Wearable Tech Could Someday Be as Common as Smartphones

The vast majority of Americans say they are super excited about wearable technologies, according to a recent study.

learn more about Emily Price

By Emily Price

chinaz.com
Sergey Brin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

If you think wearable tech like Google Glass and Samsung's Galaxy Gear is just a fad, think again.

A whopping 91 percent of Americans are excited about wearable tech, according to a recent study conducted by Wakefield Research for Santa Clara, Calif.-based cloud and networking technologies firm Citrix. The study showed that not only are most Americans excited about wearable technology, they think it's on the rise, with 60 percent of respondents indicating they think wearable tech will be as common as smartphones in just six years.

That's roughly when today's 6th graders will be headed off to college.

Related: 10 Reasons Why Google Glass Is Doomed

When it comes to wearing their tech, 73 percent of people want a gadget that blends into the everyday clothing rather than something like Google Glass that draws attention to itself. Only 19 percent of respondents were excited about the prospect of smart glasses. In contrast, the biggest winner of the bunch was smart watches, with 30 percent of respondents excited about the technology.

So what do people plan on doing with all that wearable tech? The majority of respondents think that wearable technology will be used primarily for fun in their life, while 41 percent think that the tech will make them more productive.

All that excitement for wearable technology doesn't point to one specific type of technology that's going to be a clear winner over time.

When asked what fictional wearable technology they would most like to own, top answers included X-ray glasses from James Bond and Tony's Stark's armor suit from Iron Man. Neither technology has been developed and released to the public. Not yet, anyway.

Related: Wearable Tech, Marissa Mayer, Entrepreneurs and Innovation: A CES 2014 Preview

Emily Price

Technology Writer

Emily Price is a tech reporter based in San Francisco, Calif. She specializes in mobile technology, social media, apps, and startups. Her work has appeared in a number of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, PC World, Macworld, CNN and Mashable.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

American Airlines Sued After Teen Dies of Heart Attack Onboard Flight to Miami

Kevin Greenridge was traveling from Honduras to Miami on June 4, 2022, on AA Flight 614 when he went into cardiac arrest and became unconscious mid-flight.

Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

Marketing

After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.

Author Karen Inglis breaks down the strategies and tactics you need to generate awareness and sales for your self-published book.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Thought Leaders

5 Small Daily Habits Self-Made Millionaires Use to Grow Their Wealth

We've all seen what self-made millionaires look like on TV, but it's a lot more subtle than that. Brian Tracy researched what small daily habits these successful entrepreneurs adopted on their journey from rags to riches.

Business News

Jake Paul and Lindsay Lohan Fined $400,000 for 'Illegally Touting' Crypto

The SEC just disclosed that eight celebrities agreed to a massive settlement without admitting guilt.