The Rise of Wearable Tech – From Calculator Watches to Smart Rings - video Dailymotion

Opio Douglas

We wear it without thinking—on our wrists, in our ears, even around our fingers. Wearable technology has become so seamlessly woven into our lives, it's easy to forget how it all began.  This documentary-style episode traces the remarkable journey of wearable tech—from early experiments like roulette-beating shoes and calculator watches, to the modern era of smartwatches, earbuds, rings, and beyond. We explore key milestones including:  🔹 The first fitness trackers and Bluetooth headsets 🔹 The revolution of the Apple Watch and Android Wear 🔹 The discreet power of devices like Oura, Whoop, and smart earbuds 🔹 The future of smart glasses, health implants, and always-on AR

Transcript

00:00Wearable technology has become so woven into daily life that we barely notice it anymore.

00:06A quick glance at your wrist to check your heart rate, ear buds translating a foreign

00:11language in real time, a ring tracking your sleep patterns silently through the night.

00:15But this seamless experience didn't always exist.

00:19The journey of wearable tech is one of slow beginnings, wild experiments, and quiet revolutions.

00:25Long before the modern smartwatch, there were curious attempts to bring tech closer to

00:30the body.

00:31In the 1960s, a mathematician named Edward Thorpe created a tiny device hidden in his shoe to

00:38beat roulette.

00:39It wasn't flashy or marketable.

00:42But it was proof technology didn't have to sit on a desk, could move with us.

00:47By the 1970s, watches were the gateway.

00:50Digital timepieces from companies like Pulsar and Casio Dinty just tell time they told

00:55a story of miniaturization.

00:58In the 1980s, calculator watches became iconic.

01:02They let students crunch numbers from their wrists, and for a moment, geek became cool.

01:07Seiko even created a TV watch novel clunky and ahead of its time.

01:11But the first real glimpse of what wearable tech could be came with a shift in purpose.

01:17From novelty to utility.

01:19In the 1990s and early 2000s, wearables began to serve performance.

01:25Athletes strapped on heart rate monitors to train smarter.

01:29Joggers clipped pedometers to their hips.

01:31Bluetooth headsets allowed for hands-free calls, though fashion wasn't their strength.

01:37Everything changed in 2009 when a little device called Fitbit quietly arrived.

01:42It didn't shout innovation, it simply counted your steps.

01:45But that simplicity sparked something bigger.

01:47It introduced the idea that technology could help you become healthier without ever interrupting

01:51your day.

01:53Just wear it and it works.

01:55Other brands followed.

01:57Jawbone, Garmin, Misfit.

02:00Each introduced their own take on fitness tracking.

02:03Devices got smaller, more stylish.

02:05It began to monitor sleep, buzz with gentle reminders, and pair with your phone.

02:10But they all chased the same goal, invisibility through usefulness.

02:14Then came the next leap, the smartwatch.

02:17Google's Android Wear launched in 2014.

02:20Bringing notifications, voice control, and Google services to the wrist.

02:25But all eyes turned when Apple entered the race.

02:28The first Apple Watch combined elegance with ecosystem.

02:31It wasn't just about steps, it was your new inbox, calendar, payment method, and health companion.

02:38With each version, it got smarter, it tracked heart rhythm, detected falls, measured blood oxygen.

02:45It nudged you to stand, to breathe, to move.

02:48It wasn't replacing your phone, it was becoming a more intimate version of it.

02:53At the same time, other companies carved their niches.

02:56Garmin focused on the data-driven athlete.

02:59Their rugged watches offered GPS precision, recovery tracking, and week-long battery life.

03:04Samsung combined style with functionality in their Galaxy Watch series.

03:08Adding crisp AMOLED displays and rotating bezels that made navigation feel tactile and satisfying.

03:15Google S Wear OS evolved to eventually joining forces with Samsung to bring better

03:20performance and battery life to the Android watch world.

03:23But wrist wear was just one part of the story.

03:26Smart tech crept into our ears.

03:28AirPods didn't just remove wires, they redefined convenience.

03:32With a tap or a voice command, you could change the song, send a message, or get directions.

03:38And now, with spatial audio, noise cancellation, and real-time translation,

03:43smart earbuds became more than speakers.

03:46They became intelligent assistants you wear.

03:48Meanwhile, smart rings like ARA entered quietly, but boldly.

03:54They offered advanced sleep, heart rate, and readiness data in a package smaller than a wedding band.

04:00No screen, no noise.

04:02Just results.

04:03Discreet and beautiful, they proved wearables didn't need to be noticed to be powerful.

04:08Even wearables without screens like WHOOP gained traction among elite athletes.

04:13A fabric band around the wrist or arm.

04:15Offering in-depth recovery and strain metrics without a single notification.

04:20It wasn't about distraction, it was about performance.

04:24And then came smart glasses.

04:25When Google Glass debuted in 2013, the idea was radical.

04:29Information in your line of sight.

04:32Voice-controlled commands.

04:33Camera on your face.

04:35But it didn't quite click with the public.

04:38Privacy concerns.

04:39Design backlash.

04:41Maybe it was just too soon, yet that vision hasn't gone away.

04:45Today, companies like Meta, Ray-Ban, and others are bringing glasses back with subtlety.

04:51Photo capture.

04:53Audio playback.

04:54Navigation.

04:55And soon, true augmented reality.

04:58Even more futuristic are devices that sense from within.

05:01Continuous glucose monitors that update you in real-time.

05:04Smart patches.

05:06Any implants.

05:07We re-entering a world where wearables may not be worn at all.

05:10They might be part of us.

05:12And let's not forget comparisons.

05:14If you're deep into fitness, Garmin's data-rich watches may be your match.

05:19Want a Lin-One convenience with sleek design?

05:22Apple Watch rules that realm.

05:24Need long battery life and flexibility?

05:27Look to Fitbit or Samsung.

05:29Want to go minimal and focus on recovery?

05:33Whoop and Aura stand out.

05:34Prefer something that disappears entirely.

05:37Smart earbuds do more than ever before.

05:40Every brand, every form factor offers a different kind of intimacy with technology.

05:45The choice depends on how and how much you want tech in your life.

05:49What unites all these devices is their shift toward integration.

05:54They're no longer about standing out.

05:56They're about blending in.

05:57Supporting your goals.

05:58Enhancing your routines.

06:00Tracking your progress silently.

06:02Effortlessly.

06:03From chunky plastic watches with built-in calculators.

06:07To sleek bands that can detect heart arrhythmias in real-time.

06:11From novelty gadgets.

06:13To personal health guardians.

06:15Wearable tech has evolved from an accessory.

06:18Into an extension of who we are.

06:21And while we may be years away from AI-powered smart contact lenses or neural-linked wearables.

06:27The trajectory is clear.

06:28Technology is moving closer, quieter, smarter.

06:31And more human than ever before.

The Rise of Wearable Tech – From Calculator Watches to Smart Rings

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended