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With the holiday season in full swing, you may find yourself scrounging for gift ideas for the technology aficionado on your shopping list. Wearable technology is an option worth exploring, and one that's gaining popularity, particularly among fitness enthusiasts.
Wearable computing devices have surpassed the functionality of pedometers and shoe microchips, and are now equipped with more features for activity tracking and real-time self-assessment.
Wearable sales are projected to top more than 51 million units worldwide by year-end, according to research from Futuresource Consulting. Notably, consumer interest in fitness trackers and smartwatches has risen by 50 and 125 percent, respectively, while sentiment in smartglasses and heart rate monitors has subsided.
Whether that special techie in your life is into health, convenience, infotainment or all of the above, there's a gamut of devices from jewelry to gym clothes that collect concurrent data for the wearer to streamline certain tasks and/or tweak routines. The Pebble Watch and Fitbit can make great stocking stuffers for those looking to fine-tune workouts and reduce injuries, but early adopters of wearable tech are warming up to new gadgets that provide more complex results and efficiencies. My list of Top Tech Gadgets for the 2014 holiday season are:
For road warriors, stereo Bluetooth headphones allow for hands-free information access without the tangled wires. CNET calls the Parrot Zik the Porsche of Bluetooth headphones due to its eye-catching design and features like wireless audio streaming, noise cancellation and touch-sensitive controls.
For the fitness buffs in your life, try Athos - sophisticated workout gear lined with electromyography (EMG) technology that detects the body's movements and produces an electrical signal, which can be recorded and evaluated. This performance apparel helps endurance and strength training athletes right-size their workout and not over/under exert muscles in real time, and also captures heart rate, lung capacity and breathing patterns.
Cyclist and runners can enjoy the Leo, which measures your body's lactic acid levels and sends notifications of an impending cramp when you're exceeding the pace. The wearable band shows what's happening live inside your body and translates it into simple, manageable advice.
For the true tech fanatic, consider the Ring by Logbar Inc., which essentially turns your finger into a magic wand. It allows the wearer to control anything they want, including text transmission, home appliances and bill payments with a single, flip-of-the-wrist gesture.
And for Apple brand loyalists, the Apple Watch will be available in early 2015. The slick and customizable designed watch has all of the capabilities of your iPhone - including access to your apps, calendar, contacts, messages, email, photos and navigation - with additional health and fitness programming and software that controls thermostats, door locks, televisions and lights.
The holidays will come and go, but demand for wearable tech will continue to grow. Next year will prove interesting to watch unfold as new brands enter the market and Apple gains momentum. Beyond the tech and fitness community, consumers will recognize the business value in wearable computing, especially in the medical, industrial and military sectors.
Patrick Tamburrino is the president and technostrategist of tamburrino inc., an IT strategy, support and management company in Memphis. He can be reached at patrick@tamburrino.com, 901-489-8408, and at www.tamburrino.com or http://ift.tt/1GenNjX.
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