Wearable devices represent a US$1.4bn industry with predicted growth to $50bn by 2018; and it is expected that in the coming decade wearable technology will touch nearly every aspect of our lives. With its current focus on the three tenets the Quantified Self, Notifications and Augmented Reality, the wearable space already presents important challenges for both technology and design. However, the true test of success for any wearable will only be realised when the device is worn as a natural extension of the person. The User Experience is fundamental to its realisation and at this timely and pertinent half-day SIG we will discuss how the combination of smarter hardware and smarter user experience design may help unshackle the true potential of wearable technology.
In taking its first steps beyond the smartphone revolution the wearable technology has enormous potential across numerous markets, but for mass adoption it has to be wearable, controllable and enhancing. Can the wearables promise of truly new, truly personal user experiences be realised, or are wearable devices destined to languish as mere extensions of our smartphones for some time to come?
Our panel of highly regarded experts will explore this and other critical challenges and opportunities – for both technology and design - of the wearable space.
Speakers:
- Giuliano Maciocci, Staff Product Manager, Qualcomm
- David McGookin, Aalto University
- Val Mitchell & Darren Southee, Loughborough University
- Simon Roberts, Stripe Partners
The agenda also features a Bring and Share session. This session is now an established part of the User Experience SIG meetings. Participants are invited to give a short (5 minute maximum) presentation of a User Experience that they consider to be noteworthy – whether exceptionally good, exceptionally bad, or just plain unusual! The proposal should be submitted for consideration before the meeting. Examples can come from any walk of life, whether work or home, public or private; they can be high tech, low tech or no tech; any product or service. The only restriction is that it should not be used as an opportunity to pitch the presenter’s own product or service.
The Cambridge Wireless User Experience SIG is championed by Stefano Borini of Nokia Research Centre Giuliano Maciocci of Qualcomm, Allan MacLean of Amdeo, Geoff McCormick of Alloy and David Walker of Philips Research Laboratories.
To follow this SIG on Twitter, @CambWireless, please use #CWUX