The Main Trends That Underpin Wearable App Development in 2023!

Wearable technology is changing the way we develop mobile apps. It has a wide range of applications and can be used in various industries.

Our current era has a reputation for bringing futuristic technologies to the present and challenging our ideas of what is possible. The rise of business solutions has led to a reality that embodies the fundamental principles of humanism and is the master of our well-being.

Wearable technology is just one link in a chain of engineering innovation with forward-looking possibilities. The segment is witnessing a rapid growth of new categories, which are transforming mobile application development as it is.

Wearable technology is everywhere, from smartwatches to head-mounted gear to footwear. However, the data suggests that North America is the best place to be if your goal is to make wearable technology concepts into real-life solutions. 5G is the reason. In 2022, the continent will be the leader in establishing the highest 5G connections to wearables.

If you are in the wearable app space, it is essential to consider preemptive measures that combine regional demographics and wearable tech trends for 2023.

What’s Wearable Technology?

Wearable technology is basically what its name implies. Although it’s an old concept, it is a new technological advancement. Modern wearable technology can connect with people via sensors that track movement or biometrics. Most wearable devices send data collected via Bluetooth, wifi, or mobile data to a phone or computer.

Wearable technology was originally attached directly to the body via motion sensors. However, due to the development of highly sensitive sensors, wearables can now be applied to other parts of the body, such as the wrists, fingers, and chest.

Wearable tech is exploding in popularity, with an ever-growing supply.

Modern Day Wearables

Modern-day wearables mean people don’t have to use outdated armband holders for their smartphones. Smartwatches allow people to keep their smartphones in their pockets and bags. They can also communicate with their phone via screen phone calls or phone notifications. Smart glasses and fitness trackers are also compatible.

– Smart Glasses

Smart glasses include augmented reality (AR), which enhances the line of sight. Ray-Ban, a brand with front-facing cameras, has recently launched smart glasses to compete with GoPro.

– Smartwatches

For several years, Apple and Samsung have flooded the market with new versions of their Galaxy Watch and Apple Watch. The current smartwatches are equipped with LTE and GPS and can communicate seamlessly with the OS smartphones they replace.

Smartwatches can track biometrics, making them obsolete. Fitness trackers will continue to be popular until then.

– Fitness Trackers

Fitbit fitness trackers, such as the FitBit, are worn around the wrist and provide a wealth of biometric readings, including heart rate and steps taken. These devices can be used alone to record internal data. In addition, the data can be exported to a smartphone or computer. Apart from tracking biometrics, the purpose of dedicated fitness trackers is to remove the need to carry an extra piece of tech, such as a smartphone.

– Other examples

These are only a few examples. There are many more wearables that I have not included. This long list also includes VR headsets and consumer health tech. Wearable technology is a promising area of research if history is any guide.

The Most Promising Industries for Wearable Apps

Wearable apps are fashionable and beneficial to a brand in targeting customers who use wearables regularly and want their functionality to be available on them. But first, look at some industries that are emphasizing wearable app development. 

1. Healthcare

Wearable devices have a lot of potential for the healthcare industry. They enable doctors to monitor and diagnose patients’ health. These devices can gather data from various sensors such as heart rate or glucose levels. These applications can be used to quickly diagnose rare diseases and improve healthcare services.

Healthcare can be provided by many wearable devices such as smart watches, glucose monitors and diagnostic chips.

Examples: VeriSense, Aira Tech, Quardio, Hexoskin

2. Fitness

Fitness apps are the most popular wearable application on the market. You can use apps to track your health and body. Smartwatches and fitness trackers can track your daily activities such as exercise and jogging, and calculate calories and distance.

Examples: Strava, Runkeeper, Google Fit, Nike+

3. Outdoor Navigation

Google Maps, the leader in mobile technology is compatible with all platforms. These smartwatches have more options than ever, with GPS, Gyroscopes and other technology. It is possible to create standalone outdoor navigation apps.

Also Read : Mobile App Development Companies Are Integrating Wearable & App

Google Maps is an example

4. Messaging

Smartwatches allow you to leave your home without using a smartphone. They can be used entirely without a smartphone and are therefore more useful than messaging apps.

Examples: Telegrams and Coffee, Skype

5. Education

Wearable devices don’t just have to be for smartphones. These applications can be used to create augmented or virtual reality glasses, such as Google Glass, and for education. AR and VR enable students to explore the world and examine molecules in detail. They can also study diseases and the human body.

Examples: ImmerseMe. Ocean Rift. Mondly

6. Entertainment

Wearable devices can be used for many reasons. One reason is to listen to music or podcasts while you commute, run, or exercise. There are many ways to approach creating the next Spotify for your smartwatch.

Examples: Spotify. Apple Music. Shazam.

7. Insurance

Fraudulence is a major problem in the insurance industry. Wearable devices could be a boon for insurance companies if they could access data from smartwatches or fitness trackers. These solutions exist already, as shown by the collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and Fitbit, an insurance company that makes fitness trackers.

Examples: Attain

8. Fintech

Wearable technology can also be a benefit to the banking system. Smartwatches and fitness trackers today have NFC sensors, which enable contactless payments.

Examples: Apple Pay and Google Pay

Want to get in on the action?

Before developing wearable applications, here are five things you need to know.

1. Be sure to understand your use case

Computer scientists use many academic definitions of “use case” to describe how a product is used. For example, the use case for your wearable app describes how the user will use the app and the expected outcome.

It’s the story of the user and the app. What pain point motivated them to download the app? How does the app help that pain point?

What is your app’s use case? Examples might include:

• An AI personal training app that speaks to users through earbuds uses a smartwatch for vital measurements like heart rate and respiration and provides suggestions and encouragement to improve the workout.

• A data-recording application that transforms a pair of smart glasses into an audio-recording device. This can be used to transmit data about car accidents to insurers for claims processing.

• Smart ski goggles can detect dangerous conditions and warn skiers to avoid them.

Also Read : How to Develop an App like MyFitnesspal?

An elevator pitch is an excellent way to describe a use case. It should be easy for anyone to understand the use case and what it means for users, even if they are not industry experts.

Understanding users themselves is an important aspect of creating a use case. Therefore, you should conduct thorough market research before you start any app development project.

• User Personas – Identifying your ideal user–age, gender, demographics, and occupation.

• Product/Market Match – determining if your target users would use this solution, which confirms the viability and viability of the product.

2. Determine which platforms your app will need to live on

Every app requires a platform and an operating system, if possible. Pre-wearables were limited to Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS. The landscape has changed with the growing number of wearable options. Identifying the platform for which you must design may not be easy. In addition, your app may become more complex if it relies on the interaction between two wearable devices, such as a smartwatch or a pair of smart glasses.

These are some options to consider when developing wearable applications.

– Smartwatch Platforms

Smartwatches are the dominant wearable device market: flexible, versatile, and a real competitor to tablets or smartphones in terms of functionality.

– Fitness Tracker platforms

Smartphones don’t have to be outdone by activity and fitness trackers. They are designed to fulfill certain functions.

Smart Glasses Platforms

Smart glasses use AR technology to augment the real world as seen through the glasses. In addition, the glasses provide additional information.

Smart Ring Platforms

Although smart rings are still not widely accepted, there are two options for smart ring platforms: Talon Ring and NFC Ring.

3. Starting to Think About Security from the Beginning

Every new technology brings with it unknown security risks, especially digital. Considering that many wearable apps are derived from the medical and health industry, there are often strict regulations regarding data security. Many wearable app developers will need to validate their app security in order to comply with HIPAA.

You should consider the following security concerns when using wearable apps:

– Native Data. Data is stored more often on wearable devices than in the cloud. Unfortunately, not enough wearable apps offer encryption as a standard feature. Make sure you avoid this mistake: encryption yesterday, today, and forever.

– Camera Access. Cybercriminals can hack many wearable devices that use video and photo cameras to steal images. So pay attention to how your app uses the camera.

– Wireless connectivity. Many wearable devices can connect to the Cloud or other devices via Bluetooth and WiFi. Secure connections are essential if your app uses wireless connectivity.

4. Understanding that UX and UI are two different things

App developers used to creating apps for mobile OS environments, and desktops may need to learn UI/ UX. Wearable devices are smaller and have fewer controls. When developing wearable apps, there are some UX and UI principles you should keep in mind:

Make it easy to see. It should be easy to see the most important information within the UI “at a glance.”

– Make it Responsive: If interacting with a wearable device takes longer than ten seconds, more work must be done. You might consider replacing typing inputs with one-touch quick responses or voice commands.

Make it simple: Provide only the information and interactions that users need.

Minimalist: Keep it Simple. You can adapt to the limited display area by using a minimalist design. This includes sharp contrast and readable fonts. There is also enough space between elements to make it work (even if you have limited space).

5. Take into consideration the battery and memory consumption

Wearable devices often have less memory and battery life than their mobile counterparts. It is undoubtedly less than desktop and notebook computers. Wearable app developers should not be confused with mobile and desktop app development.

Developers need to use a simple, minimalist approach. No extra code will slow down the app, and No processes are more energy-intensive than necessary. For example, it would be a mistake to release an app that takes too long to load or drains its battery within an hour.

What does the future hold for wearable technology?

Failures and successes will be part of the future of wearable tech. Wearable tech will likely follow the same minimalist trends that cell phones did when they started to grow in popularity. Wearable tech will become more popular as they are less visible. This means that their visual elements will change and look as ordinary or extravagant as clothing or jewelry.

– Energy Harvesting

Wearable technology has also seen improvements in battery life. It is annoying to have to take your watch off to charge. These devices could be the future of energy harvesting, which converts body heat, movement, or solar energy into power.

– Medical Wearables

There is already a large market for medical devices monitoring biometrics in real-time. There is a high chance that wearables will continue to innovate in ways that monitor our health. Companies are already exploring diagnostic wearables that can monitor, diagnose and offer some kind of treatment, such as insulin. Others are exploring ways to embed devices beneath the skin to monitor vital signs and track blood oxygen levels. This would be very helpful for people with chronic diseases.

Also Read : How to Create a Telemedicine App in 2023?

– Identification and authentication

Two-factor authentication is required for most apps and online accounts. Smart car manufacturers like Tesla use digital keys to replace physical keys. Most smartwatches can authenticate. Wearable tech will continue to grow and allow you to prove that you are who you say you are through biometrics and other features. Smart tattoos, which can transfer relevant identification information to the scanner, are being considered by some innovators.

Step-by-step guide on how to make a wearable app

Because of some limitations, creating a wearable app can be difficult. It’s, therefore, essential to think about development from a technical perspective. The business aspect of your app is crucial because it will be the basis for all the features and business logic. Let’s look at how to create a wearable app from conception to release.

Step 1. 

Knowing what you are looking for in a wearable app developer is important before you start searching. A use case is an outline of how the application will be used and how it will benefit you and your users. There are many use cases for different devices. We recommend starting with a simple idea covering only one or two of these use cases.

You must get to know your users to define the app’s purpose. Then, you can do a variety of research to help you determine your app’s use case.

• User personas study
• Market research
• Research on competitors
• Analysis of the target audience
• Product-market fit analysis

You should now be able to create a business plan based on your initial idea of a need.

Step 2. 

You will need to hire a vendor if you need a team of skilled developers developing wearable apps. This could be an outsourcing company or a group of freelance developers.

There are many ways to find the perfect company to develop wearable apps for your needs and budget.

• Ask friends and partners for recommendations
• Reviewers can search online for Clutch.co and Goodfirms.
• Look at the portfolios of potential vendors by visiting their websites
• Contact potential vendors to find expert content

You can create an RFP (request to the proposal) to help find the right company. This will allow you to explain your idea, ask questions about the process, and get a preliminary estimate.

Step 3. 

It’s easy to get lost among the many types of wearable tech. Mobile apps can be used on either Android or iOS. But wearable applications can also exist on different platforms with their unique features. Platforms are often device-specific. This means you must create a separate application to cover all the device manufacturers you wish.

Step 4. 

Wearable UI/UX design differs from mobile UI/UX design. Therefore, finding a designer with experience in building UI/UX on wearable devices is essential.

Not only are they smaller than mobile phones, but they also have fewer controls. However, you can’t make UI elements too small because users will have trouble using your app with their fingers.

These are some guidelines for the UI/UX design of wearable devices.

Make your screen easy to read: You need to ensure that all key elements are visible at a glance. If you create a wearable fitness app, for example, the user should be able to see their steps, heart rate, distance, and other key elements when they glance at the screen.

Simplify the user interface: Your app should be simple and concise. The interaction should not take more than ten seconds. In addition, you should make it easier for users to locate a function or input type. When it comes to simplification, voice commands can be very helpful.

Make your interface clear: Simple fonts, minimal shapes, clear colors, and high contrast make a significant impact.

Step 5.

Wearable devices’ batteries aren’t as powerful as mobile devices, so developers must make extra efforts to reduce battery consumption. In addition, it is important to remember memory consumption, as it can slow down the loading process.

Developers should cut down on the number of processes, leaving only the most important parts, and optimize code to make it lightweight and easy to load.

Step 6.

As with all IoT devices, security breaches can occur on wearable devices. Therefore, planning your security strategy before starting the development process is important. This is particularly important for healthcare app development, which must comply with HIPAA regulations.

Step 7.

There are many approaches to developing wearable apps. These types differ in their independence from mobile devices, operation logic, and functionality.

Step 8.

To determine the functionality of your future app, prioritize features and decide what to focus on first. These are the features of a typical wearable app:

• Push notifications
• Navigation and controls
• Voice commands
• UI UX elements
• Sensor data
• Settings

If you are creating a companion app, you will also need to create a smartphone application. A container app is required to set up standalone wearable apps. Most smartwatches can connect to the internet to install apps from the app store.

Step 9. 

You must also choose the operating system for your target devices.

Step 10. 

The hard part begins after all the technology, features, and platforms have been decided upon. It’s now time to create and test your app, then publish it to the App Store.

Launching your application is only the beginning of the work. You must maintain your application regularly, as it is crucial for your app’s security, usability, and relevance. Therefore, regular security and performance checks will be required. You will also need to adapt your application to new operating systems.

Conclusion

Wearable technology is a strong and growing industry. It has all the potential to succeed in the future, and those responsible for creating wearable technology and the software that supports it will finally be successful.

While wearable technology has many benefits, the associated challenges are equally important. However, the benefits of wearable technology are expected to outweigh the challenges. Most businesses see the potential for wearables and want to help others. Wearables can be used to improve people’s lives if they are combined with the right software and hardware.

Connect with us– a top-notch wearable app development company if you have an idea for a wearable application or want to know more about the current possibilities for wearable app development. Our expert team of wearable app developers will use all their tech knowledge and experience in developing wearable apps to your advantage.