If you’ve been keeping with Android Authority’s coverage of CES 2014, you’ll know that a lot of the spotlight at this year’s event has been focused on wearable accessories. Including augmented reality devices, smart watches, and fitness bands, 2014 is definitely shaping up to be the year of wearable technology. While we may not have been able to cover everything that was presented at the show, here’s a roundup of everything we were able to get our hands on. Let’s take a look!
VUZIX M100
VUZIX is a relatively unknown name in the mainstream market, but the company has been around for a while (since 1997), and showcased some great augmented reality wearable tech at CES this year, deservedly receiving an Innovations Award as well. The VUZIX M100 is a visual display for your smartphone, but also features its own processor, which will allow you to load and run applications right from the device itself. What makes the M100 stand out against Google Glass is the fact that it features a digital see-through box which is very bright, allowing for easy use in sunlight and bright light conditions. Apart from a mainstream audience, the VUZIX M100 is also geared towards industrial and medical application.
EPSON MOVERIO BT-200 Smart Glasses
Unlike other AR glasses, the EPSON Moverio BT-200 smart glasses features two displays, that are centered in our field of vision, effectively giving you a large floating image in front of you. Also included are motion sensors and a front facing camera, along with a battery life of 6 hours. The device runs Android 4.0, and can be controlled using a touch pad interface. These smart glasses were showcased at the event with a demo of a few augmented reality games, and any Android application can also be side-loaded on the device.
Pebble Steel
While we were unable to get some hands-on time with the Pebble Steel, the latest smart watch from the company was one of the highlights of the show and deserves a mention in a list of featured wearable tech from CES 2014. Moving towards design aesthetics that are based on conventional watches, the new Pebble smart watch lineup is made of forged and CNC-machined stainless steel, and is great to look at. While the Steel offers the same features as its predecessor, the latest smart watch features a display that is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass, with a lens that includes an anti-fingerprint coating. Pebble is a company to watch, and it’ll be interesting to see what they have in store for the rest of the year. We’ll be sure to review them, so stay tuned.
Sony Smartband
Sony made the jump in to fitness tracking with the Sony Smartband. Using a small device called the Sony Core that fits into a band, available in small and large sizes, Sony aims to make the Smartband more than just a step counter or calories burned tracker, with an app called Lifelog. The Smartband communicates with the Android devices using the Lifelog app, and apart from recording fitness-related data, can also provide information on what kind of music you were listening to that helped motivate you during a workout, allowing you to create a playlist of these songs. Apart from fitness tracking, you can also control your music directly from the Smartband as well.
LG Lifeband Touch
The LG Lifeband Touch is the company’s first foray into the wearable fitness device market, and needless to say, we were left impressed. After all, the Lifeband Touch did win our inaugural “Best Android Accessory” award at CES 2014. The Lifeband communicates with Android devices via Bluetooth. But if you don’t look needing to pull out your device every time you want to check your stats, the Lifeband Touch features an OLED display that allows you to scroll through various fitness details. This includes total calories burnt, targets set, and number of steps taken. If you’re also looking for heart rate monitoring, you’ll need to pick a special pair of earphones that do so. Apart from fitness tracking, you can also check the time, see call and text notifications, and control your music directly from the device. The LG Lifeband Touch features a battery life of 2-5 days.
That’s just a few of the amazing wearable technology devices that we got to check out at CES 2014! What was your favorite accessory from this year’s show? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!