Wearable Technology: Mapping Groovy Gadgets From Head to Toe

SonnyLee — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:34:22 +0000

How much is gadgetry worth, and how far are you willing to balance notions of ethics? These are two questions irregular to a gadget lover, but considering the price of two recent gadgets, the $279 Narrative Clip and $399 Autographer, and (perhaps) unnoticeable size of both ‘spyware’ gadgets, maybe not so.

Smaller and Better

The ability to (phonetically) record an ambiance was once a technological marvel. Today, audio-visual recording devices are getting smaller and exceedingly advanced. Consider the proliferation of content on social media sites such as YouTube and FaceBook. Virtually any person handling a smart mobile device from anywhere can use software such YTD and may convert, create and upload content within a small timeframe. As devices get smaller and advanced (think Google Glass), a number of ethical questions come to the forefront.

Spyware?

The producers of the Narrative Clip urge consumers to search elsewhere if needing devices to spy on friends and loved ones. The clip is not very realistic in helping James Bond-types succeed in undercover missions. Though small, and not aesthetically revealing of its technological ability, the device is intended for hands free yet repeated recording of events. Such practical settings could include a child’s birthday party or a scientist’s lab slides.

The Autographer is more overt in serving as a camera, alerting those within sight of an oncoming shot via a blue light. Moreover, the devices fish-eye lens prevents wearers from taking head-on shots of others without making it blaringly obvious.

Privacy Protection

In theory, we act in public by a particular code of ethics and laws. Does it matter if someone takes a picture of you while strolling the bookstore or eating in a café? In theory, if we’re doing nothing wrong, maybe there’s nothing wrong with being recorded, yet no one can dismiss the uneasy feeling of privacy invasion.

As more devices are produced and the number of individuals wearing them in public increases, lawmakers will need to contend with a new trove of ethical and legal implications. As it stands, technically, it is legal to wear such small recording devices in public, outside of public restrooms, strip clubs, casinos and other venues that prohibit such actions.

Etiquette vs. Value

Those who find value in new wearable gadgets will counter those who view such devices as added intrusions and nuisance. Like a number of products and services, the etiquette versus value issue may reside in behavior.

For example, Facebook is an incredible social tool used by people all over the world. One may use it for commerce, keeping in touch with relatives, or misuse it to bully classmates and spread falsehoods. Producers of wearable technology hope products are seen as valuable commodities rather than threats to privacy and standards of etiquette.

Wearable technology is here. If wearable tech is here to stay remains unanswered. In addition to clip-on cameras, expect to see Google Glass, virtual-reality headphones and more ‘wearable’ yet technologically advanced wearables in a public café, bookstore, or crowded city street near you.

Make sure you respect IP with video downloads.

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A Smartphone for 2014

apptrawler — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 21:01:25 +0000

2014 is going to be a big year for smartphones. The idea of a high powered handheld device which could do everything from making a phone call to writing an email with a bit of game playing and film watching in between is now somewhat more than a pipe dream. The arrival of the smartphone has been a long drawn out affair, but it’s fair to say that the products that have hit the stores over the last two to three years really are now what we have all been hoping for, since we were blighted with products like the Nokia N97 a few years back. With Android fully developed, a thriving and growing Windows 8 culture amongst many people, and of course the excellent Apple OS available, there is so much high quality choice for everyone out there. These days, the only difficult decision is choosing which phone is the right one to go for. 2014 is going to be chock full of new devices to choose from, but it’s going to be a question for many of whether or not to wait for new arrivals or opt for the strong and very able performers of 2013. Here are few from both camps to have a think about.

Samsung Galaxy S4

This is one of the top selling phones of 2013, and with good reason. With an excellent processor, a beautiful screen, which is an impressive 5 inches, and a pixel density of 441ppi, it is a leader in its field. It looks great too, and while it perhaps does not have the build quality of the iPhone, there’s no doubt that it’s given Apple a significant scare in the last year. With plenty of Storage, a 13MP camera, full HD recording capabilities and a quad core processor, there’s not much out there to beat this great phone right now.

iPhone 5S

Apple don’t like to change what they think is good, too much, and that is evident in the iPhone 5s. While it looks exactly the same as the iPhone 5, it is inside that counts sometimes. Blessed with the rapid A7 chip, it can tackle anything you throw at it with ease, and of course, it has that delightful Apple build quality that other phone manufacturers struggle to match. It is looking a little bit dated now though, and many people just won’t put up with a 4 inch screen when there are so many good products on the market which offer much more. Are we likely to see a much different iPhone 6 in 2014? Only time will tell.

HTC One

The HTC One doesn’t do too much more than the rest of the competition, and while sales will have disappointed the company, critics drooled over its combination of power and poise. Perhaps its strongest suit is the all round package. Gorgeous looking, high build quality, married with the technical prowess and screen size of the Samsung phones of this era suggested a phone that matched the build quality and looks of Apple and the size and user friendly features of other top performers like Samsung. The sales haven’t reflected this, but we know a good phone when we see one, and this very definitely falls into that category.

Samsung Galaxy Round

We’re not yet sure whether this phone, or a similar device, is going to be released in the UK, but what we do know is that the Samsung Galaxy Round is already on the shelves in Korea. This incredible device features a curved, concave screen, which is a whopping 5.7 inches in size. The rest of the package is pretty impressive too, matching the Galaxy Note 3’s specs round for round. This means a great screen, a quad or even octa core processor, and all of the features and more of the Samsung Galaxy S4. If this sees the light of day in the UK, it’s going to fly off the shelves.

LG Flex

Perhaps one of the most intriguing devices to be launched next year is the LG Flex. The LG brand has suffered significantly over the last couple of years, with an array of mobile devices that didn’t really cut the mustard. Having teamed up with Google to deliver the Nexus 5 in 2013, it seems that they have their mojo back, and with the Flex they are delivering a phone like no other. The clue is in the name, with the company releasing a phone with a six inch screen which does actually significantly curve, to fit the face, while talking. The specs look as good as you might expect, but none of that really matters to anyone right now. The important thing is the design. Will it work? Will it be reliable? And will it be as impressive as we all imagine it could be? Again only time will tell, but this time next year the answer will already be old news!

All of these new devices are going to cost a pretty penny, so getting adequate insurance is key. Search for Protect Your Bubble smartphone insurance to get some information about how much one of these devices is likely to cost you in terms of insurance.

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