Wearables: the future of technology
![Two smiling young girls extend their colourful 'Jewelbot' smart Bluetooth wristbands towards the camera.](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Jewelbots-04-e1444036583398.jpg?w=1152&h=384&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.4579&fp-y=0.3487&dm=1699520204&s=f8f6ecbf6d93d6ed601ed614578ccf09 1152w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Jewelbots-04-e1444036583398.jpg?w=1188&h=396&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.4579&fp-y=0.3487&dm=1699520204&s=4c059ff1dd733c1b64c1187bedb7cc1c 1188w)
Categories: Technology
Recently, there has been an explosion in the popularity of wearable technology across the world.
Wearable devices promise to enhance our lives, integrating technology into everyday clothing and jewellery. Here are some of the latest and more unusual devices to hit the wearable technology scene.
![Ear o smart](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Ear-o-smart.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520160&s=ce6f76809ae928b493a3b8dd9a45fa4f 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Ear-o-smart.jpg?w=1180&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520160&s=f688e85a912a6aaefe0dedad6f2bdba7 1180w)
Ear-O-Smart Jewlery
Ear-O-Smart
Many wearable technologies are emerging which monitor personal fitness, enabling wearers to keep fit and healthy whilst on the move. The most discreet version we have found so far is the Ear-O-Smart, an earring that keeps track of your heart rate. In an effort to combine fashion trends with technology, the Ear-O-Smart is a decorative piece of jewellery, which links to your smartphone. It collects data on your heart rate, physical activity levels and the number of calories you burn each day. We’re not sure if this will catch on in the same way as smartwatches, but it’s certainly an interesting gadget for monitoring fitness. Check out this video to find out more about the Ear-O-Smart.
![Dot smartwatch 6](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/dot_smartwatch-6.png?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520341&s=4e4a0e90c68abfb634bacb9904409da8 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/dot_smartwatch-6.png?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520341&s=4964063052e874916e976eb50336006f 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/dot_smartwatch-6.png?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520341&s=ee5ceec5e7848e58bacfa373fe6091fd 1920w)
Image by The Dot.
Braille smartwatch
For the blind and visually impaired, there are many barriers to engaging with technology. When using smartphones and watches, users often have to rely on text readers to read messages aloud to them. Tech company the Dot have challenged this, by creating a new smartwatch which converts messages into Braille. It uses an ‘active Braille’ system, which enables the wearer to keep their finger still on the screen whilst metal pins rise and fall, creating a moving message.
![Ekso Bionics e1442411458925](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Ekso-Bionics-e1442411458925.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520162&s=fe8ab57020ce3aced00f0694a44215c0 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Ekso-Bionics-e1442411458925.jpg?w=1380&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520162&s=e0143d57a8f4a7b1cc49d82c4181415e 1380w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Ekso-Bionics-e1442411458925.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520162&s=3b109be9f9ace53098274668616ff3cf 1920w)
Image by Ekso Bionics TM.
Exoskeletons
Ekso Bionics have been working on ‘Ekso,’ a human exoskeleton, since 2005. The aim is to create bionic suits which enable people with any amount of paralysis or weakness in the legs to stand and walk. The devices can be used by a physical therapist to enhance rehabilitation therapy for stroke patients. Ekso can also be used by patients with spinal cord paralysis – a fantastic invention to empower those who could not otherwise use their legs.
![Jewelbots 04 e1442420927728](https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Jewelbots-04-e1442420927728.jpg?w=510&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520204&s=e1c22fef09e8d450ca479d790c840977 510w, https://qeprize-site.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/news/Jewelbots-04-e1442420927728.jpg?w=1188&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1699520204&s=83c8e43595066c98495527d6dfca7213 1188w)
Image by Sara Kerens, Jewelbots, February 2015.
Jewelbots
Another company venturing into the world of electronic jewellery is Jewelbots. Aimed at young girls, the Jewelbot is a programmable friendship bracelet that allows the wearer to communicate with their friends. Girls can program it to light up when they get a text message, a new Instagram follower or when their favourite television show is about to start. The idea is to introduce girls to the principles of coding in a simple, fun way. For those who have mastered the basics, there is also the option to link up the Jewelbot with computer software. Whilst gendered technology may not be everyone’s cup of tea, Jewelbots could certainly help to spark the interest of some girls in programming.