We retrace all the opinions of the experts who participated in the WTT 2015 concerning wearable technologies and the meaning of a fair such as Wearable Tech Turin.

 WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY?

“The last generations have always seen technology as a detached object which we occasionally interface with and that can easily be unused on the desk.

Instead wearable technology is the one that offers new features. Today, thanks to technological progress, it’s possible to integrate an actual computer within a pair of glasses. For example in air force we know the head-up display that allows pilots to see a piece of digital virtual reality. They have been in use for almost fifteen years in both the military and commercial field but they were extremely large and expensive devices that had to be installed on board the aircraft.

Now the same technology can be worn by the pilot using smartglasses. In only a few years this technology has become wearable. “

 Paolo Pari (from HeadApp, a startup born with the aim of intercepting the SmartGlass technology).

 WHAT IMPACT WILL WEARABLE DEVICES HAVE IN THE FUTURE?

“A huge impact, especially in the medical field, primarily to encourage us to be more physically active, but also because it will allow us to collect data on our mental and physical condition in a shorter time than the traditional visit to the doctor. On the other hand, this data can be used for other purposes, for example, insurance companies that, being aware of your physical conditions, may treat you as a customer at risk and increase the cost of the policy.”

Matteo Mazzeri (Technical adviser for Enalean).

 IT MAY SEEM AN INVASIVE TECHNOLOGY. IS IT TRUE?

“Wearables are not for everyone, acceptance level is subjective. These technologies are already used and accepted in fitness, the same values would be used in order to drive in a safer and less stressful way. “

Luana Danetti (User Experience Consultant per Amaris).

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT CONSEQUENCES WILL IT HAVE ON THE FUTURE? 

“I assume a critical position in relation to wearable technology, not because of the product itself, but due to current speculation about them. Surely they have great potentials, but we must not underestimate the consequences of these innovations on the economy, society and environment. “ 

Marzio Riboldi (Researcher and industrial designer for Samsung). 

WHICH ARE THE CURRENT RESEARCHES AND IN WHICH DIRECTION WILL WEARABLES GO IN THE FUTURE? 

“They are absolutely improving their technological interaction. I don’t think they will ever completely replace smartphones, PC and tablets, but they can lend a hand in making them better.” 

Antonio Fucito (journalist for Multiplayer.it and social media manager for NetAddiction).

 WILL WEARABLE BE OUR FUTURE? 

“This fair and workshops held are definitely an important tool to show people what wearables actually are and what we can do with these objects.

Wether or not they are to become our future depends on how and how much programmers and designer will use their creativity to develop new applications for this product.”

 Marco Minerva (MVP Microsoft).

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT FAIRS SUCH AS THIS ONE ARE USEFUL FOR PEOPLE?

“Fairs like this should be bigger and more common. I consider it as a positive sign of recovery of our country. It is an event with high a rate of innovation, that treats a subject which will be more developed in the future. The natural consequence of events such as this is the spread of a message and of awareness of those who will soon become “friend” devices and companions in everyday life. “ 

Orazio Stangherlin (Arcadia Consulting, a company that deals with head tech, and all those innovative technologies and methodologies used to accelerate learning).

IS A FAIR SUCH AS THE WTT NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SPREAD INFORMATION BETWEEN USERS BECAUSE OF THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY?

“I believe that a fair such as this one, the first one of its kind in Italy, and a great event on a european level is very important. However, I think that the most important element is that it was organized entirely by young students of JEToP and it was open to a general public, not just to experts. “

Matteo Stoppa (doctorate from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Turin and is completing a vising period at King’s College in London).