Most of the anticipation surrounding Apple’s Sept. 9 event has been focused on the iPhone 6, but Apple could also produce a game changer for wearable technology.

From people nicknaming Google Glass users “glassholes,” to unfashionable attempts at smart wrist wear, wearable technology hasn’t gotten off to the hottest start in its short history. All of that could change next week if rumors are true that Apple will announce its first wearable product — iWatch.

Apple’s cult-like following could lead to a shift in the public’s perception of wearable products. Over the years, Apple has maintained a reputation of quality products and even wearable critics will be tempted to give a smartwatch a try if it has an Apple logo on it.

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, was one of those critics in the past, calling wearable products a ‘hard sell’ in an Aug. 27 CNET article. However, he feels the power of the brand could do for wearables what the iPhone did to smartphones in 2007.

“Apple works very hard to produce exceptionally great products and doesn’t quickly release things like a wearable. So if one is introduced I expect it to have a chance to set the direction and make the product category finally viable,” Wozniak said in the article.
The main issue with wearable technology so far has been figuring out its niche in people’s daily lives. Can it be used as a substitute for a smartphone or is it an additional accessory?

A deciding factor of that will most likely be price, which is rumored to be around $400 according to Recode.net. That would make the iWatch one of the most expensive smartbands, compared to Google’s wearables, and the same price as the original iPad. The general consumer may think $400 is steep for a watch that is limited due to size alone, but price isn’t much a concern for the most faithful Apple lovers.

The clean, sleek design that Apple products are known for will surely transition to the wearable tech world, which has made strides in the area of fashion this year. Ray-Ban partnered with Google earlier in the year to help Google Glass become more stylish, as did Diane Von Furstenburg, and Timex is slated to release a smartwatch that comes with its own 3G connection. I expect Apple to build off of the designs of the top smartwatches on the market and still keep its notorious smooth and streamlined look.

Next week Tim Cook, current Apple CEO, will unveil the iPhone 6 and possibly the iWatch to hundreds of tech enthusiasts. There is more hype around this year than previous years. After a few relatively average software and product updates there is once again a feeling that something big is in the air.

Whenever Apple drops a new product, the whole world pays attention. The company has had a few years now since Steve Jobs’ passing to figure out its next move and it is poised to shake the world again under the direction of Cook.

The iWatch could either become just one of many smartwatches or become the trend of next year. With its past success in innovation, you have to expect the second option — Apple has earned that.

Aarick Knighton is a junior information management and technology major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at adknight@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @aarickurban.

Published on September 4, 2014 at 12:03 am