Wearing the Changing Landscape

Disclosure

This past week I received notification that I had been selected to join the 2nd Annual HP Smart Mom Panel. Whenever we talk about printers, I’m reminded of the very first Hewlett Packard printer that Scott and I purchased. It was shortly after he graduated from college and we were in need of a printer to be able to print the abundance of cover letters and resumes required to seek employment. At the time, email wasn’t an option nor were flash drives. There weren’t stores like UPS or FedEx where you could go and print out a document. Some libraries offered printing services but there weren’t guarantees that their software was compatible with what we were using. We opted to purchase a printer, but the price for such new home technology was steep for someone just out of college and on a tight budget. Scott made the decision to sell the Honda Helix he had been using to get around so he would have the money to buy the technology he needed to land a job. He sold a vehicle to purchase a printer. It was one of many difficult but necessary decisions he made over the years that ultimately helped him get to where he is today.

Technology is an ever-changing landscape. Today, printers are much more affordable as well as more versatile. There are a multitude of options for transferring data. Communicating with people is much easier with more advanced mobile devices and faster networks. We can carry our computers in our purses or track our fitness on our wrist. Our options change on a daily basis as new gadgets are introduced to the market.

Over the past few years, we’ve told you about some great fitness accessories and wearable technology such as the Samsung Gear Fit. We’ve also told you about the variety of useful apps that aid you with your resolutions and goals. We’re true believers in these and stand by many that we previously shared with you. However, just like it no longer takes the sale of a vehicle to purchase a home printer, the options available in the category of wearable technology have changed as well. What used to be something from a spy movie is now an accessory for the business professional, fitness fanatic or simply someone interested in the latest wireless technology. Each year brings new and greater advancement and we’re excited to share some of the newest ones.

The Polar Loop Fitness Band for Apple is one of the hottest accessories for 2015. It’s a custom fit device that will allow the user to track a variety of health and fitness activities such as calories burned, steps taken and sleep cycles while also offering compatability with Polar H6 and H7 Bluetooth Smart® heart rate sensors. Unlike many other wearable devices, the Polar Loop Fitness Band is water resistant which makes it the ideal wearable device for swimmers.

The Moto 360 is giving users the option to take hands-free calls, listen to music, track mileage, take pictures and videos, and check your texts, emails, and social media. Motorola sought a sleek and stylish device, available with either leather or stainless steel bands, and a Corning® Gorilla® glass face to help prevent scratches. A recent survey from U.S. Cellular found that 63 percent of smartphone owners check their mobile devices every hour, so why not have it right at your wrist?

Of course, one of the most anticipated new gadgets of the year is the Apple Watch. Well beyond just a fitness watch, Apple’s first wearable gadget will have your iPhone staying cozy in your pocket or purse. There won’t be a need to dig for your iPhone 6 when you’re sporting this high tech device because it’s designed to do more than just tell the time or track your heart rate. The iPhone-compatible watch will allow users to make payments with Apple Pay, access emails, texts, social media updates, apps, navigation, Siri and more right from your wrist. Health needs were also considered so it does feature health sensors and notifications for easy, hands-free fitness tracking. With an expected release of April 2015, this watch will be available in a variety of styles and colors to fit the mood, personality or attire of the wearer.

Technology will continue to evolve, advance, improve our lives as companies create new and better devices such as the iPhone 6 and Apple iPad Air. Combine these innovative advances in technology with a reliable 4G LTE network and the things you need for work, life and play are right at your fingertips. Of course, your wrist is the place to showcase the latest changes to the technology landscape.