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WEARABLE TECH TRENDS

BY ANNETTE BROOKS

Visit invisawear.com, ouraring.com, embrlabs.com, meta.com, and ray-ban.com for product information.

Modern wearable devices (wearables) have come a long way from the concepts many of us grew up with. Some, like the Get Smart shoe phone, never made it into the mainstream, while others, like The Jetson’s video watch, likely inspired devices such as the smartwatches we see today. The wearable tech market includes exciting trends you can enjoy now and keep an eye on as they evolve. Here are a few of our favorites.

Gaming Wearables

Are couch potato gamers becoming a thing of the past? Advanced gaming devices with enhanced virtual and augmented reality, like Meta Quest 2, encourage activity and physical participation while offering a completely immersive, dynamic experience. Transported to virtual worlds, players move their bodies in the real world, increasing their physical activity level and boosting coordination and balance. Plus, with cloud-based gaming capabilities, gamers can play from nearly anywhere they have a stable internet connection.

Glasses

Q, the tech gadget creator in the James Bond movies, has new competition from an unlikely source — Ray-Ban. Yes, the people who make sunglasses. Ray-Ban partnered with Meta (formerly known as Facebook) to offer ultracool shades that enable the wearer to capture and share videos and photos and listen to music with a single touch or a voice command. While they aren’t the only wearable eyewear option, fashion-forward Ray-Ban Stories glasses are available in a few different styles, including the iconic Wayfarer. The price points are surprisingly affordable, the technology is discreet, and the Facebook View app is used to share content to your social accounts.

Smart Jewelry

evolved beyond smartwatches and wristband fitness trackers to include stylish jewelry. One in-demand application focuses on personal safety, with modern “panic buttons” masquerading as rings, bracelets, and pendant necklaces. InvisaWear smart jewelry, for example, even connects to a name-brand subscription service that locates you via GPS and connects you to 911 assistance. Smart jewelry is also designed to track menstrual cycles, monitor your sleep (Oura Ring), for medical emergency alerts, and can be used for contactless payment systems at the point of sale. Are you battling menopausal hot flashes? Embr Wave, which comes in rose gold and black color options, uses exclusive technology to combat hot flashes. Worn with the device face turned to your inner wrist, it provides relief by cooling this area of sensitive skin. The Embr Wave 2 app allows you to customize control of your hot flashes, including while you sleep.