The recent unveiling of the Apple Watch was met with mixed reviews from people all over the world, but everyone can agree that smart wearables are starting to become more and more popular. Many of these devices require charging, which could pose a problem when you’re away from your home or office, but now there’s an alternative that allows you to power your smartwatch with nothing but the sun! Learn more about solar-powered smart wearables in this article.
What are solar-powered wearable devices?
If you’re not an early adopter of technology, you might be wondering what exactly a solar-powered wearable device is. Simply put, it’s a piece of wearable technology (such as a watch) that also includes a battery capable of being charged by solar power. The benefit to these products is obvious—charging them doesn’t require an electrical outlet. In fact, if you leave them in direct sunlight for extended periods of time and don’t use them, they can act as spare batteries for your cell phone or laptop! That could come in handy when on vacation or otherwise away from home or the office.
How do they work?
Most Solar-Powered Smart Wearables devices operate in much the same way, with a photovoltaic cell that takes light and converts it into electricity. The difference is in how they’re charged. Most portable electronics are powered by an internal battery, which charges when you plug them into a wall outlet using an adapter or USB cable.
The downside to relying on a battery is that if you don’t charge it often enough (or your device runs out of juice before you can plug it in), you’ll lose any data stored in its memory—or even risk losing access to whatever information your phone or wearable already has stored on it.
Their potential uses
From functioning as a GPS navigator and sleep tracker to monitoring heart rates and even delivering notifications to your wrist, there’s no doubt that solar-powered smart wearables have made some significant strides in recent years. A number of fitness companies are beginning to incorporate them into their product lines with great success—and that may only be just the beginning.
In fact, experts predict that solar technology will play an increasingly important role in both consumer electronics and wearable devices; solar could revolutionize everything from smartphones to apparel by replacing traditional battery sources. The benefits are obvious: Not only does it benefit our planet, but it also allows us to multitask (ie. listen to music while we run) without having to worry about constantly recharging our devices. For those looking for a practical gift idea for their loved ones or themselves, now is definitely a good time to start thinking about investing in solar-powered smart wearables!
How much do solar wearables cost?
The price of solar wearables varies depending on the model and the manufacturer. The more efficient the product, the more it will cost. The more expensive models are generally made from high-quality materials, so they are more durable and can be used for a longer period of time before needing replacement.
The average cost for a solar watch is about $50-$100, but some can cost hundreds of dollars or even thousands of dollars. For example, one top-of-the-line model from a major brand costs over $1,000! This is not an unusual price tag for a quality solar watch—it’s just that some people might think they’re getting something cheaper when they buy something like this.
Features you should look for in your purchase
- There are a number of features you should look for in your solar-powered smart wearable. The first is battery life. The more time you can get out of the battery, the better. You can find this information in the box or on the product itself. Make sure it’s at least 2 years, but preferably 3-5 years.
- Second, the size of the device is important because it will affect how you wear it and what accessories you need to use with it. If you want to wear it on your wrist or ankle, make sure that it will fit comfortably and securely. If you want to wear it on your head or neck area, then consider how long it can stay there without falling off or causing discomfort from pressure points (like a tight band around your head).
- You should be looking for any devices that are compatible with both Android and iOS. This will allow you to use them on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. They should also be waterproof, meaning they can handle rain and even a drop in water
- Finally, make sure that whatever type of technology is inside is up to date. This means that if there are any new releases coming out soon that could benefit from this product (like voice recognition), then definitely consider it!
The Evolution Of Wearable Technology And Its Future
Wearable technology is a field that can be quite vast, but it’s also constantly developing and evolving. Wearable technology has come a long way since its invention in the 1980s. We’ve seen the creation of devices that were more than just simple watches or jewelry—they were devices that had their own operating systems. These devices handled tasks like voice commands and even had a small screen to display information like weather reports or news headlines.
The most popular wearable device today is likely Apple Watch, which was released in 2015 with multiple features including fitness tracking capabilities, notifications from your phone (if you have one), and health-related data monitoring capabilities.
There are many other wearable devices available today as well such as Fitbit Flex 2, Fitbit Charge 2, Garmin Vivosmart HR+, Microsoft Band 2/3/4 (and other variations), Samsung Gear S3 Frontier/Pro Series Smartwatches (and other variations), Sony Smartwatch 3 (and other variations), Garmin Vivosmart HR+ Vivofit2.
Conclusion
Wearable technology is here to stay and it seems to constantly be evolving and progressing. Since the first development of smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other such technology, we are finding new uses for wearable devices. With Google Glass continuing to be a trending topic, it has become easy to understand that wearables have far reached beyond the realm of just fitness and health. All areas of our daily lives are being touched, which is why this type of technology is only bound to progress further in years to come.