Wearable technology is evolving very fast, from fitness trackers to smart clothing and intelligent prosthetics. Will this be ushering in the era of augmented humans – or “Humans 2.0”?

1. 5 Predictions For
Wearable Technology: From
Fitness Trackers To
“Humans 2.0”

2. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
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IntroductionIntroduction
Even if, like me, you’ve had a fitness tracker or smartwatch for years, you might still be
surprised at how well the wearable technology or “wearables” trend has taken off. What
started with Fitbit and the like has now mushroomed into an entire industry of
wearables that are designed to help us lead healthier, more
efficient lives.
5 Predictions For Wearable Technology:
From Fitness Trackers To “Humans 2.0”

3. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Title
Text
IntroductionIntroduction
But the revolution won’t stop there. I predict that the demand for wearables will evolve
into a more seamless blending of humans and technology – giving rise to “augmented
humans” or “humans 2.0”. Is that really where we’re headed as a species? To answer that
question, I look at five eye-opening predictions for the future of wearable technology.
5 Predictions For Wearable Technology:
From Fitness Trackers To “Humans 2.0”

4. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Examples of wearables from
the here and now
Fitness trackers may be one of the most recognizable examples of wearables, but let’s take
a quick look at some other examples:
• Smartwatches – the Apple Watch and other smartwatches are designed to generally
make our lives easier and to monitor our health and activity so that we can make better
lifestyle choices. In fact, the quality of health data gathered by these smartwatches is so
good; the Apple Watch can reportedly add two years to your life.
• Smart clothing – the term wearable doesn’t just apply to something you strap onto
your wrist; it can also extend to intelligent clothing. Take Neviano smart swimsuits as
an example. These include a waterproof UV sensor that communicates with your
smartphone to tell you when UV levels are high, meaning you should slap on some
more sunscreen.

5. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Examples of wearables from
the here and now
• Smart glasses – fancy some smart sunglasses to go with your smart beachwear? You’re
in luck. Snapchat Spectacles 2.0 come with a built-in camera that allow you to snap
photos and videos directly from your glasses. The glasses link to a smartphone, so you
can share your photos and videos via the Snapchat app. Of course, whether your fellow
beach-goers will welcome the idea of you effectively wearing a camera on your face is
another matter…

6. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Looking to the future
Let's look at my top five predictions for how the wearables trend will evolve in
the future…

7. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Exoskeletons will transform industry
Exoskeletons – effectively, robotic suits that humans wear – already exist. They’re used by
some manufacturers to help human workers perform better (for example, lift heavier
weights without injury). Hyundai Motor Group has been testing its Hyundai Vest
Exoskeleton, which helps to reduce pressure on workers’ necks and backs, in the factory
setting. Hyundai says the exoskeletons help to reduce injuries in the workplace and
increase worker efficiency. My prediction is exoskeletons like this will become the norm in
manufacturing and industrial settings around
the world.

8. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Prosthetics will become more intelligent
Wearable technology also encompasses the new wave of prosthetics and robotic limbs
currently being developed. These are increasingly being kitted out with technology that
enables the limb to become more intuitive – for example, by responding to the nervous
system or brain signals. MIT’s Media Lab is involved in a research project that combines
special amputation surgery with intuitive prosthetic development. Special robot
prosthetics are being designed for ten volunteers, and the hope is the volunteers will be
able to operate their prosthetics via the nervous system. In the future, intelligent
prosthetics like this, which respond to the individual’s commands more intuitively, may
become the norm.

9. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Labs will be 3D printing human tissue
If we can create replacement limbs, why shouldn’t we create replacement organs?
Researchers are already working towards this goal. In one example, a team at Rice
University in Houston claims to have made a significant breakthrough in the bioprinting of
viable human tissue, giving hope that it will be possible to print fully working replacement
organs in the future. This, combined with advances in robotics and prosthetics, could
revolutionize the world of medicine. So, if I need a heart transplant in the future, it's
feasible that I could be given a choice between a robotic heart or a lab-grown heart.

10. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Say hello to AI for the human brain
Companies like Facebook are racing to develop brain-computer interfaces that could, in
theory, allow you to type your Facebook status update using only your mind (telepathic
typing, to use the vaguely creepy technical term). Elsewhere, Elon Musk’s Neuralink
company is working on a brain-computer interface that would help people with severe
brain injuries. Announcing the plans in 2019, Musk predicted a future in which humans
could have the option of “merging with AI."

11. © 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
All this could have serious implications for data
privacy
Wearable technology already creates a huge amount of data on the wearer, so it stands to
reason that the more we embrace wearables, the more data will be available about us. Of
course, this begs the question of whether we should want companies like Facebook to
know more about us than they already do. Even if we’re okay with that (and many of us
aren’t), we’ll all need to become much savvier about the data we're forking over to the
purveyors of wearable solutions. And the companies offering these solutions will need to
make genuine strides in how seriously they take data privacy.

12. © 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website
© 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2019 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website

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