'Wearable computing'. These buzzwords seem to be popping up all over the place these days. From a consumer standpoint - the general adoption of technology moves in stages. First there was the personal computer, then the 'dot com' revolution, then the iPod, then the smartphone and most recently the rise of tablets. From a forward-thinking standpoint right now, the next 'phase' of consumer technology is set to be far closer to us than ever before.
Think back for a moment. Computers used to fill rooms - but then they shrunk. What is the definition of a computer? Some would say a computer sits on your desk and runs an operating system like Windows or OS X. Others would say it's a device which 'computes' things - so while it could be a desktop or laptop computer like we generally think of them, it could also be something as mundane as a calculator or egg timer. That aside, looking at the transition from room-filling scientific 'super-computers' to bag-able, desktop personal computers we can get an insight into how the mobile technology we use today will evolve.
Mobile technology has and is continuing to evolve. What started with redicolous-looking brick-like communication devices turned into sleek, sexy and character-defining 'all-round' devices. The mobile device someone uses defines their personality. Using an early 2000s flip-phone? You are more likely to be less technically savvy. Up until recently if you used an Android phone you'd be considered a geek. iPhones were for normal people and Androids were for the geeky tech-people who wanted the options and customisation that Android brought to the table. Now? Not so much.
This is because Apple got there first. Apple came in 2007 with the iPhone - the first consumer friendly smartphone. People flocked to it and the rest is history. This helped Apple in their effort to be at the start of almost every new consumer technological 'stage.' Think about it, the iPod was so successful it is pretty much a household, generic name for 'MP3 player.' iPad is the default tablet a normal person would jump to. Same goes for the iPhone. So what does it take for another company to destroy the image of 'this is neat, but it won't be anything when Apple gets into this market' that we see so much when regarding products such as the Pebble smartwatch.
There's no denying that Android is pretty much on-par with iOS in the user-friendliness field these days. Kit Kat isn't annoying or confusing to consumers - much like iOS. Does this new equallity (or lead) mean that Google now has the power to start a technological revolution. Can Google take what Apple despretly wants and needs and be the company who kickstarts and continues to lead the wearable revolution? The only people who can decide this are the consumers. It's an interesting point - how much does brand identity matter? If a consumer doesn't care that the Google logo is on the backface of their new 'smart' watch instead of the shiny Apple logo then perhaps they may just beat Apple in this new industry. But we don't know. We'll have to wait and see.
Ivana Isadora