Wearable technology holds a great deal of promise. However, to date, hasn’t really made the impact that one would expect. According to Dr. Thornburg a technology that is disruptive replaces an existing technology by being more efficient and less expensive (Laureate Education, 2014). For example, Google Glass allows a user to interface with information through wearable glasses. This heads-up display has the potential to change the way in which we view and interact with the world. However, the technology still has a number of constraints that include size, battery life and price. These are major barriers that, in my opinion, keep it out of the realm of a true disruptive technology.
The smart watch on the other hand is an example of a wearable technology that fits into the disruptive category. There are a number of features that can be placed on this device that include, but are not limited to, remote access to one’s smart phone, pedometers, sleep monitors, heart rate monitors, GPS location, and it tells time. These devices also continue to improve as the price of the device goes down.
Wearable technology will continue to improve and evolve but functionality and consumer demand will play a key role in adoption. A possible next technology disruption in this field could be technology implants. This would, again, change the way in which users interact with information.
Reference
Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). David Thornburg: Disruptive technologies [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Emerging & Future Technologies 
Hi Kayle,
I agree with you that Google Glass does not fit the description of a disruptive technology, but on the other hand, I don’t think smart watchers fit the disruptive technology definition either. Smart watches are used in conjunction with current technology – they communicate through smart phones or other devices. Therefore, they are not displacing a current technology, but rather enhancing it. -Cindy LaRochelle
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Cindy,
First, thank you for you reply. Yes, in a number of ways the smart watch enhances the smart phone. However, I would disagree that there is nothing that it disrupts. For instance, the fitness tracking ability that many smart watches and fitness bands now offer replace visits to labs to collect similar data. I can go for a run and the watch will track and monitor my heart rate as well as my steps taken. Prior to this technology one would have had to go to a lab and do a stress test in order to collect this information. My watch does it and for a fraction of the price. Further the watch will collect the data over a period of days, weeks, or months versus the singular visit to the lab. The same scenario can also be applied to recording sleep patterns. Again this is information we can now get easily and cheaply instead of participating in a sleep study in a lab.
Thanks,
Kayle
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Hi Kayle,
I like your points about how a smart watch might be considered disruptive. I think, however, there are other ways of getting at least some of this data at home without going to a lab, but still not as convenient as a smart watch that can collect a variety of information. -Cindy
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Hi Kayle,
I would also consider smart watches to be more of a disruptive technology than either one of the ones we wrote about. One thing that they are quickly replacing are wrist watches. They can perform many functions without having a smartphone within range, and I would venture to say that soon they will have stand alone “cell phone” capabilities, which will come in handy for people whose jobs make it difficult for them to carry, answer, and/or make calls.
Donna
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Hi Kayle,
I did Google Glass and I kept thinking somebody should have remembered the TV show, “6 Million Dollar Man” and the “Bionic Woman.” Both of these shows were from the 1970s and postulated the idea that if something broke or needed replacing in the human body, it could be replaced by an artificial item that had been made in a machine. Both of the characters in these two shows had suffered horrible accidents and needed implants to make them into some semblance of “whole.”
An implanted bionic eye in each gave them super sight. Man has been dreaming of super-sight since he realized what his eye really was. Man also understood losing the sight or use of an eye. How much bionics can we put into a human before he is classified as a cyborg? Does the pacemaker, the insulin pump, or other items used in joint replacement surgery, does it classify as leading us down the road to being more cyborg?
Google Glass was not ready. It had a lot of design flaws and the technology wasn’t quite there yet, but perhaps we need to know just how far we are willing to go with this kind of thing. Think of a camera in a bathroom, ‘eyes’ on an exam, or an employee exposed to highly classified documents. For me, I’m glad it failed.
Cheers,
Anita B.
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Hi Kayle,
You have convinced me to ask for a smartwatch for my birthday (Jan. 29th by the way)! I hold my phone in my hand and count my steps using a fitness app. The smartwatch would remove the anxiety of possibly dropping my phone. Ironically, my phone was a disruptive technology, I use to wear a pedometer on my hip. Do you think a smartwatch is better than a fit bit?
Counting down to my birthday,
Catina
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Happy birthday 🙂
There are a number of options out there and I believe you can find the product that is right for you by identifying your intended use. I have a friend who does survivalist camping. He found a smart watch that has GPS functionality as well as durable water proof features. For him these were more important than the fitness options. For Christmas I purchased my father a smart watch that buzzes his wrist when he has an incoming call. It has other features but he is always missing calls because he puts his phone down and works. A Fitbit might work great for what you are wanting if your focus is fitness. Many Fitbits now tell time too 🙂 (which honestly I do not know why they did include that feature in the first generation of the device).
Thanks for you post,
Kayle
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Hi Kayle!
Thank you for the beautiful birthday wish!! After reading your response, I am asking my family for a Smart watch. I want to purchase from a company that gets it right the first time…get it! LOL!
Danke,
Catina
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