Technology That Gives Us Superpowers

 by Elaine Kachala

It’s happening! We’re living through a Machine Revolution unlike anything before.

Science and technology have always shaped human civilization. But computers for our bodies and minds?

Our world is exploding with smart wearable devices. They have all the functions of a computer. They can store, retrieve, and process data. But they’re different from desktops or laptops, or hand-held devices because they’re intensely personal! Wearables live on us, in us, or close to us.

Smartwatches or activity trackers were once the most popular kind of wearable technology. But that’s changing with the next generation of devices. The “wrist” is history! We won’t be strapping wearables onto our wrists anymore. Our brains, skin, eyes, ears, and clothing are new ways to connect with technology. A couple of examples here barely scratch the surface of what’s happening. 

 

Photo credit: Northwestern University

Source: Rogers, J. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2016/11/researchers-develop-soft-microfluidic-lab-on-the-skin-for-sweat-analysis/&fj=1

Dr. John Rogers at Northwestern University developed a small electronic device. It captures and analyzes a person’s sweat. It wirelessly connects with a smartphone to help someone know if they’re becoming dehydrated.

Google’s Project Jacquard^TM took smart clothes to a new level. They partnered with Levis to launch a jacket with built-in sensors and conductive fabric. It can send signals to your smartphone. Tap your jacket to answer calls or play music! And, they’ve developed a smart tag that slips into any piece of clothing or object for connectivity. See https://atap.google.com/jacquard/#.

This brain-sensing headband by Muse^TM helps people relax, meditate, focus, and sleep.

 

Photo: Elaine Kachala

This is my Muse, but here’s the website https://choosemuse.com/.

 

Sensors inside the headband detect and measure the activity of a person’s brain, along with sensors that track heart rate, breathing, and movement. Look closely, and you can see the soft gold patches on the fabric; those are the sensors. The pod at the top is the brain-sensing technology. The headband uses Bluetooth to connect to a smartphone. Once a person selects a program from the Muse app, the rest journey begins. After meditating, Muse uses algorithms to turn the brainwave activity into information about how well a person slept or relaxed, so they learn what works best.

Exoskeletons are like wearable robot suits. They apply robotics, mechanics, and electronics to support people with extra strength and endurance. For example, soldiers, firefighters, factory workers, and others can wear this suit to help them carry heavy loads or cross over rugged terrain. People with difficulty walking because of illnesses or injuries can wear them to move more easily. 

Computers are being infused into everything wearable. They can empower people to live better lives. And with advances in artificial intelligence, sensors, software, materials science, robotics, cloud computing, mobile networks, and the Internet of Things (IoT), wearables are getting smarter. 

These devices know a lot about us because they collect data about our body movements, location, heart rate, voice sounds, and more. They know how we feel and what we’re looking at. Wearables collect personal information that can put our privacy, safety, and security at risk. 

And, there are some bigger questions to think about too. Our minds and bodies are merging with computers. Can this human-machine evolution go too far? What if some people can afford wearables but others can’t?

Stay-tunned for my book called Super Power? The Wearable Tech Revolution. It will debut in Fall 2022 with Orca Book Publishers. The book explores how wearable electronics and robotics, virtual reality, and brain-computer interfaces are changing our lives and why designers, engineers, and scientists strive towards responsible design. For more info, please visit me at www.elainekachala.com