Predicting how personal tech will change over a decade is far from easy, and those who try often miss the mark. Ten years ago, few would have imagined that over a million people would end up purchasing a wristwatch capable of more than just telling the time.
These smartwatches now deliver text messages, offer weather updates, and track physical activity with ease, yet they’ve become a standard part of daily life for many.
Smartwatches now do more than tell time, they tell your story (Photo: Alamy)
Wearables Becoming More Embedded in Our Routines
Technology’s influence on our everyday existence continues to expand, and many have grown attached to their gadgets in ways that make it hard to disconnect.
Devices worn on the body have become common, ranging from simple fitness bands to more complex inventions like Apple Watches, Google Glass, and Microsoft’s HoloLens.
Their development has been made possible by the continued trend of devices becoming both faster and more compact. One can expect more of such items to appear on our bodies, and with time, they may even become part of our internal systems.
Clothing and Accessories That Do Much More
It may be impossible to predict the future perfectly, but imagining what’s possible has always fascinated people. That curiosity led to discussions with six professionals working with wearable technology, each asked to imagine what could come next in the coming years.
From these conversations, they came up with ideas that might be introduced soon, along with others that still feel like science fiction.
Technology That Watches Over Your Health and Mood
There will be growing demand for fresh policies to guide how these technologies are used, especially as concerns about safety, privacy, and ethics become more pressing.
However, it is already clear that the space between our bodies and technology is disappearing quickly. Picture earrings that measure your heart rate, oxygen levels, and temperature, sharing that health information with you in real time.
These kinds of devices might feel odd at first, especially when worn in public, but they could offer unmatched convenience and health awareness.
Mood shirts might bring an older fashion idea back to life by giving people a way to express their internal feelings visibly. These garments would detect your emotional state through signals from your body and make that data visible or accessible to others.
They could even work with your health insurance company, allowing your provider to offer lower rates if you maintain a calm and upbeat mood. Shirts would also help with direction by sending tiny pulses to guide you—no screens needed.
Footwear That Powers Your Devices and Keeps You Comfortable
Imagine shoes that generate electricity as you walk, sending power to your fitness trackers or smartwatches. These shoes would also manage foot temperature based on your environment and could record how much weight you’re carrying or how far you’ve walked. Such footwear could quietly keep your technology running while supporting your physical well-being.
Eyes and Hands Becoming Part of the System
Now, picture contact lenses with a built-in assistant that manages your schedule and learns everything about you. It would track the chemicals in your tears to understand how you feel and respond to your unspoken needs.
Fitness bands and smart glasses are today’s new normal (Photo: Getty Images)
Tools placed inside nail polish or even beneath your fingernails would work alongside the lenses, acting like a keyboard or paintbrush in a virtual world. You could use gestures to create 3D drawings or interact with digital images as though they were real.
Small Features Gaining Big Abilities
Clothing fasteners like buttons may seem unchanged for decades, but they could soon include GPS systems that learn where you go and what you do.
With that knowledge, your wearables would automatically adjust to your surroundings, suggest places to visit, or even warn you of danger. If you find yourself in an unfamiliar or unsafe spot, the buttons could alert your relatives or emergency services without you lifting a finger.
Earrings That Choose Your Music
Smart earrings could one day take on the job of curating your music based on how you’re feeling. They would work like a personal DJ, choosing songs to lift your mood or help you relax.
All of these ideas show how what we wear might soon be much more than fashion; it could become an extension of how we think, feel, move, and connect with others.
