How technology is advancing: The top five disruptive technology trend.
Groundbreaking technologies are creating new opportunities for businesses and disrupting traditional business models.
The introduction of the smartphone and cloud applications has already transformed consumer behaviour and now more big developments on the horizon will cause even bigger changes.
That’s not to say business owners should rush out to buy the latest drones, but rather be aware of what the future holds for business technology.
These top technological trends are reshaping how individuals and businesses behave and they might just change your business.
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Google Glass
The core feature of Google Glass is an optical head-mounted display that responds to the wearer’s touch and voice commands. Glass is Google’s first entry into the wearable tech market.
Features include: a high-resolution display equivalent to a 63.5cm high-definition screen from 2.44m away, wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, onboard storage of 16GB – 12 GB usable memory and 4GB presumably taken up by software and capability to sync with Google cloud storage.
You can do just about anything with Glass. The first people to get their hands on this wearable computing device described the experience as similar to ‘wearing a mobile phone on your face’.
The first people to get their hands on this wearable computing device described the experience as similar to ‘wearing a mobile phone on your face’.
You can read emails, receive phone calls, get directions, ask Google questions, take photos by winking, engage in a Google Hangout, record a video and video stream, check in at locations, play games, and even broadcast your POV (point of view).
Soon Google is expected to launch an app which will enable GPS navigation and SMS capabilities with some modifications; including new frame designs and compatible apps.
Various sectors are exploring new ways to use Glass. For example, Virgin Atlantic has begun a pilot program in which its concierges from the Upper Class lounge at Heathrow Airport in London uses Google Glass to check in passengers. There are also those in the health industry who have been using Glass to check patients’ medical records and assist doctors in surgery.
Google has recently ended its Glass closed beta testing and started to sell in the US for $1500 ($1600) and in the UK for $1700 ($1800). Unfortunately, it is yet to be released in Australia. However, this is not stopping our local developers from developing Google Glass apps.
Samsung is also about to heat up the competition with the possibility of a September release for its Gear Glass.
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Smartwatches, health monitors, pedometers and activity trackers
These new wearable devices are making waves today. ABI Research predicts these devices will surpass sales volumes of USD$6 billion by 2018.
In a more recent study, ABI reports activity trackers dominated sales of wearable devices in Q1 2014, even outselling smartwatches by four-to-one. Listed as the big winner in this race is Fitbit, followed by Garmin, Nike and Jawbone.
Innovation is happening at breakneck speed.
Samsung now has a new Smartwatch coming, after just releasing Gear 2 and Gear Fit fitness band. This new smartwatch is said to be a bit smaller than the Gear 2 and could potentially run on Android Wear, Google’s new version of Android, specifically made for wearables.
Recently, Sony added a few extras to its Sony SmartWatch 2. It now includes features such as a new action-camera extension app, designed to be used in conjunction with Sony’s range of wireless cameras and a new widget API allowing developers to create clocks and widgets.
Pebble, the company behind Pebble Steel smartwatches, is opening up an official beta channel through the Play Store which will offer Pebble companion apps and firmware updates on its watch.
These devices are changing the world, one wearable piece at a time. Expect to see more feature-packed, futuristic-looking and fashionable wearable devices hitting the market in the coming days.
NEXT WEEK: Three more disruptive technology trends: drones, 3D printing and Google Wallet.
Eddie Mahdi – Centrix Solutions
