Fusing humans and machines
It might sound like some dystopian prediction, but it’s so ubiquitous we don’t bat an eyelid. For example, when was the last time you went for a run without hooking up your heart rate belt, your fitness watch and your music streaming device?
In fact, when was the last time you went to exercise of your own accord, rather than because your health gadget told you to do so? Wearable tech is pushing us to our physical limits by introducing gamification to our daily exercise routines. Features such as Apple Watch’s ‘check your rings’ encourage us to stand, exercise, breathe and count calories. If we stay still too long, we’re reminded – and we’re rewarded with virtual medals when we move.
Adding to this connectivity is a simple Bluetooth function that makes wearable tech a universal accessory for any exercise. You can hook up to your home gym’s running machine and watch your heart rate live, or view your vital statistics on your tablet.
The big screen
It’s not just wearable tech that’s commanding our attention. When the data in a two-inch screen just isn’t enough, we soon cast the image onto a larger smart television or home cinema screen. There, in perfect aspect ratio, is our favourite app, movie streaming service or exercise data.
Casting opens up opportunities for us to integrate mobile tech with static home devices. So, if we want to see a Zoom call on a larger screen, all we need is an internet connection. With the added allure of superior viewing quality, there’s no reason why we should confine ourselves to tablets, phones or watches.