The Wonderful World of Wearables

AnDevCon IV

The Wonderful
World of
Wearables
Copyright © 2012 CommonsWare, LLC

Form Factor Innovation
● Phones
● Tablets
● Televisions
● Wearables
– Defined as “things that you wear” that would be
sensible to actually wear


Counterpoint: Flavor Flav


What We're Covering
● Sample Wearables
– Capabilities
– Programming Models
● Stumbling Blocks/Future Possibilities
● Business Opportunties


History of Wearables


Matrix O' Wearables
● Where You Wear
– Wrist
– Face
● Androidification
– Runs Android
– Accessory for Android


Wrist Device: WIMM One


● Device Capabilities
– Bi-Modal Display
– WiFi, Bluetooth
● No mobile data, GPS
– Accelerometer and magnetometer
– Vibration motor


● App Development Overview
– Micro Apps
● Reminiscent of app widgets in terms of capabilities
● Use WIMM base classes, gestures
● As-available Internet access
– Watchfaces
● Updated infrequently, monochrome
● Always visible


Wrist Device: The “Rock”


– 2.0” QVGA Traditional Touchscreen
● Presumably behaves like normal smartphone
– WiFi, Bluetooth, quad-band GSM, GPS
– Basic sensors, camera
– Think early 2010 Android smartphone strapped
to your wrist


● Standard Android Development
– -small screen, need appropriate layouts
– Use of accelerometer possible, but different
● Limited range of motion while worn
– Gentle on battery!
● Probably smaller than typical phones
● Cannot readily charge while worn


Wrist Accessory: SONY SmartWatch


– Tri-Modal Display
– Bluetooth
● No independent WiFi, mobile data, GPS
– Accelerometer
– Vibration motor


– Widgets for standard “watchface”
– Control for full-screen app
● App runs on phone, pushes over bitmaps, responds to
taps and swipes
– Notifications for pushing over alerts
– Sensor API to access accelerometer and vibration motor
– Apps mediated by core app on Android device


Wrist Accessory: MetaWatch Strata


– Monochrome Non-Touchscreen Display
● Buttons for controlling device
– Bluetooth
– Accelerometer, ambient light sensor
– Vibration motor


● App Development: Intent-Based
– Broadcast Intent for button press
– Broadcast receiver for updating screen
● Application
● Notification
– Apps mediated by core app on Android device
– Not presently supported by production MWM
app

● App Development: Manager
– Bluetooth protocol for working with device
● Idle, application, notification states
● Button presses
– Manager app handles all of this
● No SDK, must fork and modify existing manager app
● https://github.com/MetaWatchOpenProjects/MWM-for-Android


Wrist Accessory: Pebble


– Monochrome Non-Touchscreen Display
● Buttons for controlling device
– Bluetooth
– Accelerometer
– Vibration motor


– SDK a work in progress
– Data-driven broadcasts
● On-watch apps written in native C code
● Android apps supply data to native apps on the
watch


Eyewear Device: The Vaporware
● Google's Project Glass

● Vusix M100


Eyewear Device: EPSON Moverio


– qHD Display
● Appears as 80” viewed from 16'
– Trackpad & buttons for input
– WiFi
● No Bluet0oth, mobile data, GPS
– Android 2.2


● Standard Android Development
– Not a touchscreen!
● App will need to work with mouse pointer-style
interface or arrow keys
● Net: reminiscent of Google TV
– Immersive
● Limited visibility beyond the display
● Some 3D capability


Eyewear Accessory: Oculus Rift


● Vaporware
– Developer edition shipping early 2013
– Consumer edition sometime thereafter
– 1280x800 display designedfor 3D/VR
● Split over two eyes
● Not designed for normal viewing
– HDMI

● Unity 3D Support
– Initially PC, with Android follow-on
● OUYA Support
– Possible, though not initially


Stumbling Blocks
● Watches = Fugly!
– Either too small to use directly or seriously
clunky
– Nobody will go for them, as they look too geeky
– Masculine design styling


● Less Obtrusive
– Contact Lenses (Innovega iOptik)


● The Bieb
– Definition of “stylish” changes over time
– Styles “cross the chasm”
● Top-down: celebrity style-makers
● Bottom-up: jelly bands
● Mixed: UGG
– Problem: tech “stylish” driven by Apple


Stumbling Blocks
● Battery Life
– Unobtrusive = small device = small battery
– Small battery = short life or extreme battery
management
● Example: sporadic WiFi vs. continuous
– Trickle effects to usability
● Display technology


● Battery Life
– Molded batteries
– Better battery tech
● Higher power storage density
● Lots of research ongoing
– Improved solar charging
– Bio-powered
● Low temperature thermopile

Stumbling Blocks
● Other Issues
– Health
● RF impacts
● Eyestrain for eyewear
– Environmental Conditions
● Will your watch or glasses survive a rainstorm?


Business Opportunities
● Vertical Markets: Complete Solution
– Bundle hardware and custom software to solve a
problem for a specific market segment
– Examples
● MRI entertainment eyewear
● Scanner for package delivery
● AR for tours


● Vertical Markets: Software ISV
– You create app for device, let somebody else sell
solution
● Works well with device makers planning on
integration sales
– Example: WIMM One
● Not intended to be retail distributor
● Branded devices with pre-loaded apps,
dedicated stores

● Your Own Hardware: Consumer
– Kickstarter or kin
– Requirements
● Hardware design capability
● Supply chain experience
● Consumer marketing prowess
● Example: Metawatch vs. Pebble


● Your Own Hardware: Verticals
– Find a specific niche with clear use case, rather
than mass market
– Examples
● Police and security
● Military
● Sports (bio-analysis, information display)


● Specialty Consulting
– Demonstrate ability, aim for referrals from
device manufacturers
– Few with deep expertise in app design,
development for these devices
● Limited screen size
● Limited touch interface


Summary
● Wearables = Innovation
– Winners and losers
– Good for “big fish, small pond” strategy
● Consumer
● Vertical markets
● Q&A


The Wonderful World of Wearables

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