WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
DEFINITION:-
Wearable technology deals with the smart electronic devices that can be worn on
our body parts like wrist, neck, arm, leg etc … These type of technology is used
mainly to check our health and support to our organs and can be used as spying
devices. Now a days these type of devices have been entered the gaming zone
like VR headset. Some of them are used to control the motion of a robot/car.
SOME OF THE DEVICES/SENSORS USED:-
Some of the devices which comes under Wearable Technology are:
1) Activity tracker
2) Maptic (for visually impaired persons)
3) Smart Glasses
1) ACTIVITY TRACKER:-
Activity Tracker helps a person to analyze his/her health. It helps us to
know our heart beat, speed, distance walked in a day, calories consumed
etc. Some of these are connected to our smartphones and some are
independent on any other devices. Activity trackers are fundamentally
upgraded versions of pedometers; in addition to counting steps, they
use accelerometers and altimeters to calculate mileage, graph overall
physical activity, calculate calorie expenditure, and in some cases also
monitor and graph heart rate and quality of sleep. Some also include a
silent alarm. Some newer models approach the US definition of a Class II
medical monitor, and some manufacturers hope to eventually make them
capable of alerting to a medical problem, although FDA approval would be
required. Early versions such as the original Fitbit, were worn clipped to the
waist; formats have since diversified to include wristbands and armbands
and smaller devices that can be clipped wherever preferred.
Types of sensors used are: accelerometer, heart rate monitor,
barometer, bio-impedance sensor, altimeter, thermometer.
D HARSHA SRI SUMANTH
2) MAPTIC:-
Maptic is a device which helps visually impaired persons to walk safely. This
works on the basis of HAPTIC technology. Maptic, the set comprises a visual
sensor that can be worn like a necklace, and a series of feedback units that
can be clipped onto clothing, or worn around the wrist. The sensor
connects to a voice-controlled iPhone app, so it can use GPS to direct the
wearer. It does this through a series of vibrations to the left or right side of
the body. Unlike other aids, Maptic can track and respond to obstacles at
chest level and higher. It doesn't require the user to have headphones in to
listen to directions – like other systems, such as the Microsoft and Future
Cities Catapult headset – so users aren't distracted from surrounding
environmental noise. This is the most natural and reliable form of tactile
instruction, as people are accustomed to their phones vibrating in this way.
The most important part of this device is how the user interprets the
objects in front of them into touch. Moreover this product doesn’t
resemble like a medical device, but looks more fashionable to their
clothing.
Types of sensors used are: tactile sensors(measures forces exerted by
the user on the interface).Piezoelectric actuators are used in this
device.
3) SMART GLASSES:-
D HARSHA SRI SUMANTH
Smartglasses are wearable computer glasses that add information
alongside or to what the wearer sees. Alternatively smartglasses are
sometimes defined as wearable computer glasses that are able to change
their optical properties at runtime. Smart sunglasses which are
programmed to change tint by electronic means are an example of the
latter type of smartglasses. Superimposing information onto a field of view
is achieved through an optical head-mounted display (OHMD)
or embedded wireless glasses with transparent heads-up display (HUD)
or augmented reality (AR) overlay that has the capability of reflecting
projected digital images as well as allowing the user to see through it, or
see better with it. While early models can perform basic tasks, such as just
serve as a front end display for a remote system, as in the case of
smartglasses utilizing cellular technology or Wi-Fi, modern smart glasses
are effectively wearable computers which can run self-contained mobile
apps. Some are handsfree that can communicate with the Internet
via natural language voice commands, while other use touch buttons. Like
other computers, smartglasses may collect information from internal or
external sensors. It may control or retrieve data from other instruments or
computers. It may support wireless technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,
and GPS. While a smaller number of models run a mobile operating
system and function as portable media players to send audio and video files
to the user via a Bluetooth or WiFi headset. Some smartglasses models,
also feature full lifelogging and activity trackercapability. Such smartglasses
devices may also have all the features of a smartphone. Some also
have activity tracker functionality features as seen in some GPS watches.
Types of sensors used are: optical sensor, image sensors, Bluetooth
sensor, Wi-Fi sensors, GPS.
D HARSHA SRI SUMANTH
