Androids in my closet

From watches that track your calories to glasses that bring virtual reality alive, accessories have now become smart and connected

Wearable devices have certainly come a long way since the buttonhole camera sported by detectives. On the way they've become smart and connected, possessing processing capabilities which could rival those of decade-old desktop computers. To top it all, Google has built a complete operating system for wearables called Android Wear. Here's a brief look at the wearable devices on offer.

Smart watches

Five years ago, a former roommate told me watches were passe. With everyone carrying cellphones, there was hardly any incentive to strap one on your wrist. The advent of smartwatches has certainly brought this wrist accessory back in favour. And this time it coexists with your phone.

While some such as Samsung's Gear series are tied to a particular brand of phone, there are others like offerings from Pebble that can be paired with both Android and iOS devices. These smart watches allow you to make and receive calls, read notifications and emails. Some also double up as health bands - they can measure the calories burnt and heart rate, among other things. Of course, all this takes place in conjunction with your phone's everyday operations. There seems to be a surfeit of Android or Android-compatible devices in this category, with LG's G Watch and Samsung's Gear Live, both running on Android Wear, available on Google's Play Store in India. This week at the IFA, one of the world's biggest tech shows, in Berlin, Sony and ASUS also launched watches running on Android Wear, and hopefully we should see them soon in India. But, before that we look forward to Apple's event on September 9, where the tech giant might launch a wearable device.

Fitness bands
These sleek and inconspicuous devices can generally be worn on your wrist all through the day - doesn't matter if you're in the shower or in the pool. These devices silently record your vitals, essentially the steps walked and calories burnt. While most can record sleep patterns as well, some also have an altimeter built in, to count the calories burnt if you're climbing stairs. Some, like the GARMIN Vivofit also sport a time display; others such as the Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit can also measure one's heartbeat and then display the notifications on your phone. Other than bands, some such as the Fitbit One can be attached to a pocket as well.

Eyewear

This category was defined by the Google Glass, which we're still to see in India. The Glass, though available to customers in some countries, is still in the beta stage. It essentially augments reality - a transparent screen displays on one of the glasses important information about your surroundings and whatever else you ask the device. The titanium frame also features a camera, which can record anything and everything you see. The twist-and-go changeable lens comes in polarised and clear glass for outdoor and indoor wear. It also features earphones, which one can use in conjunction with Google Play Music.

But Google is not alone, if Sony's presentation at IFA on Thursday was anything to go by. The Japanese electronics major took the wraps off the Sony Smart EyeGlass. According to a report in The Guardian, the device will be the second screen for an Android phone, "displaying information in the view of the wearer, overlaid on top of the real world". A built-in projector projects a holographic image in the wearer's line of vision, which seems to appear 2m away, the report says.

One also has to mention the Oculus Rift, the VR headset, which brings virtual reality to PC gamers. At IFA, Samsung launched the Gear VR, which when paired with the Galaxy Gear 4, will deliver a similar experience to mobile phone users, since it's developed by Oculus.

Wearable cameras

Those indulging in extreme sports generally like to record them as well. There are a number of options available from GoPro, ISAW and GARMIN, as well as from Sony, so you can share with friends your bungee-jumping experience. While these devices can't strictly be called smart devices, last week, in Bangalore at the Freescale Technology Forum, the tech major showcased a smart cam which can be mounted on helmets, for instance, and can connect via Wi-Fi to an iPad to stream video in real time.