Thinking smarter

Wearable technology has yet to make good on its promise to add value to our lives

wearable technology is far from becoming a game-changer that many had predicted. Brendon Thorne / Bloomberg News

Computing devices have moved from our desktop to our lap and now on to our body. From watches that answer calls to devices that monitor our physical activities, technology has never been this personal. The National’s second annual #Startwalking Challenge, beginning next week, will remind participants of the usefulness of some of these gadgets.

Yet, wearable technology is far from becoming a game-changer that many had predicted. This explains why Google Glass, which generated so much excitement in 2014, failed to attract consumers or Nike’s FuelBand vanished off store shelves so quickly. Others are increasingly ending up unused, serving as expensive reminders of how this technology is not yet ready to change the way we live.

For these devices to become thoroughly compelling, they ought to be more than just another connected mobile device. After all, it’s not so much about smart devices, but about smarter services and people.