There are smart watches from Samsung, Sony and hundreds of tech brands, but none of them have made an impact with the wearable technology. Google with its Android powered platform want to exploit the immense possibilities of wearable technology with the introduction of Android Wear – a project that brings the open source Android to wearable.
Android Wear platform help developers to take their existing apps to wearable devices by taking advantage of Google services like Google Now, Voice commands, Map and others.
Google starts the Android Wear platform introduction with Smart Watches. It help to build watches with capabilities like –
- Android Wear shows information and suggestions when user need it, right when they need them.
- It integrates with wide variety of Android applications – means it will show the latest posts and updates from social apps, chats from messaging apps, notifications from news and blogs app etc.
- Ok Google – Just say “Ok Google” to ask any questions and Google will offer an answer to it, just like Google Now on mobiles. For example ask what time your flight leaves, the score of the game etc, and instantly get the answers. Or say “Ok Google” to get stuff done, like calling a taxi, sending a text, making a restaurant reservation or setting an alarm.
- Fitness tracker – ability to better monitor health and fitness. Fitness apps can give real-time speed, distance and time information on users wrist for their run, cycle or walk.
- Android Wear lets users access and control other devices from their wrist. Just say “Ok Google” to play the music playlist on your phone, or cast your favorite movie to your TV.
Google has opened up the developer preview (Android/Wear) for Android Wear, where developers can download the SDK. It will help them to create wearable experiences for their existing Android apps and see how they will appear on square and round Android wearables.
Google plans to bring the Android Wear powered watches later this year (2014) and has already partnered with several consumer electronics manufacturers, including Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung and Fossil Group.