 |
The Apple Watch was finally released to excited tech fans
last week to mediocre reviews. Critics described the watch as
sleek in appearance, but lacking in the functionality to make it a necessity in
the same way that the iPhone is today.
Hype around the
release of the watch has sparked questions about the future of wearable
technology: will it ever be mainstream? How much are people willing to pay for
it? And how can we combine high-level technology with high fashion, to make
pieces that people with no interest in technology will want to buy?
Only time can give us the answers to these questions, but
the reception of the Apple Watch over the next few months may reveal much about
how the public will react to wearable technology in the future.
According to News
Limited, 1 in 5 Australians already own wearable technology, but to take a
closer look at the current climate, we’re taking a look at some of the popular
products already on the market.
Some of the
contenders:
Apple Watch: The
latest and greatest in wearable technology, the Apple Watch aims to combine
Apple’s sleek designs with a highly functional watch. The watch offers a range
of apps including fitness, email and maps, and allows you to choose from two
different sizes in three sleek designs. It sounds great, but first reviews
indicate that the first generation watch doesn’t quite hit the mark in the same
way that iPhones currently do.
Moto 360 watch: Motorola’s
answer to the Apple Watch, the Moto watch is a fully customisable smartwatch
that (for a price) allows you to choose the face, band and case of your watch. Reviews
have praised the watch on its looks and quality, but critics were disappointed
with the short battery life.
Fit Bit Charge HR: I'm currently testing one of these. Although
it looks a bit like a watch, the Fit Bit is (unsurprisingly) a fitness tracker.
If you’re looking to track how much exercise you do on a daily basis, the Fit
Bit is a great option for counting your steps, telling you how many calories
you’ve burned and tracking your sleep quality.
Critics
like it for its accuracy and subtlety, but dislike its display and tendency to
scuff.
Garmin Vivoactive:
Unlike the Fit Bit, the Garmin VIvoactive is a sports watch - a cross between a
fitness tracker and a smartwatch - that is supposedly more suitable to sport
than the Fit Bit. The Vivoactive allows
you to accurately track running, swimming, cycling and even golf yardages.
Despite its impressive features however, the Vivoactive has been criticised
for its bulky and unattractive design.
Google’s disappointing experiment has been met with scathing
reviews around the world. Worn as glasses, Google Glass responds to voice
command. It allows you to take pictures, access flight and weather information
(displayed in the right-hand corner of your vision) and undertake a range of
other tasks that you could do on your smartphone, all at your voice command.
It’s supposedly comfortable, but is very expensive, has a short battery life and
looks quite ridiculous.
Do you own any
wearable technology?
