The Evolution of Wearables and Privacy
Wearable sales are still on track to grow by 17.7% during a pandemic year.
Remember when smartwatches simply helped you track your fitness journey? That time has come and gone as today's big tech companies are pushing wearable technology boundaries.
The wearable tech market has grown year over year since 2018, with an estimated 396 million shipments in 2020. Currently, market share is dominated by Apple, Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei, and FitBit. Understandably, companies across the board have dedicated time and resources to add their own spin on wearables, including renowned fashion brands Hermès, Tory Burch, and Levi's.
Companies collecting data from your devices understand the value of what they collect and have recently introduced new developments that will take personal data collection to the next level.
Facebook's Project Aria, a set of Augmented Reality (AR) glasses, is meant to serve as a digital assistant that makes day-to-day life laughably simple. Project Aria can detect road hazards and think up statistics mid-meeting. The AR glasses track eye motions, which can clue the technology into what the wearer is thinking and how they feel. Apple is also developing an AR headset with similar capabilities.
Amazon's newest venture in wearable tech, Halo, is a wrist-worn device similar to what's already been released by a multitude of brands. Halo differentiates itself through its ability to analyze the wearer's tone of voice and report whether the day has been positive or negative.
Despite wearable tech's undeniable advantages, there is the possibility that these devices will give away too much personal information. Eye-tracking and tone analysis give considerable insights into a consumer's thoughts and feelings. Facebook and Amazon have clearly stated that they do not intend to use these data points for ad-targeting or monetary gain, but they seem reluctant to mention what the future will hold.
Facebook, Apple, and Amazon have built their businesses around accumulating personal data while demonstrating their commitment to privacy. The entrance of fashion brands that may not be used to dealing with such sensitive data could be a cause for concern. Unfortunately, the threat of a data breach is an all too real reality. When does the story shift from personal data collection for consumer gain to personal data collection for revenue growth?
As wearable technology continues to grow and expand, these companies must be held accountable for protecting their users - fitness journeys and beyond.
Data Source: IDC
