Tech-packed gadgets are becoming a part of our lives more and more boldly. The challenge, however, is to use their potential. How to make the content provided by the devices valuable and usable by entrepreneurs? Solutions such as Big Data and cloud computing come to the rescue.
According to IDC estimates, in 2015. the market of wearable technologies grew by 197%. and will continue to develop. Smart watches, augmented reality glasses, jewelry packed with electronics, wristbands monitoring physical activity – the creation of such devices has included in the strategic development plans of the largest companies. There are also startups that would like to grab a piece of profitable pie. Analysts predict that by 2019. the number of wearables sold may reach 214.5 million copies.
A Challenge For Big Data And Cloud Computing
The market for wearable technologies seems extremely diverse, but IDC points out that there are two currently leading categories of this type of product – smartwatches and fitness bands. What they have in common is the ability to read data both from the environment and directly from humans. The information obtained processed in real time and smoothly communicated to the user in an eye-pleasing form.
Although wearables made their debut as gadgets for novelty-hungry electronics enthusiasts, now their functional function is becoming the main topic of discussion, and there many indications that the battle on the market of wearables will be won by companies that can handle the analysis of data collected from users. Their huge number is a challenge and a field for development for Big Data and services operating in the cloud – predicts Lukasz Pollak, vice president of Beyond.pl
In the daily race, people do not need more distractions to distract from what is important. The content conveyed by wearables must be valuable and fully tailored to their needs. Efficient components will be useless if the software coupled with them will not be based on good, comprehensive analytical services. For example, devices that help manage physical exertion and provide information about the current state of health are constantly gaining in popularity. However, the users of such gadgets not satisfied with recording the distance traveled or the pulse. They are more interested in comparing their statistics with the results of people of a similar age, with similar interests or capabilities, and it is impossible to equip wearables with such a function without active cooperation with the computing cloud.
How Do They Do It In America?
How the use of wearable technologies, Big Data and cloud services can look like in practice was shown by Super Bowl 50 – the last final for the championship of the NFL professional football league, which gathered millions of viewers in front of televisions. The athletes were equipped with RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags, and 20 receivers were placed around the stadium, which allowed for precise control of the movements of each player. The instant analysis of the data obtained during the match made the show more attractive by presenting detailed statistics in real time. It also raised a lot of questions about the availability of information before processing, because it is obvious that knowing the movement parameters of the opposing team members, a good coach would be able to use it properly. However, the NFL made sure that there was no abuse.
How Do They Do It
However, the potential uses of wearable technologies extend beyond entertainment. The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which works for those affected by Parkinson’s disease, has partnered with Intel to use wearables to discreetly collect patient information. There is no doubt that the minute by minute analysis of the body’s functioning, 24 hours a day, allows for a more objective assessment of the state of health and response to the therapy.
However, it would not be possible if the use of the Big Data platform, which is able to wirelessly collect and process data from any device, and allows for their detailed analysis and use to achieve the planned goals – notes Łukasz Polak from Beyond.pl.
It is also worth mentioning the contact lenses that Google is working on. They designed to help people with diabetes monitor glucose levels without constantly pricking a finger to collect a blood sample. The engineers managed to embed a control system, miniature sensors and diodes into the contact lenses, which signal directly to the eye that the permissible sugar level is exceeded.
Next Step: Virtual Reality
There is more and more talk about technological progress in the context of augmented reality, connecting the world around us with the computer-generated world. From here, it is only a step to virtual reality. The research conducted by Natalia Hatalska for the TrendBook published every year shows that 96.4 percent. of respondents know what virtual reality is, and 27.21 percent. is about to buy a device that supports it. Also in this case, it is necessary to use cloud computing. Microsoft’s tests as part of the Irides project have shown that it can reduce latency to a minimum when rendering high-quality graphics.
There are many indications that we will soon see more ways to use wearable technologies. Their effective application today becomes a big challenge that can speed up business processes. We must be aware, however, that full use of their functionality will require appropriate technological facilities. Today it is not difficult to find such facilities. However, when looking at the Gartner report, which says that 90% of global data created in the last 2 years, the question arises – will the current technological resources prove to sufficient? Most likely, we will get the answer to them sooner than we think.
