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Home » Fitness » 5 Predictions For Wearable Technology: From Fitness Trackers To Humans 2.0 – Forbes

Even if, like me, youve had a fitness tracker or smartwatch for years, you might still be surprised at how well the wearable technology or wearables trend has taken off. What started with Fitbit and the like has now mushroomed into an entire industry of wearables that are designed to help us lead healthier, more efficient lives.

5 Predictions For Wearable Technology: From Fitness Trackers To Humans 2.0

But the revolution wont stop there. I predict that the demand for wearables will evolve into a more seamless blending of humans and technology giving rise to augmented humans or humans 2.0. Is that really where were headed as a species? To answer that question, I look at five eye-opening predictions for the future of wearable technology.

Examples of wearables from the here and now

Fitness trackers may be one of the most recognizable examples of wearables, but lets take a quick look at some other examples:

Smartwatches the Apple Watch and other smartwatches are designed to generally make our lives easier and to monitor our health and activity so that we can make better lifestyle choices. In fact, the quality of health data gathered by these smartwatches is so good; the Apple Watch can reportedly add two years to your life.

Smart clothing the term wearable doesnt just apply to something you strap onto your wrist; it can also extend to intelligent clothing. Take Neviano smart swimsuits as an example. These include a waterproof UV sensor that communicates with your smartphone to tell you when UV levels are high, meaning you should slap on some more sunscreen.

Smart glasses fancy some smart sunglasses to go with your smart beachwear? Youre in luck. Snapchat Spectacles 2.0 come with a built-in camera that allow you to snap photos and videos directly from your glasses. The glasses link to a smartphone, so you can share your photos and videos via the Snapchat app. Of course, whether your fellow beach-goers will welcome the idea of you effectively wearing a camera on your face is another matter

Looking to the future

Let's look at my top five predictions for how the wearables trend will evolve in the future.

Exoskeletons will transform industry

Exoskeletons effectively, robotic suits that humans wear already exist. Theyre used by some manufacturers to help human workers perform better (for example, lift heavier weights without injury). Hyundai Motor Group has been testing its Hyundai Vest Exoskeleton, which helps to reduce pressure on workers necks and backs, in the factory setting. Hyundai says the exoskeletons help to reduce injuries in the workplace and increase worker efficiency. My prediction is exoskeletons like this will become the norm in manufacturing and industrial settings around the world.

Prosthetics will become more intelligent

Wearable technology also encompasses the new wave of prosthetics and robotic limbs currently being developed. These are increasingly being kitted out with technology that enables the limb to become more intuitive for example, by responding to the nervous system or brain signals. MITs Media Lab is involved in a research project that combines special amputation surgery with intuitive prosthetic development. Special robot prosthetics are being designed for ten volunteers, and the hope is the volunteers will be able to operate their prosthetics via the nervous system. In the future, intelligent prosthetics like this, which respond to the individuals commands more intuitively, may become the norm.

Labs will be 3D printing human tissue

If we can create replacement limbs, why shouldnt we create replacement organs? Researchers are already working towards this goal. In one example, a team at Rice University in Houston claims to have made a significant breakthrough in the bioprinting of viable human tissue, giving hope that it will be possible to print fully working replacement organs in the future. This, combined with advances in robotics and prosthetics, could revolutionize the world of medicine. So, if I need a heart transplant in the future, it's feasible that I could be given a choice between a robotic heart or a lab-grown heart.

Say hello to AI for the human brain

Companies like Facebook are racing to develop brain-computer interfaces that could, in theory, allow you to type your Facebook status update using only your mind (telepathic typing, to use the vaguely creepy technical term). Elsewhere, Elon Musks Neuralink company is working on a brain-computer interface that would help people with severe brain injuries. Announcing the plans in 2019, Musk predicted a future in which humans could have the option of merging with AI."

All this could have serious implications for data privacy

Wearable technology already creates a huge amount of data on the wearer, so it stands to reason that the more we embrace wearables, the more data will be available about us. Of course, this begs the question of whether we should want companies like Facebook to know more about us than they already do. Even if were okay with that (and many of us arent), well all need to become much savvier about the data we're forking over to the purveyors of wearable solutions. And the companies offering these solutions will need to make genuine strides in how seriously they take data privacy.

Wearable technology is just one of 25 technology trends that I believe will transform our society. Read more about these key trends including plenty of real-world examples in my new book, Tech Trends in Practice: The 25 Technologies That Are Driving The 4th Industrial Revolution.

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5 Predictions For Wearable Technology: From Fitness Trackers To Humans 2.0 - Forbes

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Home » Fitness » 5 Predictions For Wearable Technology: From Fitness Trackers To Humans 2.0 – Forbes