“If we’re going to get people to wear sensors, they either have to be gorgeous or invisible.” Sonny Vu – Founder/CEO of Misfit Wearables Depending on your generation, different heroes wowed you with high tech accessories. James Bond was the king of exotic, unthinkable equipment, Batman always had a new tool under his cape. Every 80’s kid wanted a hand phone like Inspector Gadget, and Disney princesses had nothing on Wonder Woman’s tiara which doubled as a deadly boomerang. While the weapons haven’t quite gone mainstream, some of these then-fictional accessories have come to life. Yes the wearable market has existed for decades, but now microprocessors are compact enough for the wearable category to reach real life fruition. Built first for function, these devices have surely captured the marginal interest of consumers...but none have fully captivated a massive stand-in-line-for-hours-like-the-release-of-iPhone large scale obsession. So today’s innovators in Silicon Valley and beyond have not only the task to impress with cutting edge function, but to equally impress with style. The device needs an aesthetically pleasing allure - to look sophisticated, sleek, even sexy. This demand for the next tech hottie has created an exciting new space for current tech giants and new companies - but it looks like there’s a long way to go. Current Giants Get Fashion Forward...And Struggle Google caught widespread attention with the unveiling of wearable pioneer Google Glass last year, but have yet to make Glass a success. Studies continue to show that only around 9% of American consumers would actually consider purchasing the device if they could afford it. The reasoning ranges from privacy concerns to a lacking awareness of the utility Glass provides, but continued resistance is around the way Glass looks. Particularly, how Glass makes the wearer look. Consumers currently have no other base to compare Glass to, which causes confusion around what the device actually does as well as fear of being the only one with odd, arguably invasive glasses. While Google is still grappling with acceptance, Intel too has jumped in the wearable game. The mega company announced in September their new focus on wearables as an attempt to utilize their resources and intellectual property. Thus came the announcement of their smart bracelet MICA, My Intelligent Communication Accessory. MICA is set to debut to the public this month, a showcase at Barney’s for a relatively affordable $495. Yet early reviews of the device are less than encouraging, revealing that while MICA is a stunning intersection of high fashion and technology, too much of the focus is on flash and less about technological substance. New, Exclusively Wearable Companies As Google and other giants struggle, their woes reveal that the biggest problem with the wearable industry is that no one has figured it out yet. Yet at the same time this is just as much good news, allowing startups and relative tech nobodys to jump in the game and possibly get on the map. ABI Research estimated in February 2013 that 61% percent of the wearable market was attributed to fitness or activity tracking purposes. This leaves ample opportunity for developers to create new solutions wearable technology can solve. For example, the Sesame Ring is a 3-D printed ring, complete with an RFID card and a fully functional subway pass. Available for only $25, students at MIT invented the lightweight ring praised as the “ultimate accessory for fashionistas.” In addition to streamlining transportation, wearables are also breaching the safety sector. Guardian Angel is a jewel looking pendant developed in support of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) to provide a couple of security uses. The $100 - $120 pendant can be worn as a necklace or bracelet complete with a small button that triggers a fake call to the wearer’s phone. This is intended to get the user out of uncomfortable situations, for example an awkward blind date with your sister’s friend’s tax accountant or an excruciatingly long holiday confabulation with your privacy-invading Aunt. Fashion Pros Dress Up Devices Building technology while keeping fashion in mind is only one piece of the wearable industry pie. Well known fashion designers have entered from the purely fashion side, pairing technology with their already fashionable lines of clothing and accessories. For example Ralph Lauren’s “polo tech” compression shirts debuted in the 2014 US Open, monitoring athletes’ breathing and heart rate. Yet another space for burgeoning designers is dressing up already fully functional wearables, which may not have mastered aesthetic appeal on their own. Elite fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg designed DVF Made for Glass, glasses intended to make the struggling Google Glass a more desirable accessory for the fashion forward. Similarly, San Diego based FUNKtional wearables creates exclusive accessories suited for Fitbit and other activity trackers. Complete with an entire line of accessories such as bracelets and necklaces, FUNKtional provides a host of designs for anyone interested in monitoring fitness goals while maintaining an eye on fashion. The wearable industry is new, exciting and full of possibilities. However no one has found the secret sauce to bring on the masses, but chances are someone will. Wearables dominance is up for grabs but the question is, which device will finally find big time success? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

The internet of things (IoT) is changing the way we interact with our everyday possessions and how they interact with each other. They enable previously unconnected devices to send information and data to other devices, all with the goal of creating a better experience for consumers and enterprises alike. For the automotive and transportation industries, IoT gives companies great opportunities to improve the safety, efficiency, and entertainment aspects of their products. Regardless of your company’s progress with integrating IoT, you’re sure to get some ideas from our chosen five ways this technology is changing the industry. 1. London’s Public Transportation System Over the past several years, the Transport for London (TfL) has tested a variety of IoT technologies to improve safety and create better experiences for passengers. Back in 2014, TfL trialed screens that showed available seating on the upper decks of their busses. Instead of relying on sensors, capacity was determined with the buses’ existing camera systems. In 2015, the TfL started reviewing sensor systems that would monitor bus blind spots to reduce vehicle and pedestrian collisions. Both trials were part of London’s goal to become a leading global smart city. 2. Tesla’s Master Plan Last summer, Tesla’s Elon Musk revealed the second phase of his Master Plan, which focuses on smart car technology. One goal is to have cars that are powered with solar roofs and with autopilot technology that is ten times safer than human drivers. Another product, the Tesla Bus, will automatically match the speed of surrounding traffic. Finally, Tesla wants to encourage vehicle sharing by paying drivers to own one of its cars and have it drive others around when not in use. 3. Over-the-Air Software Updates We all receive app and software updates on our mobile devices on a regular basis. Now imagine receiving these over-the-air (OTA) updates for your car. This is what Fiat Chrysler realized when the company discovered a vulnerability that could allow hackers to take over Jeep Cherokees. The company issued USB drives to vehicle owners with the software fix, a slow and inefficient process. Market intelligence company ABI estimates that one-third of recalls can be addressed with OTA updates. Safety aside, OTA updates can give app developers and manufacturers alike the flexibility to push out the smallest of changes at little cost. 4. Infotainment in Cars Of course, IoT isn’t limited to safety and efficiency. Today’s cars provide entertainment for passengers in two ways. Embedded cars use chipsets and built-in antennas while tethered cars use hardware so passengers can connect their smartphones. Don’t forget that app integrations — from Google Maps to Spotify — allow passengers to interact with their favorite apps while driving. There is only growing opportunity for companies to team with auto companies to deliver their own applications. 5. Smart Highways While apps like Google Maps show traffic volumes on routes, wouldn’t it be nice to remove traffic jams altogether? That was the challenge when Cisco teamed up with Austrian autobahn company ASFiNAG to create a smart highway to eliminate traffic problems. Cisco connected thousands of sensors through a network of switches and routers to send real-time information including traffic speed measurements and weather information to authorities. Among the results of this project is the reduced need for infrastructure investment due to better road use. The Future of Transportation By 2020, the automobile will be the number one connected device. There’s potential for companies to leverage IoT technology in cars to bring customers services from location-based offers to personal health monitoring. In fact, it’s not a stretch to think that car companies today will have to become the leading software companies of tomorrow (Apple and Google’s move into the car space is just one threat). Companies from both industries need to work together to create the best products for their customers. Now, it’s time for you to think about how you can integrate IoT into your car-related products or services and join the technology revolution.

The Internet of Things is delivering a new era of smart cities and governments. The result, when used correctly, could include reduced operating costs, improved sustainability, better efficiency, and higher customer satisfaction. As IoT continues to evolve, we're constantly discovering new ways to translate it into strong benefits for citizens — what are some of the top ways that IoT can be a smart solution for the public sector? Safety, Security, and the IoT As governments have begun to explore IoT, their focus has built in specific areas, such as the implementation of "Smart Cities" which improve citizen services with solutions like "smart parking", or "smart waste" removal. For instance, Big Belly Solar garbage bins update their status for collection routes, reducing the time that collection teams have to spend on emptying empty cans, and slowing down the time between emptying fuller cans. However, smart cities can go far beyond the benefits of efficient trash collection. Gathering data on a consistent basis can offer greater protection for city residents too. For instance, California's Caltech introduced a new "Quake Alert" project, which uses IoT sensors throughout the area to detect small tremors in the earth. That information can now predict an oncoming earthquake. In the future, this advancement may even be able to send alerts to smartphones, giving people a chance to take cover. Not only can this potentially save thousands of dollars in property damage, but it could save lives too. Reducing Costs and Improving Labor Efficiency For many in the public sector, the aim with IoT is to limit costs throughout various applications, making the government more efficient. For instance, smart buildings can automatically detect the need for cooling and heating power, thereby reducing unnecessary energy waste. Telematics programs can evaluate and improve the efficiency of government vehicles, and some agencies are also using IoT applications for asset monitoring purposes. IoT can even lead to opportunities for task automation, reducing costs and excessive labor in the workforce. For example, the Department of Defense recently turned to IoT to track the use of military and medical supplies. This assessment of valuable, real-time data can help the department to reduce waste, and find supplies when necessary. Improving Quality of Life and Citizen Satisfaction By evaluating structured and unstructured social data, public sectors can respond quickly to changes in resident preferences, and respond to those who need assistance with greater efficiency. Algorithms could even help to suggest ways of assisting people who are in need, such as unemployed people or citizens in need of additional care. Government agencies can use the data collected through IoT, as well as voice recognition and conversational algorithms when people call public sector help desks, to get a better insight into national sentiment, and discover what people want most from their government. This could help policy makers to prioritize and deliver new areas of public services. Greater Access to Resources The IoT also has applications for improving access to crucial resources. According to the United Nations Water Resources Group, current trends indicate that demand for water will overwhelm supply by 40% by 2030. Indeed, in California we are already facing extended droughts. Fortunately, IoT technology could help public sectors to define best practices for water supply and use, and identify areas to economize water use. Not only can IoT devices point people towards nearby sources of water, but it can also suggest alternative routes for yield and delivery. This could be particularly crucial, as more than 40% of our current water infrastructure is outdated, losing 16% output during deliveries. IoT could indicate exactly where to repair, and adapt for better yield. IoT for the Public Sector By offering a stronger insight into supply, demand, and citizen preference, IoT applications can help utilities and government bodies to work together and improve the governance of various public-sector solutions. There are various potential outcomes for IoT beyond those mentioned above. For instance, the US Geological survey is using sensors to monitor the contamination of lakes and rivers, while the General Services Administration measures the efficiency of green buildings. As more research into the IoT emerges, the public sector will continue to find new and advanced ways of improving efficiency, productivity, and quality of life for citizens across America. Interested in developing an IoT app for your government or public service agency? Get in touch with us for a free consultation.