Presentation is via Jen Quinlan, Senior Director of Marketing, Mutual Mobile and J.P. Gownder, Vice President, Forrester Research for presentation at South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival 2014. Media and agencies are plagued with tunnel vision. They are stuck thinking about mundane use cases for wearables like Glass that are reminiscent of first phase mobile apps. Wake up. Wearable tech has the potential for more impact than what brands are talking about. Let’s instead explore more complex use cases and look into how wearable tech can drastically improve lives of people with disabilities or special needs. In this session we will explore how Glass and other wearables can unlock new possibilities for people with vision issues, hearing issues, or decreased mobility of their limbs. We’ll share real users’ stories, explore how wearable tech may address their needs, and look at what’s possible today versus looking into the future.

1. WEARABLES
HELPING PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES
.#wearableshelp..
3.10.2014

2. WHEN SMALL THINGS
ARE A BIG DEAL
.#wearableshelp.

9. “Google
Glass has
given me a
whole new
world.”

10. Jen Quinlan
@quirkyinsider
J.P. Gownder
@jgownder

11. WHAT YOU’LL GET FROM
THE NEXT HOUR:
Map the wearables landscape.
No two bodies are alike.
Glass and beyond.
Business tips.
Rally call.

12. THE WEARABLES
LANDSCAPE
.#wearableshelp.

13. First, let’s address the elephant in the
room -- the wearables hype bubble

14. Wearables help people move
through virtual and physical worlds
Physical
Authentication
Data
Monitoring
VIRTUAL
Health
Monitoring
Wearables
PHYSICAL
Physical
Monitoring
Collaboration
Augmented
Reality

16. Wearables and our Daily Lives

17. Assistive Technologies Evolution
PAST
PRESENT
FUTURE

18. Unfortunately, several disconnects
are inhibiting innovation

19. Innovation silos keep people apart
Academia
Large
Startups Vendors Geography

20. Fragmented coverage inhibits
knowledge sharing
Medical
journals
Consumer
Social Media
Publications

21. Mass media covers some angles
more than others

22. Finally, perceived business model
challenges hold back innovation
● Is the addressable market big enough?
● Can I find VC money to back a business
plan aimed at helping those with
disabilities?
● Are there greener pastures for wearable
computing?

23. THERE IS NOT
JUST ONE
BODY TYPE.
.#wearableshelp.

29. SO WHY IS THIS THE FACE
OF WEARABLE TECH?

30. PRODUCTS TO
INSPIRE
.#wearableshelp.

31. Wearables can fill four types of
needs

32. WEARABLES +
NAVIGATE
.#wearableshelp.

37. POINT LOCUS
@David_Barter

40. Voice commands
can be difficult
in a noisy city.

41. “The vibrations
would further my
independence.”

44. “It’s an
independence
tool.”
- Jason DiSanto

47. WEARABLES +
COMMUNICATE
.#wearableshelp.

49. Sension plots
78 points to
determine
the person’s
emotion.

51. PROJECT FIDO
Facilitating Interactions for
Dogs with Occupations

52. Occupational
dogs
communicate
with wearable
tech.

54. WEARABLES +
MONITORING
.#wearableshelp.

59. Garment sensors
measure:
● Heart rate
● Respiration rate
● Skin temperature
Use cases:
● Medical gowns
● Undergarments
● Blankets
Less invasive
monitoring for
caregivers or doctors

61. CarePredict combines wearables and beacons to
monitor daily living.

63. WEARABLES +
THERAPY
.#wearableshelp.

65. EAVI (Electronic Aid for the Visually
Impaired)

66. MYO armband senses gesture and motion to interpret
what your hands and fingers are doing.

69. #ifihadMYO I would use it to
control prosthetic arms, so
people can move them as if
they were their own arms –
David S.

70. Manuel Dornbusch
#ifihadMYO I would use sign language to
substitute it for a keyboard in mobile use
http://buff.ly/18fM6j9 #ifihadMYO

71. KEY LEARNINGS FOR
COMPANIES
.#wearableshelp.

72. Global disabilities market is bigger
than you think.
● 40M to 45M people are blind.
● 135M have low vision.
● 360M have disabling hearing loss.

73. Aging population is a GLOBAL issue
● 2B people 60+ by 2050
● 400M people 80+ by 2050
● Common aging disabilities:
○
○
○
○
Visual impairment
Hearing loss
Dementia
Osteoarthritis

74. Sony’s “wig-fi” wearable is actually
aimed at the elderly

75. Glass isn’t the only dual-use
wearable

76. Both Ducere and Thalmic Labs found
innovation inspiration

77. Maker Movement
Driving Lower Cost Prosthetics & Adaptive Products

78. Q&A.
LET’S GET A
DISCUSSION GOING.
.#wearableshelp.

79. BUILD THINGS THAT
MATTER. THANK YOU.
.#wearableshelp.

80. .#wearableshelp.