As the 20th century came to a close, people began envisioning the future of smart wearable devices. Today, smart wearables have seamlessly integrated into mainstream daily life. Observing the surroundings, one can notice an increasing number of individuals donning True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones, opting for smartwatches, and embracing smart fitness trackers.
Looking back over the past several years, the smart wearables market has become a "peculiar entity" within the consumer electronics industry. Not only has it witnessed growth in shipment volumes, but there have also been notable shifts in product offerings. However, smart wearables face significant challenges—after the surge of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones, it's proven difficult for other product categories to quickly and widely penetrate the consumer market. Yet, the more fundamental question persists: What is the direction of development for smart wearables?
From watches to earphones, it's all about better health. Perhaps you've often come across news like this: Apple Watch's fall detection saving an elderly person, or its heart rate monitoring detecting irregularities and preventing potential health issues, averting greater risks.
Many people choose to purchase an Apple Watch due to concerns about health monitoring. However, it's worth noting that the focus on health is not exclusive to Apple. Products emphasizing health attributes extend beyond smartwatches and fitness bands.
At the recent OPPO Developer Conference, OPPO specifically highlighted their efforts and achievements in the health domain, integrating them into the latest ColorOS system and service ecosystem. According to OPPO, they are currently concentrating on three aspects: sports health, cardiovascular health, and sleep health.
Other manufacturers, including Huawei, Xiaomi, and others, have also recognized the potential in the health sector. Most smart wearable companies are aware of the potential, and in situations where wearable chips can't support high-performance computing, the close-to-body functions of products determine that health monitoring is a more promising direction.
Even in the saturated market of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones, in the past year, there has been increased focus and emphasis on auditory health. Earphones with hearing protection features or those highlighting health functions have been introduced. Apple, through the integration of Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods, alerts users in high-noise environments and issues warnings if headphone volume remains too high for an extended period.
According to reports, Apple's next-generation AirPods are under development with two new features. One involves using AirPods to play different tones and sounds to assess hearing, similar to how the Apple Watch ECG app measures electrocardiograms. The other new feature is a built-in temperature sensor, providing more accurate temperature readings from the ear canal than the wrist.
With major players showing interest simultaneously, smart rings might be on the verge of astonishingly rapid development. Besides Samsung's "Galaxy Ring" smart ring mentioned earlier, other manufacturers are also in the process of developing smart rings. Meizu introduced the MYVU Ring smart ring at the Meizu 21 launch event. Additionally, Apple and Fitbit (now under Google) are quietly working on their own versions of smart rings.
Why the focus on smart rings? Unlike many products in the smart wearables domain, such as smartwatches, fitness bands, and TWS earphones, which might not offer significant practical value beyond certain use cases, smart rings have garnered attention from both the market and manufacturers. This is due to their smaller size and a more unrestricted, all-day wearing experience. Particularly in scenarios like sleep and cold weather, smart rings almost eliminate the tactile sensation commonly associated with smartwatches.
Moreover, smart rings boast a crucial advantage: more accurate data. Due to the rich network of subcutaneous blood vessels in the fingertips and the proximity of the skin, coupled with the snug fit of the ring against the skin while worn, smart rings can acquire more reliable data than the wrist. This enables them to measure health indicators like heart rate and blood oxygen more precisely and rapidly.
Smart rings also introduce a new mode of interaction. Through ring-based gestures and interactions, AR devices resembling glasses can easily achieve control, providing a more convenient and user-friendly interactive experience. This opens up possibilities for seamless and cost-effective interactions in augmented reality.