This is a familiar scene in the restaurant today: romantic another transfixed staring across the table - a smart phone. Man texting or microblogging send messages, Well, you're better than they flash across the idea. One night, Morton got her phone obsession uneasy, a dinner date, she stormed off to catch a taxi.
The man yelled to the bustling streets of the headset will become the new norm, and the world will become strange and perhaps more annoying - a generation of wearable technology. Companies such as Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft compete for the next wave. Think about the Internet Surfing able gratifying or stimulating partner, friend or stranger, glasses and watches.
This is in the calculation of the transfer of technology is just around the corner. Google computerized glass glasses, closer to reality, the topic of chatter in the high-tech industry buzzing.
"I think it (the glass) will be the beginning of a good conversation, but after a certain period of time, you have it, it could be a problem, said:" Morton, 27, who works in Los Angeles, and now have an agreement keep her boyfriend phone dinner.
Wearable computing, commitment to the marriage of fashion and technology world to usher in the accessories to be able to meet the world on a 24/7 digital needs. Although Google is testing its calculation of the glasses, insist on the smartphone screen in front of one eye, Apple is patent, it is a work computer watch with the iPhone on the wrist function.
To play in the wearable computing technology and its impact on society. This is crunch created an industry product development around social and privacy issues. Google computer glasses can shoot photos and videos, some of their privacy may be attacked unrest image released online.
Despite the concerns, large industrial and consumer science fiction aspects of computer-aided visual promise.
The computer goggles can help ID covering a field of view of the police officers, the facial recognition database link information from a front camera captured data or the license plate of the suspect. Retail employees may use computer glasses to see a specific project, a shop of clothing to find the exact items the tracking chip logo on the map. Moreover, consumers may soon see their own enhanced digital world glasses glass from Google, such as maps or Internet information is placed in front of the eyes.
Long forecast, wearable the computational calculations boom is ready. "This is the next big category," said Tim Chang, Managing Director of the venture capital firm Mayfield Fund.
The converging point of the high-tech industry's biggest leap-forward, the right time: the ubiquity of the Internet, improved display, better battery, tracking more than ever, state-of-the-art chips and sensors. Most people have packed wearable devices, smart phones, PDAs couples. This is expected to become the main computer, and can help shuttle of Apple Google glass or a IWATCH of equipment, such as Bluetooth data via wireless phone.
Data and technology brought closer to our body, is good or bad the world, providing a faster consumption. People can call their calendar or e-mail, do not come to the phone or laptop, and go get faster information bites. People wear the glass may use facial recognition software, or location tracking applications to find friends on the map in the outdoor concert.
"Obviously there are a lot of interesting impact on consumers, the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz said:" Horowitz.
The largest high-tech investment, first there. Private companies to develop devices use sensors in the first half of 2012, venture capital firms to invest more than 700 million U.S. dollars, according to Forrester.
Consumer products, covering health monitoring, entertainment, fitness, and network consumption wave is on the horizon.
Apple, Google and Microsoft - the rapid growth slowdown in the calculation of another class - can be used to promote a new business. Apple and Google is in a league of their own, because of their relationship, developers and consumers, "said Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman - Epps.
The research firm Gartner the wearable equipment market is expected to be as high as 1 billion U.S. dollars by 2015.
Google is not the only one developing countries glasses. Motorola Solutions goal is to face up to a big headphone equipment, warehouse workers can help to find a project for industrial applications, mechanical indication and firefighters on the scene saw the schematics of the building in case of emergency. "It's all to get the right information at the right time in the right place, said:" CTO Paul Steinberg, Motorola solutions, industrial efficiency target.
The M100 headset eyes VUZIX being developed, bring smartphone functionality with the Android phone. "This acquisition of information, rather than an overload of information, which will be a total distraction, Hughes-Hallett, VUZIX sales director, said:" Mike.
Developers are now being tested M100. VUZIX hope to sell it to the public for less than $ 500 this year, is aimed at those who gab to a handset. However, it is unknown whether mainstream consumers will take that step.
"The biggest obstacle is attired widely used is the social aspect," said James Ellis, The Google X glass projects and the work is a graduate research assistant at Northwestern University (Northwestern University).
GOOGLE glass
Google I / O Developer Conference is scheduled for May 15, is expected to reveal more details on the glass. The company employees late last year to start the test.
Google glass computer on the top of the screen, one eye is surprisingly light frame. Those who wear glasses can surf the Internet, take pictures and video, or image transmission over the Internet or an explosion. Glass unit response voice, gestures and the touch pad of the head side. They are connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or equipped with a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone battery.
"We really believe that Google's engineering glass technology leaders and managers, there is a more convenient way to have a computer to increase your life and not need a phone in your pocket, says:" Sade Manchester satisfied.
Starner is an extreme evangelist wearable computing. He has been wearing a computer on his face for more than a decade. His homemade prototypes have been bulky, big battery pack before the glass to Google.
He apparently did not find any of the social embarrassment. In fact, he was wearing what looks like a full-size mobile phone, his glasses lens coverage and line out the possibility may seem odd to many. "In 30-second chunks of time computing tasks, you are really good, he said, he pointed out, you can check his appointments, and walk in an office.
Not everyone is excited about the prospect of the information in your face at all times. "There is a faint autism pay attention to what they are talking about Google glass, Adam Green, Rumsfeld said:" Everyware of a ubiquitous computing. "When you look at someone else's eyes, the eyes, simply comes between technology infrastructure."
Google has been studied body language and glass. Another option, say, speak commands such as "forward" or "backward" on a busy train, it may be difficult. "You may begin to notice businessman like the pantomime, rolling file, only they can see," Ellis said, the description may look like the future of computer interfaces.
In recent months, Google glass equipment, provide $ 1,500 per unit for software developers. Earlier this month found that the science and technology festival in Austin SXSW early test Google glass. The participants mentioned those wearing them as "Glassholes", because their pretentious the appearance of the front camera and invasive interaction. Many people believe that it may be a few years, even a decade ago, to meet the social and technical barriers.
Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner Inc., said, many will want to work out the issue of privacy, such as in front of potential rolling video with glass. Health problems and eye fatigue will be a problem, "he said.
Moreover, Google may not be able to squeeze enough small battery-powered equipment. This may be a buzz kill means that devices can be worn all day, but running low juice every hour. "What we can now reality technology may hold back - a commercial decision, they should keep it behind the scenes (glass), Rolston (Mark Rolston) said:" frog design (Frog Design) Chief Creative Officer.
IWATCH revolution?
Apple might be easier to watch the time of commercialization PC. Apple is indeed in development IWATCH after have been rumors that patent applications in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last month.
Steiner said: "Everyone who has a smartphone exist in this space". "Who would have said that there will be an Apple or Google smartphones in 1998, they have been playing this thing in their research laboratories."
Experts say watch from Apple may undermine the industry, and to ignite a new, as the company with the smart phones and tablet PCs. Global watch sales are expected to be more than 60 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, according to Citigroup Inc. (Citigroup).
"Apple may launch a watch, you will see a lot of watches and pendants pieces with intelligent technology, we will see a rapid flow of wearable devices, it can tell you a lot of things," said Zhang.
Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined to comment on the company's plans.
Former Apple CEO John Sculley the wearable computing wave has jumped. He co-founded a company called incompetent wearable, the manufacturer's service waterproof distance tracker, and aluminum pendant looks like a quarter. This means to make use of data provided by Andr oid surface or iOS phone and the optional bracelet and necklace can be worn. Incompetent, is expected to be available soon.
"Wearable is not true, wear now" incompetent wearable said Sonny Wu, CEO. "You do not wear the plastic and rubber, but each product is made of plastic and rubber. Was a solid piece of metal - it's beautiful."
Steiner said: "You have seen the wearable computing industry. Now we see consumers really want.
Startup window is already manufactured equipment smartwatch. Watch Kickstarter funding stone production, with Apple's iOS and Google's Android phone, e-mail, text, Facebook and Twitter notifications. It is connected to a smart phone via Bluetooth. The pebble Table for $ 150 before.
The other focus is to promote a healthy high-tech wrist. The upstart capture a watch, heart rate, movement, perspiration and skin temperature based on monitoring sleep and exercise. "Our idea is to try and physiological data to give you more information about your health, says foundation CEO Jeff Holove."
Watches, some health tracking wristband focus on steps and calories. Jawbone UP bracelet with iPhone apps, track sleep, diet, and activity. Nike FuelBand, fitness enthusiasts wearing a bracelet, Apple CEO Tim Cook (Tim Cook), tracking and heat.
The spread of this wristband device of wearable computing has a larger market. Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman said, this may be the sensor, battery life and computing have made progress. Important: "Will you put it on," he said.
Consumers have to bite the smart devices and health-related, it will be the next fashion du jour or rude wearable technology, it remains to be seen. Morton and her boyfriend, and it can be attributed for the community to figure out what is socially acceptable.
This boils down to "people with good manners," Morton said.
