The Era of Wearable Technology - Research Paper Example

Wearable technology made available in multiple global markets is a relatively new phenomenon that has been enhanced with new technological capabilities throughout the world. This review of literature examines what constitutes wearable technologies, user acceptance of these products, issues of functionality, human expressiveness, aesthetics and is supplemented with an industry analysis and a comprehensive description of current wearables and technology leaders in this sector. There are many industry sectors in which wearable technologies have emerged.

In healthcare, such technologies include obesity control wear systems, chronic health management, and monitoring of biological body functions. Wearable technologies have also emerged in the sporting industry, providing support for improving sports capabilities, in the fashion industry, and in entertainment (Lee and Kwon 2010; Ghasemzadah, et al. 2009). Smart textiles gained popularity in the 1990s with very strong influence stemming from research in the military. Pioneers in the military had developed what was referred to as the wearable motherboard, a garment that consisted of many different sensors integrated into the fabric that was capable of monitoring the health status of soldiers in the field.

Following this research, another pioneer, Maggie Orth, an MIT Ph.D. student, created several prototypes of garments sustaining electrical conductive materials and colour-changing fabrics could be combined into a computing interface (Post, Orth, Russo and Gershenfeld 2000).