When Google Glass was still in closed beta testing, the media was touting the flagship wearable as a glimpse into our future. Healthcare adopted Glass in the operating room, emergency centers, and even medical education. The more I think about it, the less ready we are for the large-scale adoption of such a product. Cost aside, is it socially acceptable to wear a computer on your face? Really?
Watches have been around for decades for more than function – their form has rounded out many wardrobes with a sense of sophistication and appeal. I wore a Fossil watch back in high school and college but found myself replacing this “added weight” with the utility of a smartphone. Even before this, I envied those in grade school who wore the oversized “calculator watch.” Super nerdy, but I remember thinking “hey, the watch can do more than just tell time.”
Then came the Pebble smartwatch, a legitimate initiator of the smartwatch generation, with its suite of applications, music controls, and smartphone notification synchronization. This really brought into question the niche of wearable devices.
Most recently, Google released the Android Wear platform. Samsung and LG quickly launched their smartwatch variants; however, Motorola has been quietly looming in the background with anticipation building for the Moto 360.
With features like a circular interface, wireless charging, waterproof stainless steel chassis, a heart rate monitor, pedometer, and premium build quality comparable to modern timepieces, I find it to be the most appealing wearable tech to date. In fact, depending on its price point, it might be one of the hottest selling devices this fall.
Will smartwatches like the Moto 360 stifle sales of Google Glass? How much more practical are wearables becoming on a day-to-day basis?
