The tech world is in need of a game changer.

With Apple continuing their steady product releases and no real competition in sight, everyone is looking for the next big thing. You start to get the feeling that people are looking to jump ship without any good ships on which to jump.

Many, if not all, major technology websites, blogs and forums have predicted wearable technology to hit hard in 2014. As not only an observer, but an active participant in the tech world, I’ll tell you why I’m not completely sold on gadgets such as Google Glass and smartwatches becoming household products just yet.

The idea of wearable technology is to not only to give you the quickest access to the mobile world ever available before but to use your bodily functions to predict future actions. The smartwatches, for example, are paired up with your cell phone and all of your information is gathered and processed in cloud storage.

The goal is for these gadgets is to record daily activities and interactions while integrating that information in various ways to improve our daily lives, all without moving a muscle. What began as technology used for exercise and fitness tracking, in devices like the Nike FuelBand, FitBit and Jawbone, is turning out to have a much different lifespan than originally intended.

Seems cool, right? So what’s the problem?

First of all, design. Most of the smartwatches are very similar in style and that’s not a good thing. This technology is still in its infant stages and we should cut it some slack — just look at the first computer compared to where we are today. With that being said though, at first glance, the watch looks like an uncomfortable metal contraption with too small a screen to do anything truly productive. It is hard to imagine much happening on those thumbnail sized displays.

Google Glass — not yet released to the general public — has an even more unflattering look. The large clear lenses accompanied by a hard drive piece to the side turn you into a human robot. Also, notifications popping up without warning could cause safety hazards, especially when operating motor vehicles. A lot of work needs to be done in this area before these things start flying off the shelves.

Second, price. For example, the Samsung Smartwatch is priced at $299 in major retail stores. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is down to $199 with the extension of your phone provider contract. To an unfamiliar buyer, this would imply that the watch is meant as a standalone product rather than an accessory to the phone. If Samsung intends to offer consumers full smartwear capabilities, then the price of the Smartwatch needs a major reduction.

Last, most people simply don’t know what to do with these things. When you introduce something as revolutionary as a watch that does it all, you have to give the consumers an idea of how to incorporate the device into their everyday lives.

Technology should solve a problem in society. Having my pocket and my wrist buzzing at the same time is redundant and does not solve a problem.

I applaud Google and Samsung for taking a leap of faith.

The only way to find out if you’ve got a home run is to swing. If done correctly, the Smartwatch and Google Glass could ultimately become the next sexy gadgets that everyone is tweeting about. Progress is impossible without change. Then again, there are no second chances at a first impression.

Aarick Knighton is a sophomore Information Management and Technology major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at adknight@syr.edu

Published on January 15, 2014 at 2:06 am