What the tech are you wearing?

Hello everyone. It's been months since I've written anything on this blog. I, Herald Uy--one of the most talkative tech evangelists along Roces Avenue in Quezon City--have returned to set things right! And my first order of business is to nag about wearable tech. But why? Indeed, there's a good amount of juicy materials to talk about, i.e. BlackBerry 10 (don't worry we'll cover this soon--when it fails). But the subject of tech as a wearable accessory is hard to pass up. In fact, it's high time that we talk about it given all the right moves some groups are making. I'll prove my point in a long while--as usual. Oh well, welcome back guys.

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In an era before smart devices came into light, any type of wristwatch was known to tell one thing: time. If you owned a more advanced model, i.e. a Patek Philippe, you'd get day and date too. (There are ones that even display the month you're in, as if you're so lost that you can't tell March from September. Angst.) Most wristwatches now though, especially digital in form, have these in relative commonality--and more. Hold on. And more? What else would those Casioses and Timexes of old do? Actually, and now that you've mentioned it, I don't really know. (Am I talking to myself in my writing? Yes. Haven't you noticed all this time?) Truth be told, I have personally ignored the watchmaking business for a long time. So much so that I don't remember the last time my wrist enjoyed the pleasure of a timepiece. (Well, save for the Breguets and Breitlings which I've admired on store windows for much of my life.) (And Game n' Watch!)

Enough with the pleasantries.

In the annual CES event in Las Vegas last January, the buzz is clearly around promising wearable gadgets. Smart watches from different startups promise to do a lot of fancy stuff. Keeping track of body movements, sleep patterns, temperature and heart rate are but a few of the things a new range of wrist pieces can do. There's also an apparent attempt on some that aims to supersede the function of phones, i.e. taking calls (via Bluetooth; like Dick Tracy) and receiving messages like email. It also displays, well, time. Impossible! What sorcery is this?!

Okay let's get to the point. I think the era of wearable tech has started. I also think this is a revolution in the making that would easily dwarf the smartphone or tablet revolutions--whether or not the main salesman is Steve Jobs.

The first question is, who's leading the way? That's the thing. No one has a clear lead. Here are some of the "smartwatch" players from the recent CES event.

Pebble
Martian Passport Watch
Fitbit Flex (Fitbit's answer to the Nike FuelBand)
Basis Band

The second question is one that has arisen lately. Is Apple making one too? Tech pundits are mixed with this new venture. Either being an ingenuously surprising move that would take everyone by storm. Or a massively miscalculated flop that will be the stupidity of our age. If it's true at all. I personally think it is. Apple rumors have been known to get stronger, not counting more factual, as the official unveiling draws near. My fearless guess is that after the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010, the new gadget would be the iWatch in 2013. (If Apple's naming methodology thus far is any indicator, it must be the iWatch regardless of how ridiculous it sounds.)

An iWatch mockup. There is a big consensus that Apple will be using Corning's flexible Willow Glass.

Will Apple be successful (supposing the rumor mill hits the tune yet again)? Honestly, it's a really difficult call. Apple has been known to exceed expectations on consumer adoption of new gadgets. And so I won't attempt to praise or drown the concept just yet. But I will say this. Wearable tech is no doubt a question of when, not if. As the mass consumer market bites the promise, a clear winner will emerge. Hence, if smart watches are widely adopted and Apple happens to be building one, Apple will dominate.

But wait. What about Google's Project X, aka Google Glass? This is wearable tech too right? And alas, another story for another time.

Sergey Brin, Google's co-founder, wearing a Google Glass prototype. Will these tech goggles bridge the natural gap?

Some people think this is too much technology overshadowing our humanity.

Most are inclined to find out how it would work in daily life. Soon says Google.