As applications grow more complex, smart devices have become more complicated and expensive. Purchasing a smartphone, a smart watch, and smart glasses costs thousands of dollars, and the devices might not even work well together. Researchers at the University of Alabama might have a solution: a wearable cloud that combines powerful processors and storage space in one lightweight jacket. Here are a few of the advantages a wearable cloud brings to the future of technology.
Higher Specifications
The prototype wearable cloud jacket contains 10 credit-card-sized computers with 10 gigabytes of RAM and 32 gigabytes of memory. The average smartphone only has one to three gigabytes of RAM and is significantly slower than the average desktop or laptop computer. With the space available in a wearable cloud device, higher speeds would be possible at a lower cost, making even more complex applications possible. It is also possible to increase the amount of memory in a wearable cloud device without adding substantial weight.
Better Security
Smartphones and other cloud-connected devices have limited storage space, so it is common to store data, including personal information, in the cloud. The user rarely knows exactly where this data is going, and security breaches are possible. This is particularly important when smart devices are used for business purposes. A wearable cloud offers room for expanded storage. The user's personal information and data stays in the device, giving the owner direct control over its security.
Diversity
A wearable cloud doesn't have to be a jacket; similar technology can be integrated into a briefcase, purse, or backpack. This provides options for everyone from business executives to students to use the technology in their day-to-day lives. The same idea expands to more specific uses for different industries. For example, wearable clouds could be designed to monitor hospital patients or help rescue workers stay safe and do their jobs better.
Integration
A single wearable device is capable of running a variety of monitors in forms similar to cellphones, tablets or watches. These monitors no longer need to be complicated computers. They can be simple touchscreen controllers that access the wearable cloud over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This lowers the cost of the units significantly and makes the wearable cloud customizable to meet your specific needs. The variety of possible controllers includes everything from glasses and headbands to traditional keyboards and monitors, making your data and applications accessible and usable in a wide variety of situations.
The future of technology requires powerful devices that are versatile and portable. The wearable cloud concept provides a solution that could help portable computing grow without drastically increasing its cost. It also provides options to improve security by storing data in the actual device instead of in the virtual cloud.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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