Concept Analysis Wearable Computer Industry Outlook The industry of wearable computers is the industry inStreyed anticipates competing in. Wearable computers are fully functional, self-powered, self-contained computers that allow the user to access information anywhere and at any time1,2. Some key characteristics taken directly from MIT website classify wearable computers as encompassing the following characteristics3 :
Portable while operational: The most distinguishing feature of a wearable is that it can be used while walking or otherwise moving around. This distinguishes wearables from both desktop and laptop computers.
Hands-free use: Military and industrial applications for wearables especially emphasize their hands-free aspect, and concentrate on speech input and heads-up display or voice output. Other wearables might also use chording keyboards, dials, and joysticks to minimize the tying up of a user's hands.
Sensors: In addition to user inputs, a wearable should have sensors for the physical environment. Such sensors might include wireless communications, cameras, or microphones.
"Attention-getting": A wearable should be able to convey information to its user even when not actively being used. For example, if your computer wants to let you know you have new e-mail and whom it is from, it should be able to communicate this information to you immediately.
Always on: By default a wearable is always on and working, sensing, and acting. This is opposed to the normal use of pen-based "Personal Digital Assistants," which normally sit in one's pocket and are only woken up when a task needs to be done.
This is an industry that seems to be coming to light more and more as technology continues to advance, get smaller, and transform from just a piece of technology into more of a wearable fashion trend or useful device that makes life more convenient. It may be hard to realize that 1
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