OnMarch9th，Apple，probablythemostsuccessfultechnologycompanyinhistory，heldaneventtolaunchitssmartwatch，whichwillgoonsalenextmonth．Inadditiontokeepingtrackoftime，thewatchmeasuresthewearer'sheartrateandacti
On March9th，Apple，probablythemostsuccessfultechnologycompanyinhistory，heldaneventtolaunchitssmartwatch，whichwillgoonsalenextmonth．Inadditiontokeepingtrackoftime，thewatchmeasuresthewearer'sheartrateandactivitylevels，processesvoicecommands，givesalertsofincominge-mailsandcallsandfacilitatespaymentsincheckoutlines．Inotherwords，itdoesalotofwhatsmartphonesalreadyaccomplish，butiswornonthewristandmustbeclosetoaniPhoneinordertofunction．Whyistheresomuchbuzz aboutthiswatch？
Assmartphoneshaveenjoyedasuddenandtremendousboostinglobalappeal，peoplehavestartedtowonderwhatthenextmajortechnologytrendwouldbe．Manyanalystshavepinnedtheirhopesonwearabledevices，whichcontainsmallsensorstotrackanddisplayinformation．ThiscategoryincludeseverythingfromsmartwatcheslikeApple's，tofitnessbandsthatmeasuresleeppatternsandexercise，to"smart"shoesthatmeasuredistance，tosmartglassesthatcantakevoicecommandsanddisplayinformation．Wearablespromisetomeasurepersonaldataandsavepeopletime：aglanceatone'swristtoseealertstakesfewersecondsthanpullingoutaphone．Companiesinvariousindustries，fromminingtoairlines，arealsocautiouslytestingwhetherwearablescanhelpimproveefficiencyorcustomerservice．
However，whilethenumberofwearablegadgetshasgrown，consumersstilltendtobegeeks（对电脑痴迷的人）andfitnessfans．Lastyeararound21millionwearabledevicesweresold，mostofthemwrist-worndevices，accordingtoIDC，aresearchfirm．Wearabledeviceshavefailedtobecomemainstreamforthreemainreasons．First，manyofthemareunabletofunctionwithoutanearbysmartphone，whichlimitstheirappeal．Consumersalreadyhavetokeeptrackofseveraldeviceswithoutaddinganother．Second，theyarenotyetconsideredcool．GoogleGlass，apairof"smart"glassesmadebythe search-enginefirm，weresoclunkythatevenfashionmodelscouldnotmakethemlookgood．Third，thereisnotyeta"killerapp"thatprovestheirusefulnessinpeople'sdailylives．Technologistsimagineafuturewhenwearabledeviceswillservetoconfirmpersonalidentity，facilitatepayments，unlockhouseandcardoorsandtrackpeople'sacti