Technology evolves rapidly, making it challenging to prepare for the future. But wearables are one area where you can plan ahead, as this technology is gaining momentum in new and exciting ways.
Dallas is home to Fossil Watches, which manufactures a line of cutting-edge smartwatches, including the still-emerging hybrid smartwatch. This invention blurs the line between the phone and the watch by offering a new level of connectivity between these devices. In fact, one in six people already has a smartwatch. These devices are rapidly gaining popularity as more and more companies, including automakers and healthcare companies, develop applications and uses for wearable technology.
So what does the increasing popularity of smartwatch technology mean for your business? Well, tech-savvy companies are working with mobile app developers to prepare for these advancements by creating a wearable technology strategy for mobile app and software development. This will ensure your company is well-positioned to roll out mobile apps, software, websites and other technology that will be optimized for the latest and greatest devices.
Why Do I Need a Wearable Technology Strategy?
A wearable technology strategy is essential for any company that could conceivably make their high-tech offerings (such as mobile apps and websites) available to users on a wearable device. The need is even greater for businesses that can leverage wearables and wearable apps as a key element of their tech strategy.
You’re going to need a wearables strategy much sooner if you’re based in or marketing to customers in regions that are seeing lots of emerging technology. Forbes recently identified the cities where “America’s tech future is taking shape,” pointing to up-and-coming tech hotspots such as Dallas, Austin, Houston, Columbus, Raleigh and the North Carolina Research Triangle region. Companies that target these areas can gain a competitive edge by becoming an early-adopter of the latest technologies, as residents in these cities tend to be more responsive to new tech.
We can’t predict exactly what devices and tech will be coming down the pipeline, but it’s prudent to devise strategies allowing you to adapt existing software and apps to suit wearable technology. Plus, you can take an innovative stance by coming up with ideas for new ways to use high-tech wearables.
How Can You Develop Your Wearable Technology Strategy?
Smartwatches are perhaps the most well-known type of wearable, and these devices illustrate some of the key issues at hand, such as functionality, ease of use and the more intimate relationship users have with wearable technology. So when developing a mobile app you may adapt into a smartwatch app in the future, for instance, consider the following points:
- Understand Usage: It’s important that you understand precisely how people would be using your software or mobile application if you converted it into a wearable-friendly form. For example, a majority of the features in a company bookkeeping app would be too complex and impractical for a smartwatch user. But there are certain features users could find helpful on the go, such as an app that lets you scan receipts, record expenditures and accept payments. It comes down to understanding your user’s immediate, “on the go” needs as opposed to their needs while at home, in the office or when using a smartphone in more casual situations. Interactions with a wearable are shorter, faster and more intuitive, involving less thought than it takes to fish a smartphone out of your purse or pocket. Also keep in mind that wearable devices will be on your body for long periods of time. Case in point: notifications that would be acceptable and even expected on a mobile device would be perceived as unnecessary and annoying for a wearable app.
- Identify Core Options: Smartwatch apps and other wearables focus on the basics, so consider what features and functions you would include as core components of a wearable app. In other words, how would you prune your mobile app so it contains only the bare essentials? Some mobile apps might even be split into multiple smartwatch apps if this is more conducive to users’ needs. By broaching the topic of wearable technology during the mobile app development phase, you’ll be well-positioned to create an application that can be easily converted into a smartwatch app or developed into an app for a yet-to-be-released device.
- Identify Areas for Growth and Advancement: Are there new forms of wearable technology you could begin to develop now or in the not-so-distant future? If your company is part of the thriving Dallas healthcare industry, for example, it might be prudent to pinpoint new ways to use tech wearables to promote wellness or even detect and monitor illness. There could be a high demand for a smartwatch app and add-on device/accessory that monitors body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation in your blood. Identifying areas where you can take advantage of wearables and other high-tech advancements will allow you to gain a competitive edge in your industry.
The Future of Wearable Technology
Futurists like Michio Kaku predict that while today we wear technology, in the not-so-distant future, we will be physically comprised of technology. Physical bodies may ultimately become “optional,” as you’ll be able to upload your mind into a high-tech body. And while this may not become a reality in our lifetime, we’re already making advancements toward high-tech body parts which could integrate elements of today’s wearable technology—like a bionic arm with the features of a smartwatch.
By working with an innovative Dallas mobile app development company like 7T, you can proceed with high-tech wearables and other emerging technology in mind. We have a passion for the cutting edge and have created a number of one-of-a-kind mobile apps for Dallas companies (and many others). We also have offices in two other Texas tech hubs: Austin and Houston.
Our world-class mobile app development team utilizes our open source platform, STAX, which can cut your project’s timeframe and cost by upwards of 30 to 40 percent. This means you’ll have more time and money to put toward developing never-before-seen features or creating a comprehensive wearable technology strategy. If you’re ready to begin developing a mobile app that will engage your target audience both today and in the future, contact the team at 7T today.
