wearable technology - learning, connecting, monitoring and posing
DESCRIPTION
Probably the most discussed technological advancements since the iPhone was introduced, wearable technology embodies the unavoidable and fascinating era of enmeshing computers and advanced electronic technologies onto our selves – through accessories and clothing. In sci-fi speak – it is the biological integration of electromechanical elements for the benefit of the human self. Cyborgs, then. In this article I will explore four key questions with wearables – Will wearable technology make us more skilful? Will it make us more connected? Will it make us healthier? Will it be stylish? In each, I will strive to understand the potential and concern for technology in these areas and explore how effective this tech is at replacing something inferior, or not.TRANSCRIPT
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Will Wearable Technology Make us More Skillful | 0302 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Probably the most discussed technological advancement since the iPhone was introduced wearable technology embodies the unavoidable and fascinating era of enmeshing computers and advanced electronic technologies onto our selves ndash through accessories and clothing In sci-fi speak ndash it is the biological integration of electromechanical elements for the benefit of the human self Cyborgs then
In this article I will explore four key questions with wearables ndash
bull Will wearable technology make us more skilfulbull Will it make us more connectedbull Will it make us healthierbull Will it be stylish
In each I will strive to understand the potential and concern for technology in these areas and explore how effective this tech is at replacing something inferior or not
Duncan Stewart Research Director from Deloitte concluded recently that wearable technology will have the greatest effect when it replaces something noticeably inferior or nothing at all In essence ndash it will only truly be beneficial when it actually solves an unmet consumer need
A good parallel comes from looking at mobile payments Of the 75 million mobile payments carried out in 2012 in the USA 7 million of them were used by customers paying for coffees in Starbucks Simply coffees (hellipand cakes) in Starbucks The point here is that in North America where there is already a hugely established integrated banking system ndash the ability to conduct mobile payments is not needed Everyone has cards often numerous cards and ATMs are on every corner The consumer need to pay for something or transfer money between places or people is already met However if you turn the attention to Africa where the banks are few and far between cards are rare and above all cash is an obvious and delicate asset of worth mobile payments (such as MPesa or Fundamo) drastically changed the way in which Africans could deal with their finances So it becomes clear that in the US mobile payments do not replace anything successfully whereas in Africa it becomes something of great meaning
Just like mobile payments are not needed in the US where might wearable tech cause more issues than benefits Or just like mobile payments in Africa where does wearable tech succeed in progression and truly help people
Will Wearable Technology Make us More Skillful | 0504 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
WILL IT MAKE US MORE SKILLFULWatch any Google Glass trailer and yoursquoll be smacked around the face by some wonderfully romantic examples of how Google Glass (and therefore wearable technology overall) can help you instantly learn new vital skills that improve your life The ability to know what a tiger looks like when making an ice sculpture of a tigerrsquos head we can all agree is an important facet of everyonersquos life The amount of times Irsquove stood holding a chainsaw with a block of ice in front of me thinking ldquoWhat the hell does a Sumatran Tiger look like againrdquo
There will no doubt be a huge explosion of ldquoskill appsrdquo for Google Glass that will aim to quickly and instantly make you better at something by displaying augmented reality content and information above your right eye iCaddy is a great example of this in action ndash it aims to educate you on the best golf club to choose the perfect trajectory and line to hit the ball and I imagine will automatically scream ldquoget in the holerdquo once yoursquove hit it There are examples being talked about where novice surgeons are able to bring up videos of information of how to better conduct the surgery Itrsquos fairly worrying that the surgeon doesnrsquot know this already but then the idea of using technology to perfect a skill is an age-old but also intriguing prospect
There is no doubt that technology can help us perform better and faster Simply look at the IAAFrsquos banning of carbon fibre blades (as worn by the infamous Oscar Pistorius) because they might offer competitors a ldquoclear mechanical advantagerdquo
The problem is not in the idea but is instead in the consequences of using this technology too much What Irsquom interested in is the current human capability to cognitively learn a skill without the use of technology A key human trait is the ability to make mistakes and learn from them Having technology there as a
Google Glass trailer (Google)
iCaddy Google Glass app (iCaddy)
Google Glass Surgery
constant resource might negate this vital part of learning a skill ndash we could become over reliant on that technology
We are all aware of the arguments against Sat Nav ndash removing the satisfaction in finding your way to somewhere by constant navigation from a (however sexy sounding) computer voice Mercedes are indeed in partnership with Google Glass designing a lsquodoor-to-doorrsquo capability where the Google Glass wearer can receive accurate directions to and from exact destinations including walking from the car park The problem is that actually getting lost can be beneficial The ability to cognitively deal with a situation and find a solution (getting lost and finding your way to somewhere) is not only an important skill for your own development but might also be a nice idea Getting lost on a Belizean island and uncovering a new beach ndash one that was not my intended destination gave me a better experience Likewise learning from my mistakes on the golf course and realising that I cannot use a 5-iron to get out of a bunker has made me the slightly-less-than-terrible golfer I am today
The concern is that technology is reducing our cognitive ability to fully learn skills Digital Dementia as its unnecessarily drastic name suggests is the medical understanding that ldquogadgets ease the burden of memorizing tedious information but if we donrsquot use our brain functions the overall cognitive skills of being aware and perception will ultimately decreaserdquo (Dr Kim Young-bo Gachon University Hospital Incheon)
Is it possible that wearable technology could encourage a more intense version of this condition If it is used to diagnose and dictate errors and solutions when somebody is learning a skill or worse still if it negates the chances of somebody making an error ndash then surely the human capacity to effectively learn new skills will be tempered
ldquoThere is no doubt that technology can help us perform better and fasterrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mercedesrsquo Google powered navigation (Mercedes)
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0706 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Current wearable technology only offers the user a short-term shallowunderstanding of somethinghellip an instant fix one that rather than actively helping a user to developmentally learn a skill slowly and properly might just aim to quickly cure errors This technology sets out to ldquoease the burdensrdquo of normal cognition and actually I think these lsquoburdensrsquo are very necessary parts of the true authenticity of learning a skill
Wearables and apps should be developed to take heed of the fragility and importance of true cognition and design for a partnership with the human need to ldquotry fail learn try fail learn try succeed learnrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL WEARABLE TECH-NOLOGY MAKE US MORE SKILLFUL
WILL IT MAKE US MORE CONNECTEDldquoLook at me look at what Irsquom doing Irsquom flying a planerdquo is effectively what Google Glass and its ability to live-feed to others is really allowing us to do
We all know that technology has been used with good effect to help us connect to others in situations where true connection with those is tricky Skype-ing a brother in Sydney is a true godsend Gone are the days of stuttering phone conversations across the world where a seven-second delay renders the conversation useless
Wearable technology has similarly started to solve ldquonoticeably inferiorrdquo connections The Insider Band helps people simply and easily locate their friends at music festivals Interactive map points allow users to spot the location of their friend No longer do we need to sit missing our favourite act at a designated meeting point or back at the tent Wearable technology and Google Glass as a prime example can help us connect with others from afar The ability to share a live experience with somebody is a compelling and meaningful service that these kinds of tech can facilitate4
The concern though is that technology in general and therefore wearable technology might hinder our social skills
There has been an on-going argument that mobile phones and technology are actively destroying our social skills It is difficult to agree to this or at least outline this argument without seeming like a luddite which at my 30 years of age seems a little archaic for me to promote ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo says etiquette specialists Debrettrsquos
Google Glass Hangout demo (Google)
The Insider Band (Esurance amp ClearHart Digital)
ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo DEBRETTrsquoS
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0908 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Now this is a misleading statement As mentioned above technology has actually created much richer connected experiences with people separated by time and distance If anything the Google Glass trailers highlight the most consumer-friendly aspect of the tech being its ability to live share The ability to use this kind of tech to live share across continents is no doubt solving a consumer need
Where the Debrettrsquos argument might hold up however is when thinking about the actual human interpersonal interactions that we have every day
The recent I Forgot My Phone short epitomises the backlash against ldquophubbingrdquo whereby people might check their emails or reply to text messages on their phones while ignoring their friends in front of them I think we can all admit doing exactly this and hypocritically asking somebody else to put their phone down because ldquoitrsquos just a rude thing to dordquo
Google Glass lovers or Glovers as I have just termed (nb not a serious term) might exclaim that actually ndash the glasses help us to not only communicate with others afar but due to its transparency ndash can still allow us to communicate effectively face-to-face
Really Is this true From what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass if they are still searching information will still be like talking to somebody with a squint Looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google
It reminds me of being in a pub recently where a debate started and very quickly finished ldquoWhat was the name of that small basketball player in the NBArdquo somebody askedhellip ldquoWas it Spud Webbrdquo and before
any dynamic conversation could happen somebody had already got the phone out and had the full answer ndash ldquoIt was Muggsy Bogues 5 foot 3 played for Charlotte Hornetsrdquo Done conversation over The human interaction ndash diverse to-ing and fro-ing of knowledge and counter-knowledge was interrupted and ended by technology
Live sharing data and communicating with far away colleagues friends and family members is an unarguably beneficial facet of this technology It is a prime example of where these devices are positive for us
Wearable technology could interrupt genuine authentic face-to-face exchange Unfortunately though the act of using technology whilst interrupting authentic human exchange is simply progression ndash yes itrsquos rude but itrsquos an engrained social norm for young people and we have to get used to that
What I suggest then is that the presence of wearable technology might create a new social behaviourhellip whereby removing of the technology turning off the Google Glass and silencing the iPhone will in fact become a positive ritual ndash a sign of respect ndash a sign of ldquoActually Irsquom going to switch this off and we can have as fallible and as fault-full and as wrong-as-it-is-right a conversation with each otherrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US MORE CONNECTED
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
ldquoFrom what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google rdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
10 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 11
WILL IT MAKE US HEALTHIEROne category of wearable technology that has really exploded are devices that actively monitor diagnose and utilise biological data from the body to provide statistics regarding the health and vitality of the wearer
From Nikersquos foray into technology (the Fuelband) to Jawbonersquos UP to Kickstarter-led projects such as the Melon Headband ndash there are already a huge wealth of products and partner services available Indeed the Quantified Selves are right this moment jogging swimming cycling sleeping concentrating not jogging not swimming not cycling ndash all creating swathes of data about what they are doing
The really interesting aspect is how relevant this data is for the user I use a heart rate monitor when running and that information for me dictates how fast or slow I run Likewise other people might use a Nike Fuelband and find that this work for them The power of these products is how they make the user react to this information There is a biological reaction to the digital feedback ndash if somebody has not achieved their NikeFuel goal they might jog to the bus or actively modify their behaviour Likewise the Melon Headband will monitor how hard you concentrate on certain tasks causing you to try and focus more on those that you are particularly slack on You might give your afternoon cycle full attention but reading this article may have you completely disengaged
So this feedback loop between machine analysis and human reaction is surely a beneficial thing By creating competition against the self and others this feedback loop also plays into the humanrsquos innate comparison complex and strive for betterment
The accuracy of the technology is to improve ndash a lot of the wearable tech available currently
cannot be fully aware of what exact activity yoursquore doing and how ndash meaning that accurate data still relies on user-tagging or other markers However the real potential of this health and vitality sector comes from the data mass By learning the data patterns in scores of people that technology and the ecosystem of services around it will only improve This means that the understanding of how to boost health and well-being could improve tooFor example looking at the sleep patterns and routines of an unhappy person and comparing them with the metrics from a happy individual could lead to more intelligent ways to recommend and improve happiness As we all remember from school the more data there is the more robust an output can be Wearable technology in this case makes business sense 35 of absence is due to stress anxiety and depression (DoWampP 2013) with sickness costing UK business pound15 billion per year (BBC) Irsquom sure I donrsquot need to tell you this but pound15bn is a hell of a lot of money So if technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier too
Understanding the biological changes of the body en masse will always aid medical advancement Mimo is a lovely product for babies The lsquoconnectedrsquo onesie monitors the babyrsquos movement and sleep patterns ndash helping the parents monitor their child It can track when a baby rolls onto its back or its stomach during the night and the regularity of the babyrsquos breathing patterns But if you consider this data being collected en masse and collated and analysed for paediatricians then it might help us to better understand cot death for example The technology is going to get smaller more accurate and will be placed on and in us in ways that currently seem intrusive Researchers at the National Taiwan University
Nike Fuelband SE (Nike)
Melon Headband (Melon)
ldquoIf technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier toordquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mimo baby monitor (Mimo)
Melon Headband app (Melon)
12 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 13
Jawbone UP (Jawbone)
in Taipei have designed a wifi-enabled tooth sensor (or ldquowearable oral sensory systemrdquo) which is placed within an artificial tooth ldquoBecause the mouth is an opening into human health this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance exciting oral-related healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary trackingrdquo It can accurately differentiate between coughing drinking chewing and speaking
So the outlook is promisinghellip however just like the Nuclear Weapon in 90rsquos action movies this technology needs to be kept out of the wrong hands
Look at how Tescorsquos has been lambasted for using Motorola armbands to monitor how often its staff take toilet breaks The benefit of monitoring an individual becomes a controversial corporate gain at odds with the users7
Insurance companies are already capitalising on wearables ndash it makes perfect sense for them by actively pushing wearable tech such as heart rate monitors onto individuals they embed that individual into this biofeedback loop that encourages the improvement of health and vitality and therefore less payouts for the big guys
Similarly black boxes in cars (called telematics) are increasingly used by motor insurance policies to track and reduce rates for the least dangerous newly-passed 17 year olds
Whilst this makes financial sense directly aligning benefits with those that have or use wearable technology could create divides in society These devices are after all expensive A Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible prices
Chris Brauer author of lsquoThe Human Cloud Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productionrsquo discusses the risk that ldquothis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so ndash either because they donrsquot have access to the technology or because they donrsquot lead a healthy lifestyle ndash are penalizedrdquo
If wearable technology is proven as actively helping people get healthier and happier and health care is aware and dependent on this information then eventually health care schemes including the NHS should eventually consider releasing this kind of technology not only for those that can afford it but for those that need it
Does wearable tech in this instance replace something inferior or that doesnrsquot exist Yes it does This after all is its heartland The very fact that this technology is wearable means it is closer to our biological being Our eyes Our skin Our heart
As long as the data is made relevant and engaging for the user they will be inclined to actively improve their health wellbeing and happiness The hope then is that this technology is not kept to those that can afford it but is instead available to the masses
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US HEALTHIER
Wifi-enabled tooth sensor (National Taiwan University)
ldquoThis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so are penalizedrdquo CHRIS BRAUERAUTHOR THE HUMAN CLOUD WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NOVELTY TO PRODUCTION
ldquoA Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible pricesrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
Will Wearable Technology Make us More Skillful | 0302 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Probably the most discussed technological advancement since the iPhone was introduced wearable technology embodies the unavoidable and fascinating era of enmeshing computers and advanced electronic technologies onto our selves ndash through accessories and clothing In sci-fi speak ndash it is the biological integration of electromechanical elements for the benefit of the human self Cyborgs then
In this article I will explore four key questions with wearables ndash
bull Will wearable technology make us more skilfulbull Will it make us more connectedbull Will it make us healthierbull Will it be stylish
In each I will strive to understand the potential and concern for technology in these areas and explore how effective this tech is at replacing something inferior or not
Duncan Stewart Research Director from Deloitte concluded recently that wearable technology will have the greatest effect when it replaces something noticeably inferior or nothing at all In essence ndash it will only truly be beneficial when it actually solves an unmet consumer need
A good parallel comes from looking at mobile payments Of the 75 million mobile payments carried out in 2012 in the USA 7 million of them were used by customers paying for coffees in Starbucks Simply coffees (hellipand cakes) in Starbucks The point here is that in North America where there is already a hugely established integrated banking system ndash the ability to conduct mobile payments is not needed Everyone has cards often numerous cards and ATMs are on every corner The consumer need to pay for something or transfer money between places or people is already met However if you turn the attention to Africa where the banks are few and far between cards are rare and above all cash is an obvious and delicate asset of worth mobile payments (such as MPesa or Fundamo) drastically changed the way in which Africans could deal with their finances So it becomes clear that in the US mobile payments do not replace anything successfully whereas in Africa it becomes something of great meaning
Just like mobile payments are not needed in the US where might wearable tech cause more issues than benefits Or just like mobile payments in Africa where does wearable tech succeed in progression and truly help people
Will Wearable Technology Make us More Skillful | 0504 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
WILL IT MAKE US MORE SKILLFULWatch any Google Glass trailer and yoursquoll be smacked around the face by some wonderfully romantic examples of how Google Glass (and therefore wearable technology overall) can help you instantly learn new vital skills that improve your life The ability to know what a tiger looks like when making an ice sculpture of a tigerrsquos head we can all agree is an important facet of everyonersquos life The amount of times Irsquove stood holding a chainsaw with a block of ice in front of me thinking ldquoWhat the hell does a Sumatran Tiger look like againrdquo
There will no doubt be a huge explosion of ldquoskill appsrdquo for Google Glass that will aim to quickly and instantly make you better at something by displaying augmented reality content and information above your right eye iCaddy is a great example of this in action ndash it aims to educate you on the best golf club to choose the perfect trajectory and line to hit the ball and I imagine will automatically scream ldquoget in the holerdquo once yoursquove hit it There are examples being talked about where novice surgeons are able to bring up videos of information of how to better conduct the surgery Itrsquos fairly worrying that the surgeon doesnrsquot know this already but then the idea of using technology to perfect a skill is an age-old but also intriguing prospect
There is no doubt that technology can help us perform better and faster Simply look at the IAAFrsquos banning of carbon fibre blades (as worn by the infamous Oscar Pistorius) because they might offer competitors a ldquoclear mechanical advantagerdquo
The problem is not in the idea but is instead in the consequences of using this technology too much What Irsquom interested in is the current human capability to cognitively learn a skill without the use of technology A key human trait is the ability to make mistakes and learn from them Having technology there as a
Google Glass trailer (Google)
iCaddy Google Glass app (iCaddy)
Google Glass Surgery
constant resource might negate this vital part of learning a skill ndash we could become over reliant on that technology
We are all aware of the arguments against Sat Nav ndash removing the satisfaction in finding your way to somewhere by constant navigation from a (however sexy sounding) computer voice Mercedes are indeed in partnership with Google Glass designing a lsquodoor-to-doorrsquo capability where the Google Glass wearer can receive accurate directions to and from exact destinations including walking from the car park The problem is that actually getting lost can be beneficial The ability to cognitively deal with a situation and find a solution (getting lost and finding your way to somewhere) is not only an important skill for your own development but might also be a nice idea Getting lost on a Belizean island and uncovering a new beach ndash one that was not my intended destination gave me a better experience Likewise learning from my mistakes on the golf course and realising that I cannot use a 5-iron to get out of a bunker has made me the slightly-less-than-terrible golfer I am today
The concern is that technology is reducing our cognitive ability to fully learn skills Digital Dementia as its unnecessarily drastic name suggests is the medical understanding that ldquogadgets ease the burden of memorizing tedious information but if we donrsquot use our brain functions the overall cognitive skills of being aware and perception will ultimately decreaserdquo (Dr Kim Young-bo Gachon University Hospital Incheon)
Is it possible that wearable technology could encourage a more intense version of this condition If it is used to diagnose and dictate errors and solutions when somebody is learning a skill or worse still if it negates the chances of somebody making an error ndash then surely the human capacity to effectively learn new skills will be tempered
ldquoThere is no doubt that technology can help us perform better and fasterrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mercedesrsquo Google powered navigation (Mercedes)
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0706 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Current wearable technology only offers the user a short-term shallowunderstanding of somethinghellip an instant fix one that rather than actively helping a user to developmentally learn a skill slowly and properly might just aim to quickly cure errors This technology sets out to ldquoease the burdensrdquo of normal cognition and actually I think these lsquoburdensrsquo are very necessary parts of the true authenticity of learning a skill
Wearables and apps should be developed to take heed of the fragility and importance of true cognition and design for a partnership with the human need to ldquotry fail learn try fail learn try succeed learnrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL WEARABLE TECH-NOLOGY MAKE US MORE SKILLFUL
WILL IT MAKE US MORE CONNECTEDldquoLook at me look at what Irsquom doing Irsquom flying a planerdquo is effectively what Google Glass and its ability to live-feed to others is really allowing us to do
We all know that technology has been used with good effect to help us connect to others in situations where true connection with those is tricky Skype-ing a brother in Sydney is a true godsend Gone are the days of stuttering phone conversations across the world where a seven-second delay renders the conversation useless
Wearable technology has similarly started to solve ldquonoticeably inferiorrdquo connections The Insider Band helps people simply and easily locate their friends at music festivals Interactive map points allow users to spot the location of their friend No longer do we need to sit missing our favourite act at a designated meeting point or back at the tent Wearable technology and Google Glass as a prime example can help us connect with others from afar The ability to share a live experience with somebody is a compelling and meaningful service that these kinds of tech can facilitate4
The concern though is that technology in general and therefore wearable technology might hinder our social skills
There has been an on-going argument that mobile phones and technology are actively destroying our social skills It is difficult to agree to this or at least outline this argument without seeming like a luddite which at my 30 years of age seems a little archaic for me to promote ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo says etiquette specialists Debrettrsquos
Google Glass Hangout demo (Google)
The Insider Band (Esurance amp ClearHart Digital)
ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo DEBRETTrsquoS
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0908 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Now this is a misleading statement As mentioned above technology has actually created much richer connected experiences with people separated by time and distance If anything the Google Glass trailers highlight the most consumer-friendly aspect of the tech being its ability to live share The ability to use this kind of tech to live share across continents is no doubt solving a consumer need
Where the Debrettrsquos argument might hold up however is when thinking about the actual human interpersonal interactions that we have every day
The recent I Forgot My Phone short epitomises the backlash against ldquophubbingrdquo whereby people might check their emails or reply to text messages on their phones while ignoring their friends in front of them I think we can all admit doing exactly this and hypocritically asking somebody else to put their phone down because ldquoitrsquos just a rude thing to dordquo
Google Glass lovers or Glovers as I have just termed (nb not a serious term) might exclaim that actually ndash the glasses help us to not only communicate with others afar but due to its transparency ndash can still allow us to communicate effectively face-to-face
Really Is this true From what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass if they are still searching information will still be like talking to somebody with a squint Looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google
It reminds me of being in a pub recently where a debate started and very quickly finished ldquoWhat was the name of that small basketball player in the NBArdquo somebody askedhellip ldquoWas it Spud Webbrdquo and before
any dynamic conversation could happen somebody had already got the phone out and had the full answer ndash ldquoIt was Muggsy Bogues 5 foot 3 played for Charlotte Hornetsrdquo Done conversation over The human interaction ndash diverse to-ing and fro-ing of knowledge and counter-knowledge was interrupted and ended by technology
Live sharing data and communicating with far away colleagues friends and family members is an unarguably beneficial facet of this technology It is a prime example of where these devices are positive for us
Wearable technology could interrupt genuine authentic face-to-face exchange Unfortunately though the act of using technology whilst interrupting authentic human exchange is simply progression ndash yes itrsquos rude but itrsquos an engrained social norm for young people and we have to get used to that
What I suggest then is that the presence of wearable technology might create a new social behaviourhellip whereby removing of the technology turning off the Google Glass and silencing the iPhone will in fact become a positive ritual ndash a sign of respect ndash a sign of ldquoActually Irsquom going to switch this off and we can have as fallible and as fault-full and as wrong-as-it-is-right a conversation with each otherrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US MORE CONNECTED
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
ldquoFrom what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google rdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
10 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 11
WILL IT MAKE US HEALTHIEROne category of wearable technology that has really exploded are devices that actively monitor diagnose and utilise biological data from the body to provide statistics regarding the health and vitality of the wearer
From Nikersquos foray into technology (the Fuelband) to Jawbonersquos UP to Kickstarter-led projects such as the Melon Headband ndash there are already a huge wealth of products and partner services available Indeed the Quantified Selves are right this moment jogging swimming cycling sleeping concentrating not jogging not swimming not cycling ndash all creating swathes of data about what they are doing
The really interesting aspect is how relevant this data is for the user I use a heart rate monitor when running and that information for me dictates how fast or slow I run Likewise other people might use a Nike Fuelband and find that this work for them The power of these products is how they make the user react to this information There is a biological reaction to the digital feedback ndash if somebody has not achieved their NikeFuel goal they might jog to the bus or actively modify their behaviour Likewise the Melon Headband will monitor how hard you concentrate on certain tasks causing you to try and focus more on those that you are particularly slack on You might give your afternoon cycle full attention but reading this article may have you completely disengaged
So this feedback loop between machine analysis and human reaction is surely a beneficial thing By creating competition against the self and others this feedback loop also plays into the humanrsquos innate comparison complex and strive for betterment
The accuracy of the technology is to improve ndash a lot of the wearable tech available currently
cannot be fully aware of what exact activity yoursquore doing and how ndash meaning that accurate data still relies on user-tagging or other markers However the real potential of this health and vitality sector comes from the data mass By learning the data patterns in scores of people that technology and the ecosystem of services around it will only improve This means that the understanding of how to boost health and well-being could improve tooFor example looking at the sleep patterns and routines of an unhappy person and comparing them with the metrics from a happy individual could lead to more intelligent ways to recommend and improve happiness As we all remember from school the more data there is the more robust an output can be Wearable technology in this case makes business sense 35 of absence is due to stress anxiety and depression (DoWampP 2013) with sickness costing UK business pound15 billion per year (BBC) Irsquom sure I donrsquot need to tell you this but pound15bn is a hell of a lot of money So if technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier too
Understanding the biological changes of the body en masse will always aid medical advancement Mimo is a lovely product for babies The lsquoconnectedrsquo onesie monitors the babyrsquos movement and sleep patterns ndash helping the parents monitor their child It can track when a baby rolls onto its back or its stomach during the night and the regularity of the babyrsquos breathing patterns But if you consider this data being collected en masse and collated and analysed for paediatricians then it might help us to better understand cot death for example The technology is going to get smaller more accurate and will be placed on and in us in ways that currently seem intrusive Researchers at the National Taiwan University
Nike Fuelband SE (Nike)
Melon Headband (Melon)
ldquoIf technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier toordquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mimo baby monitor (Mimo)
Melon Headband app (Melon)
12 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 13
Jawbone UP (Jawbone)
in Taipei have designed a wifi-enabled tooth sensor (or ldquowearable oral sensory systemrdquo) which is placed within an artificial tooth ldquoBecause the mouth is an opening into human health this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance exciting oral-related healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary trackingrdquo It can accurately differentiate between coughing drinking chewing and speaking
So the outlook is promisinghellip however just like the Nuclear Weapon in 90rsquos action movies this technology needs to be kept out of the wrong hands
Look at how Tescorsquos has been lambasted for using Motorola armbands to monitor how often its staff take toilet breaks The benefit of monitoring an individual becomes a controversial corporate gain at odds with the users7
Insurance companies are already capitalising on wearables ndash it makes perfect sense for them by actively pushing wearable tech such as heart rate monitors onto individuals they embed that individual into this biofeedback loop that encourages the improvement of health and vitality and therefore less payouts for the big guys
Similarly black boxes in cars (called telematics) are increasingly used by motor insurance policies to track and reduce rates for the least dangerous newly-passed 17 year olds
Whilst this makes financial sense directly aligning benefits with those that have or use wearable technology could create divides in society These devices are after all expensive A Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible prices
Chris Brauer author of lsquoThe Human Cloud Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productionrsquo discusses the risk that ldquothis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so ndash either because they donrsquot have access to the technology or because they donrsquot lead a healthy lifestyle ndash are penalizedrdquo
If wearable technology is proven as actively helping people get healthier and happier and health care is aware and dependent on this information then eventually health care schemes including the NHS should eventually consider releasing this kind of technology not only for those that can afford it but for those that need it
Does wearable tech in this instance replace something inferior or that doesnrsquot exist Yes it does This after all is its heartland The very fact that this technology is wearable means it is closer to our biological being Our eyes Our skin Our heart
As long as the data is made relevant and engaging for the user they will be inclined to actively improve their health wellbeing and happiness The hope then is that this technology is not kept to those that can afford it but is instead available to the masses
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US HEALTHIER
Wifi-enabled tooth sensor (National Taiwan University)
ldquoThis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so are penalizedrdquo CHRIS BRAUERAUTHOR THE HUMAN CLOUD WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NOVELTY TO PRODUCTION
ldquoA Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible pricesrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
Will Wearable Technology Make us More Skillful | 0504 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
WILL IT MAKE US MORE SKILLFULWatch any Google Glass trailer and yoursquoll be smacked around the face by some wonderfully romantic examples of how Google Glass (and therefore wearable technology overall) can help you instantly learn new vital skills that improve your life The ability to know what a tiger looks like when making an ice sculpture of a tigerrsquos head we can all agree is an important facet of everyonersquos life The amount of times Irsquove stood holding a chainsaw with a block of ice in front of me thinking ldquoWhat the hell does a Sumatran Tiger look like againrdquo
There will no doubt be a huge explosion of ldquoskill appsrdquo for Google Glass that will aim to quickly and instantly make you better at something by displaying augmented reality content and information above your right eye iCaddy is a great example of this in action ndash it aims to educate you on the best golf club to choose the perfect trajectory and line to hit the ball and I imagine will automatically scream ldquoget in the holerdquo once yoursquove hit it There are examples being talked about where novice surgeons are able to bring up videos of information of how to better conduct the surgery Itrsquos fairly worrying that the surgeon doesnrsquot know this already but then the idea of using technology to perfect a skill is an age-old but also intriguing prospect
There is no doubt that technology can help us perform better and faster Simply look at the IAAFrsquos banning of carbon fibre blades (as worn by the infamous Oscar Pistorius) because they might offer competitors a ldquoclear mechanical advantagerdquo
The problem is not in the idea but is instead in the consequences of using this technology too much What Irsquom interested in is the current human capability to cognitively learn a skill without the use of technology A key human trait is the ability to make mistakes and learn from them Having technology there as a
Google Glass trailer (Google)
iCaddy Google Glass app (iCaddy)
Google Glass Surgery
constant resource might negate this vital part of learning a skill ndash we could become over reliant on that technology
We are all aware of the arguments against Sat Nav ndash removing the satisfaction in finding your way to somewhere by constant navigation from a (however sexy sounding) computer voice Mercedes are indeed in partnership with Google Glass designing a lsquodoor-to-doorrsquo capability where the Google Glass wearer can receive accurate directions to and from exact destinations including walking from the car park The problem is that actually getting lost can be beneficial The ability to cognitively deal with a situation and find a solution (getting lost and finding your way to somewhere) is not only an important skill for your own development but might also be a nice idea Getting lost on a Belizean island and uncovering a new beach ndash one that was not my intended destination gave me a better experience Likewise learning from my mistakes on the golf course and realising that I cannot use a 5-iron to get out of a bunker has made me the slightly-less-than-terrible golfer I am today
The concern is that technology is reducing our cognitive ability to fully learn skills Digital Dementia as its unnecessarily drastic name suggests is the medical understanding that ldquogadgets ease the burden of memorizing tedious information but if we donrsquot use our brain functions the overall cognitive skills of being aware and perception will ultimately decreaserdquo (Dr Kim Young-bo Gachon University Hospital Incheon)
Is it possible that wearable technology could encourage a more intense version of this condition If it is used to diagnose and dictate errors and solutions when somebody is learning a skill or worse still if it negates the chances of somebody making an error ndash then surely the human capacity to effectively learn new skills will be tempered
ldquoThere is no doubt that technology can help us perform better and fasterrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mercedesrsquo Google powered navigation (Mercedes)
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0706 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Current wearable technology only offers the user a short-term shallowunderstanding of somethinghellip an instant fix one that rather than actively helping a user to developmentally learn a skill slowly and properly might just aim to quickly cure errors This technology sets out to ldquoease the burdensrdquo of normal cognition and actually I think these lsquoburdensrsquo are very necessary parts of the true authenticity of learning a skill
Wearables and apps should be developed to take heed of the fragility and importance of true cognition and design for a partnership with the human need to ldquotry fail learn try fail learn try succeed learnrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL WEARABLE TECH-NOLOGY MAKE US MORE SKILLFUL
WILL IT MAKE US MORE CONNECTEDldquoLook at me look at what Irsquom doing Irsquom flying a planerdquo is effectively what Google Glass and its ability to live-feed to others is really allowing us to do
We all know that technology has been used with good effect to help us connect to others in situations where true connection with those is tricky Skype-ing a brother in Sydney is a true godsend Gone are the days of stuttering phone conversations across the world where a seven-second delay renders the conversation useless
Wearable technology has similarly started to solve ldquonoticeably inferiorrdquo connections The Insider Band helps people simply and easily locate their friends at music festivals Interactive map points allow users to spot the location of their friend No longer do we need to sit missing our favourite act at a designated meeting point or back at the tent Wearable technology and Google Glass as a prime example can help us connect with others from afar The ability to share a live experience with somebody is a compelling and meaningful service that these kinds of tech can facilitate4
The concern though is that technology in general and therefore wearable technology might hinder our social skills
There has been an on-going argument that mobile phones and technology are actively destroying our social skills It is difficult to agree to this or at least outline this argument without seeming like a luddite which at my 30 years of age seems a little archaic for me to promote ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo says etiquette specialists Debrettrsquos
Google Glass Hangout demo (Google)
The Insider Band (Esurance amp ClearHart Digital)
ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo DEBRETTrsquoS
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0908 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Now this is a misleading statement As mentioned above technology has actually created much richer connected experiences with people separated by time and distance If anything the Google Glass trailers highlight the most consumer-friendly aspect of the tech being its ability to live share The ability to use this kind of tech to live share across continents is no doubt solving a consumer need
Where the Debrettrsquos argument might hold up however is when thinking about the actual human interpersonal interactions that we have every day
The recent I Forgot My Phone short epitomises the backlash against ldquophubbingrdquo whereby people might check their emails or reply to text messages on their phones while ignoring their friends in front of them I think we can all admit doing exactly this and hypocritically asking somebody else to put their phone down because ldquoitrsquos just a rude thing to dordquo
Google Glass lovers or Glovers as I have just termed (nb not a serious term) might exclaim that actually ndash the glasses help us to not only communicate with others afar but due to its transparency ndash can still allow us to communicate effectively face-to-face
Really Is this true From what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass if they are still searching information will still be like talking to somebody with a squint Looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google
It reminds me of being in a pub recently where a debate started and very quickly finished ldquoWhat was the name of that small basketball player in the NBArdquo somebody askedhellip ldquoWas it Spud Webbrdquo and before
any dynamic conversation could happen somebody had already got the phone out and had the full answer ndash ldquoIt was Muggsy Bogues 5 foot 3 played for Charlotte Hornetsrdquo Done conversation over The human interaction ndash diverse to-ing and fro-ing of knowledge and counter-knowledge was interrupted and ended by technology
Live sharing data and communicating with far away colleagues friends and family members is an unarguably beneficial facet of this technology It is a prime example of where these devices are positive for us
Wearable technology could interrupt genuine authentic face-to-face exchange Unfortunately though the act of using technology whilst interrupting authentic human exchange is simply progression ndash yes itrsquos rude but itrsquos an engrained social norm for young people and we have to get used to that
What I suggest then is that the presence of wearable technology might create a new social behaviourhellip whereby removing of the technology turning off the Google Glass and silencing the iPhone will in fact become a positive ritual ndash a sign of respect ndash a sign of ldquoActually Irsquom going to switch this off and we can have as fallible and as fault-full and as wrong-as-it-is-right a conversation with each otherrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US MORE CONNECTED
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
ldquoFrom what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google rdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
10 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 11
WILL IT MAKE US HEALTHIEROne category of wearable technology that has really exploded are devices that actively monitor diagnose and utilise biological data from the body to provide statistics regarding the health and vitality of the wearer
From Nikersquos foray into technology (the Fuelband) to Jawbonersquos UP to Kickstarter-led projects such as the Melon Headband ndash there are already a huge wealth of products and partner services available Indeed the Quantified Selves are right this moment jogging swimming cycling sleeping concentrating not jogging not swimming not cycling ndash all creating swathes of data about what they are doing
The really interesting aspect is how relevant this data is for the user I use a heart rate monitor when running and that information for me dictates how fast or slow I run Likewise other people might use a Nike Fuelband and find that this work for them The power of these products is how they make the user react to this information There is a biological reaction to the digital feedback ndash if somebody has not achieved their NikeFuel goal they might jog to the bus or actively modify their behaviour Likewise the Melon Headband will monitor how hard you concentrate on certain tasks causing you to try and focus more on those that you are particularly slack on You might give your afternoon cycle full attention but reading this article may have you completely disengaged
So this feedback loop between machine analysis and human reaction is surely a beneficial thing By creating competition against the self and others this feedback loop also plays into the humanrsquos innate comparison complex and strive for betterment
The accuracy of the technology is to improve ndash a lot of the wearable tech available currently
cannot be fully aware of what exact activity yoursquore doing and how ndash meaning that accurate data still relies on user-tagging or other markers However the real potential of this health and vitality sector comes from the data mass By learning the data patterns in scores of people that technology and the ecosystem of services around it will only improve This means that the understanding of how to boost health and well-being could improve tooFor example looking at the sleep patterns and routines of an unhappy person and comparing them with the metrics from a happy individual could lead to more intelligent ways to recommend and improve happiness As we all remember from school the more data there is the more robust an output can be Wearable technology in this case makes business sense 35 of absence is due to stress anxiety and depression (DoWampP 2013) with sickness costing UK business pound15 billion per year (BBC) Irsquom sure I donrsquot need to tell you this but pound15bn is a hell of a lot of money So if technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier too
Understanding the biological changes of the body en masse will always aid medical advancement Mimo is a lovely product for babies The lsquoconnectedrsquo onesie monitors the babyrsquos movement and sleep patterns ndash helping the parents monitor their child It can track when a baby rolls onto its back or its stomach during the night and the regularity of the babyrsquos breathing patterns But if you consider this data being collected en masse and collated and analysed for paediatricians then it might help us to better understand cot death for example The technology is going to get smaller more accurate and will be placed on and in us in ways that currently seem intrusive Researchers at the National Taiwan University
Nike Fuelband SE (Nike)
Melon Headband (Melon)
ldquoIf technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier toordquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mimo baby monitor (Mimo)
Melon Headband app (Melon)
12 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 13
Jawbone UP (Jawbone)
in Taipei have designed a wifi-enabled tooth sensor (or ldquowearable oral sensory systemrdquo) which is placed within an artificial tooth ldquoBecause the mouth is an opening into human health this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance exciting oral-related healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary trackingrdquo It can accurately differentiate between coughing drinking chewing and speaking
So the outlook is promisinghellip however just like the Nuclear Weapon in 90rsquos action movies this technology needs to be kept out of the wrong hands
Look at how Tescorsquos has been lambasted for using Motorola armbands to monitor how often its staff take toilet breaks The benefit of monitoring an individual becomes a controversial corporate gain at odds with the users7
Insurance companies are already capitalising on wearables ndash it makes perfect sense for them by actively pushing wearable tech such as heart rate monitors onto individuals they embed that individual into this biofeedback loop that encourages the improvement of health and vitality and therefore less payouts for the big guys
Similarly black boxes in cars (called telematics) are increasingly used by motor insurance policies to track and reduce rates for the least dangerous newly-passed 17 year olds
Whilst this makes financial sense directly aligning benefits with those that have or use wearable technology could create divides in society These devices are after all expensive A Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible prices
Chris Brauer author of lsquoThe Human Cloud Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productionrsquo discusses the risk that ldquothis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so ndash either because they donrsquot have access to the technology or because they donrsquot lead a healthy lifestyle ndash are penalizedrdquo
If wearable technology is proven as actively helping people get healthier and happier and health care is aware and dependent on this information then eventually health care schemes including the NHS should eventually consider releasing this kind of technology not only for those that can afford it but for those that need it
Does wearable tech in this instance replace something inferior or that doesnrsquot exist Yes it does This after all is its heartland The very fact that this technology is wearable means it is closer to our biological being Our eyes Our skin Our heart
As long as the data is made relevant and engaging for the user they will be inclined to actively improve their health wellbeing and happiness The hope then is that this technology is not kept to those that can afford it but is instead available to the masses
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US HEALTHIER
Wifi-enabled tooth sensor (National Taiwan University)
ldquoThis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so are penalizedrdquo CHRIS BRAUERAUTHOR THE HUMAN CLOUD WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NOVELTY TO PRODUCTION
ldquoA Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible pricesrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0706 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Current wearable technology only offers the user a short-term shallowunderstanding of somethinghellip an instant fix one that rather than actively helping a user to developmentally learn a skill slowly and properly might just aim to quickly cure errors This technology sets out to ldquoease the burdensrdquo of normal cognition and actually I think these lsquoburdensrsquo are very necessary parts of the true authenticity of learning a skill
Wearables and apps should be developed to take heed of the fragility and importance of true cognition and design for a partnership with the human need to ldquotry fail learn try fail learn try succeed learnrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL WEARABLE TECH-NOLOGY MAKE US MORE SKILLFUL
WILL IT MAKE US MORE CONNECTEDldquoLook at me look at what Irsquom doing Irsquom flying a planerdquo is effectively what Google Glass and its ability to live-feed to others is really allowing us to do
We all know that technology has been used with good effect to help us connect to others in situations where true connection with those is tricky Skype-ing a brother in Sydney is a true godsend Gone are the days of stuttering phone conversations across the world where a seven-second delay renders the conversation useless
Wearable technology has similarly started to solve ldquonoticeably inferiorrdquo connections The Insider Band helps people simply and easily locate their friends at music festivals Interactive map points allow users to spot the location of their friend No longer do we need to sit missing our favourite act at a designated meeting point or back at the tent Wearable technology and Google Glass as a prime example can help us connect with others from afar The ability to share a live experience with somebody is a compelling and meaningful service that these kinds of tech can facilitate4
The concern though is that technology in general and therefore wearable technology might hinder our social skills
There has been an on-going argument that mobile phones and technology are actively destroying our social skills It is difficult to agree to this or at least outline this argument without seeming like a luddite which at my 30 years of age seems a little archaic for me to promote ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo says etiquette specialists Debrettrsquos
Google Glass Hangout demo (Google)
The Insider Band (Esurance amp ClearHart Digital)
ldquoThe digital revolution is destroying British manners leaving a generation of young people barely able to communicate properlyrdquo DEBRETTrsquoS
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0908 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Now this is a misleading statement As mentioned above technology has actually created much richer connected experiences with people separated by time and distance If anything the Google Glass trailers highlight the most consumer-friendly aspect of the tech being its ability to live share The ability to use this kind of tech to live share across continents is no doubt solving a consumer need
Where the Debrettrsquos argument might hold up however is when thinking about the actual human interpersonal interactions that we have every day
The recent I Forgot My Phone short epitomises the backlash against ldquophubbingrdquo whereby people might check their emails or reply to text messages on their phones while ignoring their friends in front of them I think we can all admit doing exactly this and hypocritically asking somebody else to put their phone down because ldquoitrsquos just a rude thing to dordquo
Google Glass lovers or Glovers as I have just termed (nb not a serious term) might exclaim that actually ndash the glasses help us to not only communicate with others afar but due to its transparency ndash can still allow us to communicate effectively face-to-face
Really Is this true From what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass if they are still searching information will still be like talking to somebody with a squint Looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google
It reminds me of being in a pub recently where a debate started and very quickly finished ldquoWhat was the name of that small basketball player in the NBArdquo somebody askedhellip ldquoWas it Spud Webbrdquo and before
any dynamic conversation could happen somebody had already got the phone out and had the full answer ndash ldquoIt was Muggsy Bogues 5 foot 3 played for Charlotte Hornetsrdquo Done conversation over The human interaction ndash diverse to-ing and fro-ing of knowledge and counter-knowledge was interrupted and ended by technology
Live sharing data and communicating with far away colleagues friends and family members is an unarguably beneficial facet of this technology It is a prime example of where these devices are positive for us
Wearable technology could interrupt genuine authentic face-to-face exchange Unfortunately though the act of using technology whilst interrupting authentic human exchange is simply progression ndash yes itrsquos rude but itrsquos an engrained social norm for young people and we have to get used to that
What I suggest then is that the presence of wearable technology might create a new social behaviourhellip whereby removing of the technology turning off the Google Glass and silencing the iPhone will in fact become a positive ritual ndash a sign of respect ndash a sign of ldquoActually Irsquom going to switch this off and we can have as fallible and as fault-full and as wrong-as-it-is-right a conversation with each otherrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US MORE CONNECTED
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
ldquoFrom what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google rdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
10 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 11
WILL IT MAKE US HEALTHIEROne category of wearable technology that has really exploded are devices that actively monitor diagnose and utilise biological data from the body to provide statistics regarding the health and vitality of the wearer
From Nikersquos foray into technology (the Fuelband) to Jawbonersquos UP to Kickstarter-led projects such as the Melon Headband ndash there are already a huge wealth of products and partner services available Indeed the Quantified Selves are right this moment jogging swimming cycling sleeping concentrating not jogging not swimming not cycling ndash all creating swathes of data about what they are doing
The really interesting aspect is how relevant this data is for the user I use a heart rate monitor when running and that information for me dictates how fast or slow I run Likewise other people might use a Nike Fuelband and find that this work for them The power of these products is how they make the user react to this information There is a biological reaction to the digital feedback ndash if somebody has not achieved their NikeFuel goal they might jog to the bus or actively modify their behaviour Likewise the Melon Headband will monitor how hard you concentrate on certain tasks causing you to try and focus more on those that you are particularly slack on You might give your afternoon cycle full attention but reading this article may have you completely disengaged
So this feedback loop between machine analysis and human reaction is surely a beneficial thing By creating competition against the self and others this feedback loop also plays into the humanrsquos innate comparison complex and strive for betterment
The accuracy of the technology is to improve ndash a lot of the wearable tech available currently
cannot be fully aware of what exact activity yoursquore doing and how ndash meaning that accurate data still relies on user-tagging or other markers However the real potential of this health and vitality sector comes from the data mass By learning the data patterns in scores of people that technology and the ecosystem of services around it will only improve This means that the understanding of how to boost health and well-being could improve tooFor example looking at the sleep patterns and routines of an unhappy person and comparing them with the metrics from a happy individual could lead to more intelligent ways to recommend and improve happiness As we all remember from school the more data there is the more robust an output can be Wearable technology in this case makes business sense 35 of absence is due to stress anxiety and depression (DoWampP 2013) with sickness costing UK business pound15 billion per year (BBC) Irsquom sure I donrsquot need to tell you this but pound15bn is a hell of a lot of money So if technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier too
Understanding the biological changes of the body en masse will always aid medical advancement Mimo is a lovely product for babies The lsquoconnectedrsquo onesie monitors the babyrsquos movement and sleep patterns ndash helping the parents monitor their child It can track when a baby rolls onto its back or its stomach during the night and the regularity of the babyrsquos breathing patterns But if you consider this data being collected en masse and collated and analysed for paediatricians then it might help us to better understand cot death for example The technology is going to get smaller more accurate and will be placed on and in us in ways that currently seem intrusive Researchers at the National Taiwan University
Nike Fuelband SE (Nike)
Melon Headband (Melon)
ldquoIf technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier toordquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mimo baby monitor (Mimo)
Melon Headband app (Melon)
12 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 13
Jawbone UP (Jawbone)
in Taipei have designed a wifi-enabled tooth sensor (or ldquowearable oral sensory systemrdquo) which is placed within an artificial tooth ldquoBecause the mouth is an opening into human health this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance exciting oral-related healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary trackingrdquo It can accurately differentiate between coughing drinking chewing and speaking
So the outlook is promisinghellip however just like the Nuclear Weapon in 90rsquos action movies this technology needs to be kept out of the wrong hands
Look at how Tescorsquos has been lambasted for using Motorola armbands to monitor how often its staff take toilet breaks The benefit of monitoring an individual becomes a controversial corporate gain at odds with the users7
Insurance companies are already capitalising on wearables ndash it makes perfect sense for them by actively pushing wearable tech such as heart rate monitors onto individuals they embed that individual into this biofeedback loop that encourages the improvement of health and vitality and therefore less payouts for the big guys
Similarly black boxes in cars (called telematics) are increasingly used by motor insurance policies to track and reduce rates for the least dangerous newly-passed 17 year olds
Whilst this makes financial sense directly aligning benefits with those that have or use wearable technology could create divides in society These devices are after all expensive A Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible prices
Chris Brauer author of lsquoThe Human Cloud Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productionrsquo discusses the risk that ldquothis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so ndash either because they donrsquot have access to the technology or because they donrsquot lead a healthy lifestyle ndash are penalizedrdquo
If wearable technology is proven as actively helping people get healthier and happier and health care is aware and dependent on this information then eventually health care schemes including the NHS should eventually consider releasing this kind of technology not only for those that can afford it but for those that need it
Does wearable tech in this instance replace something inferior or that doesnrsquot exist Yes it does This after all is its heartland The very fact that this technology is wearable means it is closer to our biological being Our eyes Our skin Our heart
As long as the data is made relevant and engaging for the user they will be inclined to actively improve their health wellbeing and happiness The hope then is that this technology is not kept to those that can afford it but is instead available to the masses
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US HEALTHIER
Wifi-enabled tooth sensor (National Taiwan University)
ldquoThis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so are penalizedrdquo CHRIS BRAUERAUTHOR THE HUMAN CLOUD WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NOVELTY TO PRODUCTION
ldquoA Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible pricesrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
Will Wearable Technology Make Us More Connected | 0908 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing
Now this is a misleading statement As mentioned above technology has actually created much richer connected experiences with people separated by time and distance If anything the Google Glass trailers highlight the most consumer-friendly aspect of the tech being its ability to live share The ability to use this kind of tech to live share across continents is no doubt solving a consumer need
Where the Debrettrsquos argument might hold up however is when thinking about the actual human interpersonal interactions that we have every day
The recent I Forgot My Phone short epitomises the backlash against ldquophubbingrdquo whereby people might check their emails or reply to text messages on their phones while ignoring their friends in front of them I think we can all admit doing exactly this and hypocritically asking somebody else to put their phone down because ldquoitrsquos just a rude thing to dordquo
Google Glass lovers or Glovers as I have just termed (nb not a serious term) might exclaim that actually ndash the glasses help us to not only communicate with others afar but due to its transparency ndash can still allow us to communicate effectively face-to-face
Really Is this true From what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass if they are still searching information will still be like talking to somebody with a squint Looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google
It reminds me of being in a pub recently where a debate started and very quickly finished ldquoWhat was the name of that small basketball player in the NBArdquo somebody askedhellip ldquoWas it Spud Webbrdquo and before
any dynamic conversation could happen somebody had already got the phone out and had the full answer ndash ldquoIt was Muggsy Bogues 5 foot 3 played for Charlotte Hornetsrdquo Done conversation over The human interaction ndash diverse to-ing and fro-ing of knowledge and counter-knowledge was interrupted and ended by technology
Live sharing data and communicating with far away colleagues friends and family members is an unarguably beneficial facet of this technology It is a prime example of where these devices are positive for us
Wearable technology could interrupt genuine authentic face-to-face exchange Unfortunately though the act of using technology whilst interrupting authentic human exchange is simply progression ndash yes itrsquos rude but itrsquos an engrained social norm for young people and we have to get used to that
What I suggest then is that the presence of wearable technology might create a new social behaviourhellip whereby removing of the technology turning off the Google Glass and silencing the iPhone will in fact become a positive ritual ndash a sign of respect ndash a sign of ldquoActually Irsquom going to switch this off and we can have as fallible and as fault-full and as wrong-as-it-is-right a conversation with each otherrdquo
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US MORE CONNECTED
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
I Forgot My Phone film (Miles Crawford)
ldquoFrom what I hear talking to somebody using Google Glass looking up to the top right will still be a pretty obvious indication that theyrsquore either lying or that theyrsquore accessing Google rdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
10 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 11
WILL IT MAKE US HEALTHIEROne category of wearable technology that has really exploded are devices that actively monitor diagnose and utilise biological data from the body to provide statistics regarding the health and vitality of the wearer
From Nikersquos foray into technology (the Fuelband) to Jawbonersquos UP to Kickstarter-led projects such as the Melon Headband ndash there are already a huge wealth of products and partner services available Indeed the Quantified Selves are right this moment jogging swimming cycling sleeping concentrating not jogging not swimming not cycling ndash all creating swathes of data about what they are doing
The really interesting aspect is how relevant this data is for the user I use a heart rate monitor when running and that information for me dictates how fast or slow I run Likewise other people might use a Nike Fuelband and find that this work for them The power of these products is how they make the user react to this information There is a biological reaction to the digital feedback ndash if somebody has not achieved their NikeFuel goal they might jog to the bus or actively modify their behaviour Likewise the Melon Headband will monitor how hard you concentrate on certain tasks causing you to try and focus more on those that you are particularly slack on You might give your afternoon cycle full attention but reading this article may have you completely disengaged
So this feedback loop between machine analysis and human reaction is surely a beneficial thing By creating competition against the self and others this feedback loop also plays into the humanrsquos innate comparison complex and strive for betterment
The accuracy of the technology is to improve ndash a lot of the wearable tech available currently
cannot be fully aware of what exact activity yoursquore doing and how ndash meaning that accurate data still relies on user-tagging or other markers However the real potential of this health and vitality sector comes from the data mass By learning the data patterns in scores of people that technology and the ecosystem of services around it will only improve This means that the understanding of how to boost health and well-being could improve tooFor example looking at the sleep patterns and routines of an unhappy person and comparing them with the metrics from a happy individual could lead to more intelligent ways to recommend and improve happiness As we all remember from school the more data there is the more robust an output can be Wearable technology in this case makes business sense 35 of absence is due to stress anxiety and depression (DoWampP 2013) with sickness costing UK business pound15 billion per year (BBC) Irsquom sure I donrsquot need to tell you this but pound15bn is a hell of a lot of money So if technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier too
Understanding the biological changes of the body en masse will always aid medical advancement Mimo is a lovely product for babies The lsquoconnectedrsquo onesie monitors the babyrsquos movement and sleep patterns ndash helping the parents monitor their child It can track when a baby rolls onto its back or its stomach during the night and the regularity of the babyrsquos breathing patterns But if you consider this data being collected en masse and collated and analysed for paediatricians then it might help us to better understand cot death for example The technology is going to get smaller more accurate and will be placed on and in us in ways that currently seem intrusive Researchers at the National Taiwan University
Nike Fuelband SE (Nike)
Melon Headband (Melon)
ldquoIf technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier toordquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mimo baby monitor (Mimo)
Melon Headband app (Melon)
12 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 13
Jawbone UP (Jawbone)
in Taipei have designed a wifi-enabled tooth sensor (or ldquowearable oral sensory systemrdquo) which is placed within an artificial tooth ldquoBecause the mouth is an opening into human health this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance exciting oral-related healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary trackingrdquo It can accurately differentiate between coughing drinking chewing and speaking
So the outlook is promisinghellip however just like the Nuclear Weapon in 90rsquos action movies this technology needs to be kept out of the wrong hands
Look at how Tescorsquos has been lambasted for using Motorola armbands to monitor how often its staff take toilet breaks The benefit of monitoring an individual becomes a controversial corporate gain at odds with the users7
Insurance companies are already capitalising on wearables ndash it makes perfect sense for them by actively pushing wearable tech such as heart rate monitors onto individuals they embed that individual into this biofeedback loop that encourages the improvement of health and vitality and therefore less payouts for the big guys
Similarly black boxes in cars (called telematics) are increasingly used by motor insurance policies to track and reduce rates for the least dangerous newly-passed 17 year olds
Whilst this makes financial sense directly aligning benefits with those that have or use wearable technology could create divides in society These devices are after all expensive A Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible prices
Chris Brauer author of lsquoThe Human Cloud Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productionrsquo discusses the risk that ldquothis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so ndash either because they donrsquot have access to the technology or because they donrsquot lead a healthy lifestyle ndash are penalizedrdquo
If wearable technology is proven as actively helping people get healthier and happier and health care is aware and dependent on this information then eventually health care schemes including the NHS should eventually consider releasing this kind of technology not only for those that can afford it but for those that need it
Does wearable tech in this instance replace something inferior or that doesnrsquot exist Yes it does This after all is its heartland The very fact that this technology is wearable means it is closer to our biological being Our eyes Our skin Our heart
As long as the data is made relevant and engaging for the user they will be inclined to actively improve their health wellbeing and happiness The hope then is that this technology is not kept to those that can afford it but is instead available to the masses
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US HEALTHIER
Wifi-enabled tooth sensor (National Taiwan University)
ldquoThis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so are penalizedrdquo CHRIS BRAUERAUTHOR THE HUMAN CLOUD WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NOVELTY TO PRODUCTION
ldquoA Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible pricesrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
10 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 11
WILL IT MAKE US HEALTHIEROne category of wearable technology that has really exploded are devices that actively monitor diagnose and utilise biological data from the body to provide statistics regarding the health and vitality of the wearer
From Nikersquos foray into technology (the Fuelband) to Jawbonersquos UP to Kickstarter-led projects such as the Melon Headband ndash there are already a huge wealth of products and partner services available Indeed the Quantified Selves are right this moment jogging swimming cycling sleeping concentrating not jogging not swimming not cycling ndash all creating swathes of data about what they are doing
The really interesting aspect is how relevant this data is for the user I use a heart rate monitor when running and that information for me dictates how fast or slow I run Likewise other people might use a Nike Fuelband and find that this work for them The power of these products is how they make the user react to this information There is a biological reaction to the digital feedback ndash if somebody has not achieved their NikeFuel goal they might jog to the bus or actively modify their behaviour Likewise the Melon Headband will monitor how hard you concentrate on certain tasks causing you to try and focus more on those that you are particularly slack on You might give your afternoon cycle full attention but reading this article may have you completely disengaged
So this feedback loop between machine analysis and human reaction is surely a beneficial thing By creating competition against the self and others this feedback loop also plays into the humanrsquos innate comparison complex and strive for betterment
The accuracy of the technology is to improve ndash a lot of the wearable tech available currently
cannot be fully aware of what exact activity yoursquore doing and how ndash meaning that accurate data still relies on user-tagging or other markers However the real potential of this health and vitality sector comes from the data mass By learning the data patterns in scores of people that technology and the ecosystem of services around it will only improve This means that the understanding of how to boost health and well-being could improve tooFor example looking at the sleep patterns and routines of an unhappy person and comparing them with the metrics from a happy individual could lead to more intelligent ways to recommend and improve happiness As we all remember from school the more data there is the more robust an output can be Wearable technology in this case makes business sense 35 of absence is due to stress anxiety and depression (DoWampP 2013) with sickness costing UK business pound15 billion per year (BBC) Irsquom sure I donrsquot need to tell you this but pound15bn is a hell of a lot of money So if technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier too
Understanding the biological changes of the body en masse will always aid medical advancement Mimo is a lovely product for babies The lsquoconnectedrsquo onesie monitors the babyrsquos movement and sleep patterns ndash helping the parents monitor their child It can track when a baby rolls onto its back or its stomach during the night and the regularity of the babyrsquos breathing patterns But if you consider this data being collected en masse and collated and analysed for paediatricians then it might help us to better understand cot death for example The technology is going to get smaller more accurate and will be placed on and in us in ways that currently seem intrusive Researchers at the National Taiwan University
Nike Fuelband SE (Nike)
Melon Headband (Melon)
ldquoIf technology can help make people happier and healthier then business directors will be lsquohappierrsquo and financial figures will be healthier toordquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
Mimo baby monitor (Mimo)
Melon Headband app (Melon)
12 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 13
Jawbone UP (Jawbone)
in Taipei have designed a wifi-enabled tooth sensor (or ldquowearable oral sensory systemrdquo) which is placed within an artificial tooth ldquoBecause the mouth is an opening into human health this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance exciting oral-related healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary trackingrdquo It can accurately differentiate between coughing drinking chewing and speaking
So the outlook is promisinghellip however just like the Nuclear Weapon in 90rsquos action movies this technology needs to be kept out of the wrong hands
Look at how Tescorsquos has been lambasted for using Motorola armbands to monitor how often its staff take toilet breaks The benefit of monitoring an individual becomes a controversial corporate gain at odds with the users7
Insurance companies are already capitalising on wearables ndash it makes perfect sense for them by actively pushing wearable tech such as heart rate monitors onto individuals they embed that individual into this biofeedback loop that encourages the improvement of health and vitality and therefore less payouts for the big guys
Similarly black boxes in cars (called telematics) are increasingly used by motor insurance policies to track and reduce rates for the least dangerous newly-passed 17 year olds
Whilst this makes financial sense directly aligning benefits with those that have or use wearable technology could create divides in society These devices are after all expensive A Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible prices
Chris Brauer author of lsquoThe Human Cloud Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productionrsquo discusses the risk that ldquothis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so ndash either because they donrsquot have access to the technology or because they donrsquot lead a healthy lifestyle ndash are penalizedrdquo
If wearable technology is proven as actively helping people get healthier and happier and health care is aware and dependent on this information then eventually health care schemes including the NHS should eventually consider releasing this kind of technology not only for those that can afford it but for those that need it
Does wearable tech in this instance replace something inferior or that doesnrsquot exist Yes it does This after all is its heartland The very fact that this technology is wearable means it is closer to our biological being Our eyes Our skin Our heart
As long as the data is made relevant and engaging for the user they will be inclined to actively improve their health wellbeing and happiness The hope then is that this technology is not kept to those that can afford it but is instead available to the masses
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US HEALTHIER
Wifi-enabled tooth sensor (National Taiwan University)
ldquoThis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so are penalizedrdquo CHRIS BRAUERAUTHOR THE HUMAN CLOUD WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NOVELTY TO PRODUCTION
ldquoA Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible pricesrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
12 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Will Wearable Technology Make Us Healthier | 13
Jawbone UP (Jawbone)
in Taipei have designed a wifi-enabled tooth sensor (or ldquowearable oral sensory systemrdquo) which is placed within an artificial tooth ldquoBecause the mouth is an opening into human health this oral sensory system has the potential to enhance exciting oral-related healthcare monitoring applications such as dietary trackingrdquo It can accurately differentiate between coughing drinking chewing and speaking
So the outlook is promisinghellip however just like the Nuclear Weapon in 90rsquos action movies this technology needs to be kept out of the wrong hands
Look at how Tescorsquos has been lambasted for using Motorola armbands to monitor how often its staff take toilet breaks The benefit of monitoring an individual becomes a controversial corporate gain at odds with the users7
Insurance companies are already capitalising on wearables ndash it makes perfect sense for them by actively pushing wearable tech such as heart rate monitors onto individuals they embed that individual into this biofeedback loop that encourages the improvement of health and vitality and therefore less payouts for the big guys
Similarly black boxes in cars (called telematics) are increasingly used by motor insurance policies to track and reduce rates for the least dangerous newly-passed 17 year olds
Whilst this makes financial sense directly aligning benefits with those that have or use wearable technology could create divides in society These devices are after all expensive A Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible prices
Chris Brauer author of lsquoThe Human Cloud Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productionrsquo discusses the risk that ldquothis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so ndash either because they donrsquot have access to the technology or because they donrsquot lead a healthy lifestyle ndash are penalizedrdquo
If wearable technology is proven as actively helping people get healthier and happier and health care is aware and dependent on this information then eventually health care schemes including the NHS should eventually consider releasing this kind of technology not only for those that can afford it but for those that need it
Does wearable tech in this instance replace something inferior or that doesnrsquot exist Yes it does This after all is its heartland The very fact that this technology is wearable means it is closer to our biological being Our eyes Our skin Our heart
As long as the data is made relevant and engaging for the user they will be inclined to actively improve their health wellbeing and happiness The hope then is that this technology is not kept to those that can afford it but is instead available to the masses
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY MAKE US HEALTHIER
Wifi-enabled tooth sensor (National Taiwan University)
ldquoThis could create a two-tier health system in which those who can prove their lifestyle choices are beneficial obtain good rates while those unable to do so are penalizedrdquo CHRIS BRAUERAUTHOR THE HUMAN CLOUD WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NOVELTY TO PRODUCTION
ldquoA Jawbone Up costs about as much as a heart rate monitor (pound100) with a pair of Google Glasses currently costing pound1000 These are not accessible pricesrdquo SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH SEYMOURPOWELL
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
014 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 15
WILL IT BE STYLISH
Google Glass is the iconic flag-bearing design for wearable technology It has been cleverly launched among opinion formers celebrities and style icons to ensure it has become the most talked about piece of technology since the knife-that-slices-bread
Diane Von Furstenbergrsquos Spring 2013 collection on the catwalks of New Yorkrsquos Fashion Week saw her models wear Google Glasses as they strutted down to cheers of opulent enthusiasm Googlersquos rather genius ifihadglass campaign saw celebrities and the like desperately vying for The Great Googlersquos attention to cast its God-like light upon the selected candidate and give them permission to hand over the $1500 to buy a pair of the glasses This is PR at its best Buzz after buzz after buzz after buzz Like an annoying wasp at a picnic But it is an admirable effort by Google to remove the social barriers that wearable technology does still have
The problem ishellip wearable technologyrsquos design treads a fine line between trying to become as beautiful and refined as jewellery yet because of the infancy of the industry as we know it now still needs to be overt and loud enough to communicate the brand the functionality and the design in order to fuse its form onto the minds of the blogging mass public
We have learnt many lessons from the past where we have a great technological idea yet its advancement is held back due to a poorly executed design Bluetooth headsets are a great example of a great idea executed poorly designed basically and released blindly amongst swathes of overweight American office workers with their mobile phones clipped onto their belt
So Google have done it differently ndash they even managed to get a 12-page feature in the notorious September issue of Vogue ndash almost solidifying the style-credentials of glasses
Yet even with this exposure does the style work The actual Vogue shoot has been criticised for placing the Google Glass in a dystopian sci-fi world accidentally playing to the social barriers of wearable technology that Google has tried so hard to break down ldquoThe images are hyperbole through environment - Glass just makes sense in a dead sci-fi future in the same way that wool feels inevitable in Scotland Because when you actually see Glass worn in person noticing its absolute worst trait - how it has a tendency to obscure the wearerrsquos eyeline in profile - itrsquos hard to feel anything but coldness toward the technologyrdquo Mark Wilson Fastcodesigncom
The Google Glass becomes a polarising design ndash something that the design team will have to endure ndash but we do see other wearable tech pieces that are unarguably quite beautifully designed pieces
Misfit Wearables are a great example of a device tackling this style issue The chief executive Sonny Vu has spoken about how in this evolving category the gadgets must be ldquogorgeous or invisiblerdquo
With their Misfit Shine they seem to have nailed the former ndash a gorgeous device that not only calculates more than just footsteps (as the CEO says ldquoLife is more than just stepsrdquo) but also calculates your full daily activity ndash not just fitness but your life Itrsquos a great example of identifying that this gadget is not just for fitness It lives outside of the gym and is worn not just with a sports bra or trainers Its ability to be worn anywhere has already earned it the status as ldquofitness tracking jewelleryrdquo
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2013 catwalk (DVF)
ifihadglass campaign (Google)
Google Glass photograph by Steven Klein (Vogue)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
Misfit Shine (Missfit Wearables)
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
016 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Will Wearable Technology Be Stylish | 17
ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo MARIEL BROWNHEAD OF TRENDS SEYMOURPOWELL
ldquoGorgeous or invisiblerdquo is a great way to think about the two options tech entrepreneurs must face The actual design of these products becomes so much more meaningful because they are on you People want to wear a Misfit Shine As Mariel Brown Head of Trends at Seymourpowell recently commented in the Telegraph ldquoThe fundamental truth behind wearable technology is it has to look good or we just wonrsquot wear it we need a reason to put it onrdquo
The other route of course is to go invisible ndash covert tech There are obvious security concerns with this depending on what functionality the device has Google Glass for example should be overt and visible ndash I donrsquot want someone surreptitiously filming me However other devices need not be loud
Beddit is a nice example of designing to be hidden ndash a sleep tracking device that can be kept hidden under the sheet and will then sync with your phone This technology can be invisible when it needs to be
Once these devices start to operate outside of closed systems therersquos a huge wealth of possibility for using hidden devices and connecting them with my on-show devices and screens As Seymourpowellrsquos Head of Interaction Design Lee Carroll put it currently ldquoPeople cannot imagine the possibilities of a connected lsquointernet of thingsrsquordquo
ldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo KATE BEVANGUARDIAN
Beddit sleep tracker (Beddit)
The key issue here then is the tension between wanting to design something loud (either because it should be loud to function best or because it is obnoxiously trying to showcase itself) alongside the consumerrsquos desire for it to be something beautiful discreet perhaps something to wear with pride or to use and hide
Remember in as conversational and meme-creating world as we live in now the style of something can make it or break it Designers should take great care in designing something gorgeous that works across the multiple occasions it might be present in ndash or consider invisibility as a way to ingratiate the tech onto us without the need to deal with the innate social barriers that might already be built
RememberhellipldquoEven in San Francisco a dude wearing Google Glass looks like a dickrdquo Kate Bevan Guardian June 2013 9
SUMMARY
WILL TECHNOLOGY BE STYLISH
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
18 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing Lessons For Wearable Technology | 19
LESSONS FOR WEARABLE TECHNOLOGYRight now wearables will be developed in a bid to quickly get brands and devices to market to coincide with the boom or to partner with host tech launches It will mean we will see a lot of products and services apps and devices that will in 2 years time perish
The idea of using this technology in meaningful and relevant ways is the correct aspiration for entrepreneurs and designers It needs to functionally replace something that needs replacing or improving Or it needs to help to make a more informed decision that can better ourselves It needs to be designed to suit the user - to know when it should be loud and to know when it should be hidden
The invitation has been sent out to designers to fit devices to our skin and within us ndash a hugely important progression ndash and an invite that brings with it a lot of responsibility The paradigm shift will come when this merging of technology is proven to help us better ourselves and our society Until thenhellip letrsquos enjoy the race
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell
20 | Wearable Technology Learning Connecting Monitoring and Posing | Sam Cropton Seymourpowell Seymourpowell | 21
SAM CROMPTONHEAD OF USER RESEARCH Sam achieved a first class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Bath He quickly joined the design and research world by setting up ProperGander a student-led design research company working on NPD and advertising Sam then joined The Youth Conspiracy a global brand consultancy specialising in insight strategy and inspiration where he became Associate Partner leading global design projects for the likes of O2 Channel 4 McDonalds Axe and Durex He then entered the digital area working with Channel 4 and Holler
As Head of User Research Sam is utilising the wealth of knowledge the team has to help create and aid innovation pipelines for brands by starting with the consumer By giving both the clients and the designers an engaging and compelling insight into the world of the user he hopes that future designs will very much be better for people
Email samcromptonseymourpowellcom
SEYMOURPOWELL
Seymourpowell Ltd327 Lillie Road LondonSW6 7NRUK
Tel +44 (0)207 381 6433 Email erinsmithseymourpowellcom
blogseymourpowellcomtwittercomseymourpowellfacebookcomseymourpowell