Google has announced Android Wear,” a project that extends Android to wearables”. To start with this new Android Wear OS will run the Google smartwatches. Google is already working with several manufacturers, including LG, HTC, Asus, Motorola and Samsung; chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm; and fashion brands like the Fossil Group to bring the watches powered by Android Wear later this year.
LG has already confirmed today that they are working with Google and will introduce the LG G smartwatch running on Android Wear OS by the second quarter of 2014. http://www.techvorm.com/lg-g-smartwatch-running-android-wear-os-will-debut-q2/
“We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with mobile technology. That’s why we’re so excited about wearables-they understand the context of the world around you, and you can interact with them simply and efficiently, with just a glance or a spoken word.——- “We’re always seeking new ways for technology to help people live their lives and this is just another step in that journey,” Sundar Pichai, who heads Android and Chrome divisions in Google, wrote on the company’s official blog.
According to Google, Android Wear shows you info and suggestions you need when you need them, provide answers to spoken queries, monitor physical activity and allow access to other devices like a smartphone. For instance, you are required to just say “Ok Google” to ask questions like what time your flight leaves, and the score of the game. Or say “Ok Google” to get stuff done, like calling a taxi, sending a text, making a restaurant reservation or setting an alarm. For fitness geeks, your favorite fitness apps can give you real-time speed, distance and time information on your wrist for your run, cycle or walk.
Google has posted a video on its blog, which shows people speaking into their watches to check sports scores, control music, send replies to text messages and even open their home garages.
Since smartphones are nearing saturation point especially in the developed countries, all the smartphones markers are now turning their focus on wearable devices and Google is smart enough to read the writing on the walls and has come out with Wear OS for use in the upcoming smartwatches. Currently, the smartwatches are not as smart as they should have been and most of tasks that a user can do on a smartwatch can be accomplished in a much better way through a smartphone. Moreove, these watches also rely heavily on a smartphone to properly work. However, with Android Wear, Google is attempting to make smartwatches more useful and simpler to use.
At the moment, Samsung is selling Galaxy Gear smartwatches though for now the company has not found many takers for it. Pebble also makes a smartwatch, which has been more successful. Sony smartwatches are also in the market, but getting luke-warm response. Apple too is reportedly working on a smartwatch for quite sometimes, but they have not announced so far when they will launch it.
But the coming months will be quite exciting for wearable devices and we can expect to see people flaunting their smartwatches in different hues and colors on their wrists and speaking to them!
