The Evolution of Wearable Computing.

First of all what are wearable computers?

Wearable computers aka wearables or portables,[1][2] are small computing devices that are worn under, with, or on top of clothing.[3]

The definition of 'wearable computer' is usually extended to those smaller devices like wristwatches, calculators and IOT devices that could worn under or over clothing or are simply small enough to be carried. Since they are included in a broad sweeping category they are an evolving technology that is being applied to achieve specific purposes but mostly they are a novelty item that appeals to the “GEE WHIZ THAT’S COOL” segment.

Wearables usually seek to solve specific problems or provide additional information in a way that is useful. Mobile computing solves certain kinds of problems where information needs to be collected or utilized when the user is on the move. This sector of mobile computing has been spawning technologies that fall into the category of AR(Augmented reality), or VR(Virtual Reality). They fall into the category of fitness trackers, smart watches, and position trackers that can be applied to clothing to determine body position during various activities. They may incorporate special sensors such as accelerometers, thermometer and heart rate monitors, or combination systems such as Google Glass, an optical head-mounted display which resembles a pair of glasses that provide an AR experience and can be controlled by gestures.

It may be that specialized wearables will evolve into general all-in-one devices, as happened with the convergence of PDAs and mobile phones into Smartphone’s.

Wearables are typically worn on the wrist (e.g. fitness trackers), hung from the neck (like a necklace), strapped to the arm or leg (smartphones when exercising), or on the head (as glasses or a helmet), though some have been located elsewhere (e.g. on a finger or in a shoe). Devices carried in a pocket or bag – such as smartphones and before them pocket calculators and PDAs, may or may not be regarded as 'worn'. It maybe that in the future embedded technologies will be part of types of clothing that tracks things like blood pressure, heart rate, brain activity, or metabolism. The possibilities are endless but its more about the social implications of using said technology and how people will be attracted or repelled by these devices.

Wearable computers suffer from similar issues as do other devices within the mobile computing realm such as limited battery life, heat dissipation, running os software that is suitably powerful for its activities, wireless and personal area networks(this too implies suitable security)and data management.[6] Many wearable computers are active all the time, e.g. processing or recording data continuously. This means they need to economize on their features.

This form of computing is just in its infancy and it will morph over time to suit the public’s needs and wishes.