Modern wearable tech like Google Glass hasn’t been around for long, but it has already caused plenty of media buzz with favorable and unfavorable reactions. Regardless of what side of the spectrum you fall on, it’s important to take a bigger look at how wearable technology will impact the future.
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Smart Watches
Though digital watches have been around since 1972 with the HMW Pulsar introduction, smartwatches such as the Pebble, Galaxy Gear, and others have only been around since 2013. These watches can do much more than telling the time. They connect to your smartphone and can do things like call hands-free, take pictures, read emails, play games, and even text.
All these cool features, however, don’t come without criticism. One of the biggest concerns is the utilization of GPS technology, coupled with the possible integration of Google Now services. With Google now activated on your phone, your location is sent out to inform you of nearby events, give accurate directions to a route you searched for, and give location-based information to advertisers.
These are concerns that have plagued Google services on smartphones since its early days. Whether you chalk up these concerns to Big Brother scare tactics from tinfoil hat wearers or have a legitimate fear of your location being stored, it’s understandable.
Google Glass
When the Google Glass prototype was revealed in 2012, it took the Internet by storm. Ugly aesthetics aside, Google Glass has the ability to be a game-changer. Ultimately useful for things like hands-free navigation and checking the weather, some people were up in arms over the device. Some establishments even went as far as banning the devices because of their ability to take photos and record videos.
While there isn’t conclusive evidence that there are imminent threats to your privacy, make sure to know your technology inside and out so you can adjust the information you’re transmitting — you don’t want it falling into the wrong hands. Create an action plan, such as identity theft protection, which can send you alerts if there’s any action that could adversely affect your credit or compromise your security and peace of mind.
Cuff
While wearable tech can be useful for capturing moments on the fly or accessing messages more simply, Cuff is focused on safety. In fact, the company is disguising it as jewelry. It works by transmitting a signal to your friends and family (if they have the app installed) at the touch of a button.
The product is designed to keep you safe (whether from attackers or a physical ailment) and look stylish while doing it. It can appeal to a demographic of people who would otherwise be wary of wearing something that could save their life because it doesn’t fit in with the rest of their ensemble.
If you don’t trust the companies making these products with your whereabouts and lifestyle data, you probably should steer clear of them. Otherwise, if you don’t believe there’s much of a probability of privacy invasion, or these concerns have been exaggerated, feel free to be part of the wearable tech revolution!
Let us know in the comments below:
How do you feel about wearable technology?
Would you use it to make life easier or to keep you safe?
