Friday 6 June 2014

Simon on: Wearable technology

So wearable technology in the form of Google Glass or smartwatches is supposed to be the latest game-changer for the meetings industry. This looks very much like another example of the latest shiny thing being hailed as a breakthrough.

In spite of the hype surrounding the likes of the Galaxy Gear, the watches are little more than repeater stations for smartphones and they need charging every couple of days.

Then there’s Google Glass which appears to provide a connection to email, the Web and other functions by showing, in effect, a heads-up display in the top right corner of the wearer’s field of vision. 

Various voices are already being raised in alarm at the privacy issues the gadget raises by providing users with the ability to record video and take photos using Glass without anybody else knowing.

But the point about all of this is that none of the technology provides a real benefit to the meetings industry. It’s a distraction. It’s probably going to have as much impact as 3D television had on the nation’s viewing habits. 


The good news for meeting planners is that, for now, all those blogs promoting wearable tech can be safely ignored.

Originally published in Conference News

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