There was a time when we thought exoskeletons would be the last of what we would hear, when it came to wearable technology. Now, there are underclothes to detect how you feel, and even a skin that you can wear. How far can we possibly go, and is it really the right thing we are doing? Wearable technology is a great way to solve many problems. Most importantly, it has the ability to enable the disabled, and monitor and treat the unwell. It also has the ability to help you stay healthy.
With all these benefits, there is also a dark side to it. How far can we take technology and is it really wise to put up so much of information about ourselves, and our bodies up there in the cloud? The answer to this question, like for many others are, is it depends. We need to consider the strides made in wearable technology, partly due to artificial intelligence.
A day may come when our bodies will no longer be just flesh and bones. It would consist of flesh, bones and chips. Chips and circuits that are flexible and bendable may become part of the first skin that can be worn. Another application is, apparently, to turning your skin into a touch screen. The more we read into wearable tech, the more mind-boggling and surreal it gets. Yet, it is not stopping anywhere and is only likely to grow.
So no matter how we feel about this new reality, it is a reality that we must come to terms with. It is not easy to predict how far wearable technology will go, but there are a few things that we can consider, to keep ourselves safe.
There are a lot of products out there, that make use of wearable technology. It is not possible to verify the credibility of each of these products. While security issues lurk, there is also the issue of allergies. Many people seem to develop allergies to materials from which wearable tech products are made. It is important to choose companies that take this matter very seriously. Apple Watch is one such example, which of course, is not allergic when you wear. A good idea is to choose products from companies that are well-known and reliable.
Most of the times, we purchase products that we do not need. Like the aforementioned underclothes that read your emotions, there are many products which may not be very urgent to many people. Consider what your needs are and invest in wearable tech products that actually bring a positive change in your life. You need to understand that most wearable tech may not be needed for you at a given time. Speak with your healthcare providers if a product is necessary. Purchase only those. Otherwise, you might simply wear gadgets that collect information about your body, and may not really be useful to you in anyway.
There are times when people share their wearable gadgets with others. This isn’t a very good practice. Secondly, it is important to set the privacy controls for your gadget (if that is possible). Third, you need to know that all technology comes with a security risk, wearable tech including. For this reason alone, there needs to be extra caution while using these devices. You do not want everyone to know what your health issues are.
A lot of changes are taking place in the world. One of them includes wearable tech. We have come a long way from thinking future wearable tech would look only like exoskeletons. While exoskeletons continue to help the disabled, there are many other ways of using wearable technology. Some can be inserted into tissues, while others can be worn on the body, like clothes. These changes are inevitable and it will probably determine how we will live in the future. We need to accept the inevitable. After all, it is only when we become adaptable do we survive. If it requires us to use wearable tech, we just have to.
We need not look at wearable tech as something scary from George Orwell’s novel 1984. To most of us, wearable tech seems to be an exciting way to embrace all the goodness that technology has to offer. It only creates possibilities. While one can retain the option of not wearing them, if it helps in certain health conditions, there is no reason why you shouldn’t. Moreover, it might soon become your doctor’s prescription to wear technology. That day isn’t too far. As long as we embrace new technologies, we will be in an easier position to adapt to future situations.
Summing up
Certainly, wearable technology is one of the hotly-discussed topics of today. There does not seem to be any sign of the movement growing slower. With an ever increasing need for alternative treatments, and to push forward towards a more healthy body, wearable technology could be the next big thing. Combined with artificial intelligence, wearable tech is already revolutionizing the world. We can take a few steps to accept this new reality, whether we like it or not.
First of all, we need to ask ourselves if we want to wear whatever wearable tech we are planning to wear. The second question we need to ask is, if we really want it. Next, we need to learn to protect data security. There are many ways to do this, when it comes to wearable tech.
Next, we need to accept that the tectonic shift toward wearable tech has already taken place. The only thing we are yet to do is embrace it wholeheartedly. By embracing it, we will open ourselves to new opportunities, and that is certainly a good way to build our future.
Have you considered using wearable tech? What are your opinions on this matter?
