Smart and wearable technology

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We have all heard the term "wearable technology" bandied about, but most of us don't really understand what it refers to. Simply put, wearable tech refers to technology that you can wear on a daily basis. It is also referred to as wearable electronics or wearable computing. Examples of wearable technology include smart watches, augmented reality glasses, fitness monitors, temporary tattoo-like sensors, and a whole host of other interesting wearable devices that have been designed to enhance our lifestyles and our health.

The concept pivots on the fact that technology will become increasingly less intrusive and an integral part of our everyday lives. The wearable technology of the future could be an accessory that we wear, perhaps it will be part of our clothing, or maybe it will even become part of our physical bodies.

Ideal for a number of self-improvement applications

Wearable technology is constantly evolving and these new innovations are ideal for a number of self-improvement applications - from health care, education, social interaction and our broader lives. It makes learning about yourself in real-time an achievable goal - from tracking your heartbeat and your food intake, to monitoring your sleep and social behaviour - understanding the "quantified self" has never been so easy for the average person.

According to a recent article published in The Guardian newspaper, those who have bought into the concept of wearable technology claim that it keeps them more informed and helps them with their careers, improves their personal efficiency, their fitness levels and their general wellbeing, and it can enhance their social agenda.

Wearable technology is a market that is expected to experience rapid growth - this according to a new market research report: Wearbale Electronics Market and Technology Analysis, published by MarketsandMarkets. The report states that the global wearable electronics market revenue is expected to cross the USD8 billion mark by 2018.

Wearable technology has become the biggest buzzword in the field of consumer electronics. And it is easy to understand why - these new-generation products have the ability to revolutionise the way we operate in a similar fashion to the way that the global smartphone revolution did. Therefore, it is no surprise that all the major technology giants are betting high stakes on the development and introduction of wearable technology in the future.

Some of the key players in this market include Adidas AG (Germany), Fitbit (US), Fibretronic (UK), Google (US), Jawbone (US), Nike (US), Olympus Corporation (US), Recon Instruments (Canada), Vuzix Corporation (US), and Weartech (Spain), among others.

There are all sorts of items that fall into the category of wearable electronics - from clothing to shoes, watches, handbags, glasses, jewellery, brooches, and even skin patches. However, I believe that the biggest growth in the near future will be seen with the introduction of smart watches. So, as we wait for Apple to launch its much-anticipated smart watch, I offer a selection of other notable and interesting wearable technology that I have come across: