrobes in the very near future.
If researchers are to be believed, one would soon be able to tweet one’s thoughts on to an LED-lit cocktail dress or receive a notification when one looses the sunglasses or an emerald ring that would flash indicating that a message has arrived in the inbox.
Researchers and companies dealing with smart wearable technology claim that this new wardrobe would soon surpass smartwatches and fitness bands to become the biggest wearables sector by next year. The industry experts expect 26 million smart garments to be shipped in 2016, up from 0.01 million in 2013.
While big names like Apple dibble in Apple Watches and Fitbits and is gain popularity, the wearable technology is being driven primarily by small start ups that are pushing for innovation in this space through the incorporating of the clothes and accessories with super-smart technology.
The Ringly created by US-based Christina Mercando claimed that she had got the idea after she felt frustrated with her phone and had to put her phone on the table whenever she went out for dinner with friends or in a meeting. The ring, made of emerald, connects with a smartphone to vibrate or light up when a text, email or phone call comes through. The ultimate aim of such technology is to help phone addicts disconnect a little from technology.
“I wanted my jewellery to remind me of important notifications so I wouldn’t have to keep my phone out all of the time,” says Mercando.
Another innovation of technology that utilizes LEDs, telecommunications and smart textiles was
designed by London-based digital fashion designers CuteCircuit. This dresses designed are visual, interactive and playful like think jackets, dresses and purses that display digital patterns and tweets. Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, the brains behind CuteCircuit claim that when they build the company in 11 years ago there were very few people who understood smart wearables. Later companies like Apple and Samsung helped create a global perception about smart wearable technology.
CuteCircuit has now been a regular at the New York fashion week since the last two seasons and has drawn the attention of the crowds with new technology like featuring Bluetooth-connected garments that can be controlled through its Q App. The company is now based in Shoreditch, east London. The company has innovated and invented wearables that enable the wearer to display tweets on their garment. The company said that its products would soon be available on Net-a-Porter even as the company presently sells its creations through its website.
Some other wearbale technologies aim to solve problems of eh wearer. For example, Tzukri, a company based in Sydney, enables technology to alert the user whenever the user leaves behind the sunglasses. This is a common problem that many people face.
Another example of this problem solving ability of smart wearable technology is Intelligent Textiles. This Surrey based firm has bagged £6 million in contracts from the Canadian, British and US militaries to create intelligent and streamlined soldier uniforms by weaving electronic circuits into the fabric, meaning soldiers only need to carry one single power source instead of multiple batteries.
Proponents of wearbale technology therefore rightly claim that this technology is for the future which would not only be a style statement but also help solve regular every day problems of the user.
(Source: www.theguardian.com)
If researchers are to be believed, one would soon be able to tweet one’s thoughts on to an LED-lit cocktail dress or receive a notification when one looses the sunglasses or an emerald ring that would flash indicating that a message has arrived in the inbox.
Researchers and companies dealing with smart wearable technology claim that this new wardrobe would soon surpass smartwatches and fitness bands to become the biggest wearables sector by next year. The industry experts expect 26 million smart garments to be shipped in 2016, up from 0.01 million in 2013.
While big names like Apple dibble in Apple Watches and Fitbits and is gain popularity, the wearable technology is being driven primarily by small start ups that are pushing for innovation in this space through the incorporating of the clothes and accessories with super-smart technology.
The Ringly created by US-based Christina Mercando claimed that she had got the idea after she felt frustrated with her phone and had to put her phone on the table whenever she went out for dinner with friends or in a meeting. The ring, made of emerald, connects with a smartphone to vibrate or light up when a text, email or phone call comes through. The ultimate aim of such technology is to help phone addicts disconnect a little from technology.
“I wanted my jewellery to remind me of important notifications so I wouldn’t have to keep my phone out all of the time,” says Mercando.
Another innovation of technology that utilizes LEDs, telecommunications and smart textiles was
designed by London-based digital fashion designers CuteCircuit. This dresses designed are visual, interactive and playful like think jackets, dresses and purses that display digital patterns and tweets. Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, the brains behind CuteCircuit claim that when they build the company in 11 years ago there were very few people who understood smart wearables. Later companies like Apple and Samsung helped create a global perception about smart wearable technology.
CuteCircuit has now been a regular at the New York fashion week since the last two seasons and has drawn the attention of the crowds with new technology like featuring Bluetooth-connected garments that can be controlled through its Q App. The company is now based in Shoreditch, east London. The company has innovated and invented wearables that enable the wearer to display tweets on their garment. The company said that its products would soon be available on Net-a-Porter even as the company presently sells its creations through its website.
Some other wearbale technologies aim to solve problems of eh wearer. For example, Tzukri, a company based in Sydney, enables technology to alert the user whenever the user leaves behind the sunglasses. This is a common problem that many people face.
Another example of this problem solving ability of smart wearable technology is Intelligent Textiles. This Surrey based firm has bagged £6 million in contracts from the Canadian, British and US militaries to create intelligent and streamlined soldier uniforms by weaving electronic circuits into the fabric, meaning soldiers only need to carry one single power source instead of multiple batteries.
Proponents of wearbale technology therefore rightly claim that this technology is for the future which would not only be a style statement but also help solve regular every day problems of the user.
(Source: www.theguardian.com)
