The smartwatch has lived up to the hype. Can other wearable technologies follow its lead?

Will wearable technology ever realize its potential? Exciting technical innovations that should succeed often disappoint commercially, failing to take off for reasons that can be difficult to define.

Some forecasters would already have us walking around in clothing made from smart textiles that can monitor vital signs such as respiration and body temperature, track sports performance or fatigue levels, or assist treatment such as posture correction or physiotherapy. On the other hand, we could be routinely interacting with the world through AR glasses that overlay everything we need to know, wherever we are, minute by minute, and record our experiences wherever we go. And perhaps our wearables should be battery-free, powered by energy-harvesting technologies that can turn movement, daylight, or even the difference between hot and cold, into enough electrical energy to keep us connected all the way to the furthest extremities of the grid.

The Internet of Bodies could reveal the truth about our health and protect us against misinformation.

It’s probably understandable that we are more obsessed with our health and longevity than any other aspects of our lives, including relationships, careers and money. It’s also probably fair to say that more advice is thrust at us on this subject than any other: what to eat or drink, how to exercise, when to sleep, how to avoid illness, how to live longer, happier and healthier.

Guidance on how to live better is changing continuously, as new scientific studies adjust previous conclusions and influencers leverage the power of the Internet to offer various theories ranging from convincing to crackpot (Breatharianism, anyone?). Who would believe it’s possible to survive on non-food substances including air, sunlight and cosmic energy? You can pay to be shown how, of course.

The Internet of Bodies (IoB) could transform our understanding of ourselves, as individuals and as a species. As an extension of the IoT, IoB adds value by aggregating information from the increasing number and diversity of biosensors available to us. By collecting more data about us from more and more diverse channels as new types of sensors and monitors are being marketed on a continuous basis, we can also analyze that data more quickly and in greater detail.