With recent days the wearable tech arms race has gained much momentum. Sony with the Smartwatch 3, Samsung with the Galaxy Gear, and the Pebble Smartwatch just to name a few. Many cry failure and state the Galaxy Gear delivered short and many also proclaim wearable tech is simply a fad. Before you write off wearable tech, allow a few minutes to possibly change your mind.
Google Glass will be reserved for a future article, at this time watches are the order of business, particularly, the Galaxy Gear. Rather than explore the processor, camera quality, available apps, etc. (as so many have), we will explore the ability to return a bit of humanity by using technology [like how I did that?]. Contrary to many arguments the Galaxy Gear is surprisingly elegant and I would feel most comfortable wearing mine to my next trip to the Primetime Emmys; a fashion faux-pas I know. However, herein lies an opportunity to reduce the brash, callous, inconsiderate nature that has invaded our lives. Our utter disregard for others in lieu of our perceived need to stay in touch.
How many times have you attended a meeting and, for whatever reason, anxiously awaited an email, notification, or text message? Speaking from experience, it would behoove the middle manager not retrieve a mobile phone and callously review messages during a Senior Leadership Meeting. Rather than reviewing a mobile phone or television size tablet, simply wait for a wrist to vibrate and unassumingly look down at the watch. How many times has a conversation spanned much longer than expected and terror takes seat as your mobile device vibrates incessantly as emails and messages arrive? Only the most rude retrieve the device and begin to read content discounting their colleague, friend, or family member. Even the most elegant are forced to speak “Excuse me…” or “Pardon me…”. Why not fold your arms and, as moments permit, glance.
Dining out it is nearly impossible not to see the couple on “Date Night”, heads down, faces glowing, as they peruse their mobile devices. Noting a recent trip to the bank, it would not be surprising to find a robber could heist a teller and the customers have next to no idea the description of the robber; “…at the bank, back in office in 30 minutes.” Wearable tech might offer a small opportunity to humanize so many of us tethered to our mobile devices.
There’s more than enough “rude” to go around… for those who like a wrist watch, why not increase the efficiency of the wrist real estate anyway…
Plus.google.com. (n.d.). Google Glass. [online] Available at: https://plus.google.com/+GoogleGlass [Accessed 22 Mar. 2014].
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