While the main reason for wearing jewelry is to look good, it seems that there’s a lot to be desired when it comes to the practical purpose of jewelry. Watches and mechanical cufflinks aside, jewelry doesn’t serve any real purpose; however, this is all set to change. Researchers are conducting work to transform the way we think about our accessories.
We know that computer devices have the capacity to be shrunk down, as this has been demonstrated via smartwatches. From this, companies have started to consider how they can produce fashion jewelry with embedded intelligence. Even the smallest of devices can store a significant amount of digital data, which is achieved via microchips containing millions of transistors.
As a result, multiple prototypes of digital jewelry have been produced, but how is digital jewelry likely to work? Well, it’s said that digital jewelry is the start of the fragmentation of the PC into miniature pieces. Discover more about the upcoming microdevices that we may be wearing in years to come below.
Communication
Could cell phones get any more amazing? Well, it would appear so with the latest digital jewelry idea. This concept sees the components of a cell phone being separated into almost a formless combination of parts. For instance, the basic components of a cell phone will be packaged as multiple jewelry pieces, and these components will all work in conjunction with one another to make one whole “cell phone”.
The basic components of a cell phone include:
- Battery
- Antenna
- Circuit board
- Display
- Touchpad
- Receiver
- Microphone
From this, a prototype has been developed, in which various pieces of digital jewelry work together wirelessly to fulfil the function of all the above components. These components consist of:
- Earrings with embedded speakers.
- A necklace with an embedded microphone.
- A ring with flashing LED to indicate incoming calls.
- A bracelet with a video display.
The bracelet could then be used for the dialling of numbers, or this step in the process of making a call could be scrapped all together. For instance, voice recognition is much more advanced than it once was, meaning we can now power all manner of devices through voice alone.
Monitor Displays
The most recognizable features of PC devices, including television sets, is the monitor and mouse. Despite this, in the future of technology, we could see these elements disappear. This is because various companies are looking to create head-mounted displays by shrinking down the various components.
For instance, a mouse ring is currently in development, which would allow the user to move the cursor about a monitor display. This will be particularly effective in the instance that the monitor is also shrunk down to become the size of a watch face. Instead of a large monitor, you’ll then use an alternative like a bracelet or pair of sunglasses. Currently, there are various obstacles to overcome before these products can make their way onto the mainstream market.
A Password Ring
In this day and age, everything is placed under lock and key both physically and digitally. Just imagine how much easier life would be if you were able to access all of your locked locations with one piece of jewelry. Well, this might not be too far from a reality, as a computerized ring is in the development stages, which will allow users to unlock doors and log on to computers.
This way, you won’t have to carry around bulky devices or an endless keychain. Instead, you’ll have one universal ring key. This is also more secure, as it will remain on your finger, making it extremely hard to steal.
