Wearable Tech refers to electronic devices worn on the body. Almost all devices released to date are in the form of rubber fitness bands or smartwatches, both worn on the wrist. Whilst in its infancy, Wearable Tech has some innovative potential uses. Imagine being able to control any device in your home by the snap of a finger; unlock your door, car or computer just by touching it; be alerted if your stress level, heart rate or blood sugar level is abnormal or even allow your doctor to remotely administer medication if he sees your vitals drop. We’re on the cusp of a new wave of electronics which will re-define the way people use technology. But fundamentally, people need to want to wear these devices. Whilst Samsung and Apple will no doubt take care of the early adopters and technology advocates who care about functionality and convenience, the fashion conscious consumer has yet to be accounted for. This is the gap in the market that Kovert will exploit through being not only a wearable tech company but also a fashion brand.

1. #HCID2014
Making the Future
Dan Möller
Co-founder of Kovert Designs
@dvpmoller
@KovertDesigns
City University, London 23rd of April 2014

2. Making the Future
• Who is responsible
• Corporation vs. Startup
• Interaction with technology

3. Development
• Lean Startup
• Customer
• Iterations
• Fail fast
• Team
• Be open
Ideas
Build
Product
Measure
Data
Learn

4. Wearable Tech
• Been around for a while
• Electronic devices worn on the body
• Rubber fitness bands
• Chunky smartwatches
• Medical, Security etc.
• Quantified Self
• Data acquisition on aspects of a person's daily life

5. Wearable Tech
Natural Evolution
(not a revolution)
Reasons:
• Technology: smaller, better, lower consumption
• Consumers: more comfortable with technology
• Social: people are more (virtually) connected
• Addiction: people feel the need to be connected all the time

6. Wearable Tech
“The Wearable Tech market to ramp up from $3B to $50B in
the next 4 years”
- Credit Suisse
“2014 will be the year of Wearable Technology”
- Forbes
“Wearable Tech sales will reach 485m units by 2017”
- ABI Research
The next Big Thing!?

7. Wearable Tech
• 96% activity trackers
• 4% smartwatches and glasses

8. Wearable Tech
Means that it CAN be worn…
But it needs be to what people WANT to wear!
• No point in making a functional object if
no one wants to wear it… we think there
is a GAP in the market
• Smartwatches look versatile, but are far
more complicated than simply using a
smartphone
• What was screen real estate becomes
limited body real estate

9. Market trends
• Fitness and health oriented
• Lots of new devices packed with features
• One-third of American consumers who have
owned a wearable product stopped using it within
six months
Wearable Tech

10. Wearable Tech
Market
• Apple & Samsung
• Crowdfunding
• Nobody knows what the customer wants
• So far, wearables have been developed by
engineers for engineers

11. WHY not WHAT
• Problem
• Focus is on What
• Why is the important part

12. The WHY - Social aspects
• States of life today
• 114 days a year
• ‘Digital detoxing’
• Overexposure
• Depression, frustration, loneliness and insomnia
• Concentration, connection, conversation quality, short-term
memory, attention span and productivity

13. The HOW – Understanding Connectivity
• Understand the customer
• What is important
• How do they use the product
• To what level do they want to
be connected

14. • Electronics company and a fashion brand
• Smart jewellery, targeting women
• Watches and jewellery are still the biggest
wearable success stories ever
• We think technology should be beautiful,
discreet, seamless, in a word: covert!
…hence: KOVERT Designs.
The WHAT - Beautiful and functional accessories

15. Technology module
• Vibration motor
• Accelerometer
Modular system
• We have different lifestyles and cultures
• The wearable product has to adapt to the user,
not vice versa.
Jewellery module
• Ring
• Bracelet
• Necklace
+

16. First (vibration motor)
• Discrete notifications
• Filter
Second (accelerometer)
• Health and wellbeing monitoring
• Sleep monitoring
Digital detox
Quantified Self
Use case

17. Rings

18. Bracelets

19. Necklaces

20. • Limited body real estate
• Don’t compete with the smartphone
• Make it beautiful (jewellery)
• Make it versatile (modular)
• Reassess the role that technology plays in our
lives
• MAKE IT USEABLE!
Core beliefs

21. • Seamless experience
• “It works like magic”
• Digital detox
User interaction

22. Future of UX & UI
• Interaction with technology will change
• Not just 2D, but 3D – gesture control
• We will use more of our bodies
• Endless possibilities

23. Questions?
Thank you!
www.KovertDesigns.com