Photo credit: @AlexScieM
Wearables get a lot of hype, but outside of fitness (I'm constantly challenging my mom to see who can get more steps on Fitbit) the case for other wearables and gesture-based technology has always fallen a little flat for me.
Last week I saw a beautiful, natural application for wearables in the performing arts using wireless gloves as a musical instrument. I went to a two-part concert: part one was a full orchestra and part two featured singer-songwriter Imogen Heap. As the violin section swelled through moving excerpts of the opening songs, I noticed how the musicians almost danced as they played - something I love about seeing music performed live. I wanted a way to capture this. Then, as Imogen Heap waited to take the stage for her full set, I noticed her LED gloves glowing in the wings. Early on, she explained what they were doing and demonstrated their capabilities. This helped people realize she was still responsible for the many unique sounds and, for people like me who were seeing her for the first time, bolstered appreciation for the interaction she was able to have with the audience since the first time she performed many of the same songs ten years ago.
Imogen Heap did a tech talk of her collaboration with a team to create these gloves and her demonstration is far better than my words on a screen will be. Wearables as musical instruments make sense to me. I suppose in thinking about other wearable tech, I'll be looking for more niche applications where technology can enhance the interaction people can have together.