Wearable technology used to be something in people’s wildest dreams. Now, not only is wearable tech available, its popularity and functionality is ever increasing. Wearables connect the digital world to the physical world. And as such, it’s time for serious consideration when designing a wearable product.
Let’s examine the two parts of the product and how to design accordingly for both.
Hardware
There are two main concerns when designing hardware: comfort and aesthetics.
If the device is not comfortable there is no way users will wear it (unless it looks cool, but designing for comfort really should be a must). When designing consider how the device would best fit on someones body, or rather the hardware could integrate or enhance the body.
Hardware must be aesthetically pleasing. This is the intersection of fashion and function. Consider what’s popular when creating your wearable, but also consider the ability for user customization as you won’t be able to accommodate all aesthetic preferences.
Lastly, make sure your hardware is cohesive with your software. If you’re having trouble bringing these two together seamlessly, consider some custom software development services, like the ones offered at Codal!
Software
The software design for wearables should be treated like any other development process; i.e. putting the user at the center.
The software for a wearable should be intuitive on the front-end for users. They should experience the perfect amount of disfluency, but still be able to easily navigate your product to complete their objectives.
Keep in mind, wearables are often meant to serve a specific function, or accomplish a certain objective, opposed to accommodating a handful of potential tasks, like a computer. That being said, when designing your software less is more. Don’t aim for mass functionality, rather strive for a seamless singular or small set of functionality.
Additionally, considering a great majority of wearable tech involves biometric data, you must be designing in accordance to HIPAA compliance. (If you’re not experienced with designing within these parameters, consider contacting Codal, a leader in software development for healthcare!).
Caption: Picture from Study: Wearable Technology & Preventative Healthcare.
Conclusion
The experience of wearable tech is just as much physical as it is digital. Designing an experience that brings together hardware and software seamlessly is easier said than done. Though, it’s not impossible. If you’re in search of a wearable tech solution, contact Codal, a UX design company.
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