10:30
Registration and networking over refreshments
11:15
Introduction to the Connected Devices SIG by Nick Hunn, WiFore Consulting
11:25
The outlook for wearable computing; Paul Lee, Head of Research, Tech, Media and Telecommunications, Deloitte
At the beginning of the year, wearables were the talk of the technology sector, and predominated at January’s Consumer Electronics Show, and were a major feature at the Mobile World Congress in February. At the start of the year, Deloitte forecast a ten-million unit, £2 billion year for wearables in 2014. Now that we’re in the final third of 2014, Deloitte’s Paul Lee, head of research for tech, media and telecommunications, provides an update on the likely out-turn for the wearable market this year.
11:45
Setting the scene for wearables - why now?; Ruth Thomson, Head of Consumer Product Development, Cambridge Consultants
From enabling athletes to improve their performance and technique, to increasing efficiency of workers, to helping you to track your wellbeing we are finding wearable technology has a huge number of possible applications. This talk will set the scene for the rest of the day by introducing the topic of wearables, exploring why this is happening now, and what could be next.
12:05
The market for smart wearables; Nick Hunn, WiFore Consulting.
The consumer electronics industry has convinced itself that wearable technology will be the next big thing, with analysts predicting a market worth over $30 billion by 2020. That belief is driven by a desperate need for major companies to find something to follow on from laptops, tablets and PCs all of which are being commoditised. The problem is that their model for wearable technology is built around technology push, trying to shape their technology to fit consumers. It is a strategy that is likely to fail, as wearable technology is more, rather than less, personal. This presentation takes the contrary viewpoint, investigating the market opportunity from known consumer behaviour and preferences. It still suggests it will be close to $20 billion in 2020, but with a different mix of products and service models.
12:25
Panel Session
12:50
Lunch and networking
13:50
Anatomy of wearable success: what are the key ingredients for developing a wearable technology market?; Ken Blakeslee, Chairman, WebMobility Ventures
Contextual Technologies that augment our awareness to personal and environmental situations which are relevant to a precise situation and location will become more and more valuable to individuals. Device technology is only part of the puzzle, however applications software, analysis/correlation engines and ecosystems need to be in place for this to succeed. This talk looks at the ecosystems and business models that will be key to success.
14:10
The expanding frontier of wearable scent and smell; Jenny Tillotson, Founder, eScent
eScent® technology introduces a totally new dynamic and sensation to the wearables sector. As fashion and technology collide creating new opportunities; one is to engage further with the senses, e.g. wearable scent technologies that enable consumers to sense context and dispense scent accordingly, whilst extracting content experiences via mobile and IoT. This talk is about eScent®, a wearable device embedded discreetly into clothing and jewellery that provides an awareness and contextual sixth sense with wide-ranging applications in fashion, wellbeing, healthcare, multi-sensory retail, AR and entertainment. It delivers a localised ‘scent bubble’ around the user that is relevant to the situation, condition or location, augmenting how we as humans interact with the physical world around us.
14:25
“Attractive” wearables: bridging the gap between great designs and bespoke electronics; Fabio Pania, CTO, Kovert Designs
While in the past Technology has only been associated with function and usefulness, today’s tech products need to be “attractive” to the consumer in a more articulate and complex way. Kovert Designs is currently addressing this need in the space of Wearable Technology by launching a collection of smart jewellery. This talk is about making technology useful and beautiful and the challenges and perks that come with it.
14:40
Wearable to forewarn of impending respiratory failure; Dr Kevin Auton, Managing Director and Founder, Aseptika Limited (Activ8rlives)
WHO predicts that lung disease will be the World’s fourth biggest killer by 2030. A third-generation wearable monitor for people that suffer from lung diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis (NCFB), will forewarn of a collapse in respiratory function as part of a self-management plan developed in collaboration with the patient’s
healthcare team and supported by self-monitoring at home.
14:55
Panel session
15:20
Refreshments and networking
15:50
The future of wearable technology (in two parts): 1) Technology on its’ own isn’t enough 2) What technologies should be used?; Claire Duke Wooley, Fashion Technology Analyst and Jon Howes, Technology Director, Beecham Research
How different do wearable products need to be for these markets to really take off? This talk looks at the
approaches that are expected from both a fashion and a technology viewpoint to create demand, change
perceptions and avoid future disillusionment.
16:10
Wearable technology as a safety standard; Juma El-Awaisi, Product Manager, Braci
For centuries people with disabilities and impairments have been concerned about their safety and well-being both at home and in public. This short talk will focus on revolutionizing wearable technology for the deaf and hard of hearing.
16:10
Wearables: seeing through the hype; Arthur Amarra, Founder, AON2
This talk will cover the brief history of wearables, the current wearable craze (and what's wrong with it) and what (we think) will make wearables successful. We will focus on feelings/experience, completeness and execution
16:25
Wearable technology as a safety standard, Juma El-Awaisi, Product Manager, Braci
For centuries people with disabilities and impairments have been concerned about their safety and well-being both at home and in public. This short talk will focus on revolutionizing wearable technology for the
deaf and hard of hearing.
16:40
Wearables and the internet of sound; Carl Thomas, CEO, Audiowings
With wearables blurring the division between human and network, the computer has truly become personal, augmenting and enhancing our sensory perception. Most wearable devices to date have focused on our vision, by putting interfaces in glasses and on wrists. However as we move into the Age of Context, audio has the ability to provide passive access to relevant content without distracting us from our everyday lives. This talk looks to examine the power of audio as the most viable interface to power the wearable age.
16:55
Panel session
17:25
Complete evaluation forms
17:30
Event closes