Hey! What are you wearing? I hope it’s a wearable. If not, welcome to Week 10’s Opportunity Forecast: Wearable Technologies. This week’s OER is brought to you by Bradley and Jeremiah. Together, we hope to educate, excite, and intrigue your thinking of wearable technology.
Our Opportunity Forecast is in the form of a genially. Throughout the genially, we’ve designed it in a way that you are free to scroll from start to finish. Along the way, you will find different activities to engage your thinking about wearable technology.
We invite you to share your thoughts and insights on the group discussion board below. Your perspectives are invaluable as we navigate this exciting journey together.
If the embedded genially doesn’t work properly, you can also visit our genially here:
Sincerely,
Bradley and Jeremiah
Thanks for the Genially, Bradley & Jeremiah!
This is a really interesting field and one that I find compelling as a user of a wearable (Apple Watch) and a teacher of many wearable users.
What is privacy and security to my students and classroom when considering using wearable technology?
When considering privacy and security, I think about permissions. I think about learning to protect one’s self by setting up strong permission settings on devices and adhering to the permission of others. As wearables become more prevalent, I want my students to learn about preventing tech from gathering and sharing information as much as possible. And in the classroom, privacy, and security means choosing not to violate others’ preferences by sharing anything about them.
On the flip side, anytime we choose to use wearables it seems that we must accept the reality that privacy will be lost. It is a choice with consequence, and I hoe we walk into it with eyes open.
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your reply!
I agree totally with permissions. I am glad that tech companies are aware of people’s privacy and allowing them the opportunity to select what can be shared and what can’t be shared with the company. We had a really good guest speaker that spoke to our students regarding sharing information and that was https://thewhitehatter.ca/. Not going to lie, they even freaked me out with some of the stuff I didn’t know. I hope this maybe a resource for digital literacy but I feel this is something that is totally relatable to permissions.
Also, i agree with what you said about the loss of privacy when we use wearables. It’s like “reading” the terms and conditions when creating an email account. I hope to some degree that people are aware of what they are in control and not in control of.
Thanks again!
Jeremiah
Hello Bradley and Jeremiah,
Wow! This Genially was so involved and really gave a full overview of your project. It really made me sit back and think about this relatively new technology for the masses and how normalized it has become but how little I have questioned the safety and ethics behind them.
On the quiz I received “Balanced Realist” and I think that is a very accurate label for me. I love innovation and how the possibilities of tech are almost limitless! However, I do believe that we need to protect our children and vulnerable members of society and privacy with data, or even ownership over personalized data, should be a much bigger discussion.
The amount of resources that you provided with how to develop websites to be more inclusive has sparked so many ideas for my own practice and I have also shared some of them with colleagues and friends outside of education.
I think wearables are so fascinating and the new advancements with ADHD and movement in schools are such amazing tools that I think will change so many lives. However, the realist in me knows we need to be careful and always think about the ethics behind the innovation.
What was something that surprised you throughout the research process for this project? Was there anything that made you sit back and go “woah”?
Thank you for creating this! It is really amazing.
Hi Nathalie,
Thank you for your kind words!
I’ll answer this question: What was something that surprised you throughout the research process for this project?
What surprised me was the video Bradley sent me with the classroom in China that tracks their engagement. I never thought that I would see something like that exist. It’s a very interesting piece of wearable technology but I feel in North America, that wouldn’t fly here. However, I can only speak for myself but the data it collects is very interesting and that if I were to use it in my class, it would be a passive way to see what I could be doing that is engaging versus what I could do better as a teacher.
Cheers!
Hello Bradley and Jeremiah,
I want to start by saying thank you for your work on this project. I liked your approach with Genially. It was very open and free to read about wearable technologies, but there were also guiding markers to help everyone know where to go and how the activities work.
I also suppose I subscribe to wearable technologies. They first were used to track exercise, but now, as you shared, they have become not just more powerful but also more varied. There are powerful and expensive VR headsets, like the Apple Vision Pro, and cheaper items, like an Android phone and cardboard, just in that kind of wearable tech.
For the question “What is privacy and security to my students and classroom when considering using wearable technology?” On the security side, I think it is important to keep the apps restricted if it is a school device and monitor what the students are doing if it is the student’s device. For my kids, I have a few applications that show the time of what they are doing and allow me to block or limit time on apps. Additionally, there is a new app lock. This gives me some ideas for some things that could work in the classroom setting. For privacy, I agree with what Steve said. The apps have permissions and it is nice to be able to control which permissions each app uses to limit data. However, with a personal wearable device, data is unfortunately sent and privacy is lost.
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for going through our OER!
I agree with you on what you said about security and what is interesting is when I talk to the Information Technology teacher and District IT Supervisor, who comes quite frequently, i ask about what students can and cannot do. It’s interesting to see what my district does in regards to IT Security especially items such as iPads or computers. For example, what triggers IT’s computers when a students isn’t supposed to be doing what they are supposed to be doing.
As for permissions, 100% agree!
cheers,
Jeremiah
Hello Bradley and Jeremiah
Thank you for your very robust and interactive OER. I really enjoyed the interactive elements. I think there are a lot of really interesting technologies that are coming our way and they expand well beyond just fitness and step trackers. I spend a lot of time using these wearables from a fitness tracking perspective but it was interesting to look at other ways that these wearables can be used and incorporated into education and learning. AI will have an integral part in a lot of this technology as it continues to expand. The last quiz was a great way to tie the possibilities fo this tech with the reminder of the security and ethics considerations we need to pay attention to.
Here are my responses to the discussion questions:
1. What affordances would a smart belt provide to certain learners relative to other wearables that could offer navigation assistance, or notifications?
With a smart belt designed for visually impaired users, the affordances differ from wearables offering navigation assistance or notifications. These belts prioritize tactile navigation cues over visual or auditory ones, providing hands-free guidance and enhancing independence for learners with visual impairments.
2. The activity using ORAI was interesting. Things that came to mind:
What happens if you have an accent or speak impediment?
What happens if English is not your first language?
Does it come in other languages?
Is it able to recognize the nuances that exist in different areas, within a language?
Just some thoughts that may change what we see as a helpful output
Hi Meagan,
Thank you for your comments.
ORAI is really interesting when i first used it. For sure it made me think about how I talk and what I could improve on. As for your other considerations, i wouldn’t have thought of those. I suppose that is something that may have been tested in their trials.
As for new things on the market, there is more to come and I think looking at the educational market, there are opportunities that haven’t been seized yet. Let’s see what is to come!
Thanks again!
Jeremiah
Hi Bradley and Jeremiah!
This topic is quite topical. When I think of wearables, I only think of smart watches and Fitbits. However, your OER made me realize that this technology can be used in so many areas. I did extra reading and I want to address these two questions you put forward:
Question 1: Do you think these wearable items have practical applications in learning environments?
Haptic technology appeared in your OER, and it got me digging through hits on Google. I found a piece of tech called SenseGlove Nova. With VR and wearing the gloves, the users can perceive shape, texture, stiffness, impact, and resistance without touching any screen. This is very useful to help training in industrial scenarios. Volkswagen used the gloves to train their employees with car assembly. The gloves and VR ensure that the no concept vehicles get damaged during training. The Nova gloves allows the company to save time with training as the trainees no longer need to go to the factory to train and the company can keep the expensive concept vehicles in the factory.
Here’s the YouTube video link of Volkswagen employees talking about SenseGlove: https://youtu.be/83iuNm7W4pU?si=XJbv3TA-pknIbPgW
Question 2: Do you think there are major barriers to these wearables being practical and common place?
This question reminded me of the concept human factors. This concept basically takes into account understanding and managing people’s capabilities, limitations, and preferences when we design products.
In terms of capability and limitations, wearables need to cater to people with disabilities as well. For example, the importance of touch and sound can be highly advantageous for people who are blind.
In terms of preferences, listed below are a few factors concerning preferences that could be barriers for the wearable to be successful in the market. Each point is answered regarding the smart belt example.
– Aesthetics: Does the overall design look appealing? For example, the smart belt is designed well enough to look like a belt bag.
– Affordance: Does the product look like what it’s supposed to do? For the most part, the smart belt’s design and function makes sense as having sensors around people’s bodies is optimal for the system to map out the routes.
– Customisation: Can the product change according to the taste of the user? For example, can the smart belt have different colours?
– Ergonomics: Can the product fit the overall body of the user? Is it comfortable to use? For example, does the smart belt’s overall fabric comfortably hugs the user’s waist? Some materials can dig in the user’s skin and leave a mark.
– Privacy: Does the product catch unwanted attention from other people? Would more users prefer to have is on their waist? Could it be better for the smart belt to be designed like an actual belt that goes within the side of the pants?
– Resistance: Can the product withstand the overall environment it’s going to be used in? Can the smart belt withstand heat, cold, or rain? It rains a lot in Vancouver and could it function under those conditions?
– Responsiveness: Can the product provide quick feedback? How quick can the belt alert the user? Can the belt alert the user if it’s safe to cross the street? Can it alert of incoming traffic? What if the user is wearing a thick jacket over the belt? Could it still provide the same level of guidance?
Source:
https://www.ignitec.com/insights/how-to-consider-human-factors-in-wearable-design-processes/
Hi Bianca,
Thank you for checking out our OER. I checked out the YouTube video from Volkswagen and that is really cool! I could imagine that would save the company and it would be a good way to train the employees before touching the real thing. I think this would be cool to use in education as mentioned in your OER where my students can try something out to see if they like it.
As for the Smartbelt, I like the list of terms you’ve taken from the website. I agree with all of them when considering a wearable. I think back to when I had a Pebble watch. I liked it but what i didn’t like was the lack of customizable options. I later upgraded to the Apple Watch which allowed for a lot more customization both operationally and as well as a wearable product.
Thank you,
Jeremiah
Hi Bradley and Jeremiah,
Great work on your OER! I found many of these facts to be very eye opening. As we are living in a world that it becoming more and more based in technology, it would only make sense that wearables.
I want to briefly mention the Apple Vision Pro. Personally, I wonder if this will be Apple’s blunder. I see what they’re trying to do with it, and I think, in theory, it’s such a wonderful and useful idea. The applications that it could hold in terms how better to enhance the educational experience could possibly be unparalleled… if it was executed better. As you addressed in your OER, it’s expensive. $3,500 for a single unit is A LOT! More than most laptops. Who exactly is this technology catering to? Not gonna lie, at first, I thought it was a great idea. However, it’s also quite cumbersome. There’s nothing discreet about it. It looks more like you’re wearing a pair of ski goggles. Apple is trying to do something amazing, as they always do, but the technology to fully support this just isn’t there yet. I look forward to the future of wearable technology. The Apple Watch is a clear winner, I own one myself and use it all the time. I would like to see a REAL visual wearable come out one day.
What is privacy and security to my students and classroom when considering using wearable technology?
Really, I could go in any direction with this. I think that when it comes to something you wear, this is something that is very personal to the user. Is this something that can be hacked or manipulated by another party? Absolutely! But more than that, I think that the use of wearable technology can actually have the extreme opposite effect. It’s a great way of keeping information more secure, keeping information safer. It is far easier for someone to manipulate a phone or tablet than it is for someone to manipulate a watch, which, under most circumstances, is being constantly worn by the user. Wearable technology can definitely be used to help keep more information confidential and keep the user safer. Also, because it generally doesn’t leave the person, it can also come in handy to track a student if someone becomes lost. I realize that this is not necessarily a goal people are looking for, but in terms of the classroom itself, this can have many advantages.
Hey Adam,
Thanks for checking out the OER.
Great question in regard to who the Apple Vision Pro is for? My brother-in-law actually got to try it out. He said it’s great for movies but the applications are either not great or even ready yet for maximized use. As for being Apple’s blunder, honestly, I’m not too sure. If it were to be Apple’s blunder, I’m sure they would learn very quickly as to why it was a blunder. Again, at the price point they are offering, it’s too expensive. I wonder if they were to play with the same device but start smaller and a more appropriate price point.
As for your privacy and security question, for sure it could be used to track a student if they are lost; especially on a field trip. I guess the concern there is do the students give consent or does the parent give consent to being tracked. Furthermore, is the wearable stuck to them at all times and if they take it off, are there consequences? Again, a lot of applications but a work in progress.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
Hello Bradley and Jeremiah,
Thank you for the OER and I appreciated the easily consumable format. Great work putting this together!
I would like to discuss the excellent point you raised about affordability. I believe the affordability of wearable technology has the potential to exacerbate equity issues in high schools. Students from low-income families may not be able to afford the cost of the devices themselves, creating a situation where some students have access to enhanced learning experiences while others are left behind. This could widen the achievement gap, particularly if wearable tech becomes an integral part of classroom activities and assessments. Additionally, even if schools provide the wearables, there might be ongoing maintenance costs or limitations on after-school use that could disadvantage students without personal devices. This could limit their ability to fully engage with the material or complete assignments that require wearable data collection. To ensure equitable access to the potential benefits of wearables, schools need to find ways to bridge the financial gap, whether through subsidies, alternative loan programs, or exploring free/open-source wearable tech options. This is especially prevalent in a school like mine where many students are wealthy so the ones who are not feel even more alienated. I hope districts are proactive in making the learning environment equitable for all students, but I have a feeling that may not be the case.
Hi Braden,
Thank you for checking out our OER and for your thoughtful reply. Affordability is definitely a concern and I think that some companies are trying to navigate this issue. For example, an Apple Watch is overkill if you’re just trying to track steps or heartrate so more basic, purpose built objects probably make more sense. Creating more affordable options of things has worked well for Google Cardboard vs more expense headsets as another example. A lot of the wearable tech right now though is expensive – no denying that. I wonder myself which of these if any will prove to make the biggest difference in student achievement or teacher work load. It think until we see massive changes in performance of students and teachers, most of these wearables are pretty much novelty right now
Thank you, Bradley and Jeremiah, for sharing your resource. There was lots of good material to explore and it kept me engaged. I also appreciated the soft entry to the topic of privacy and security because it reveals to us (the W12 group) some of the baseline thoughts of the class. The discussions made me think:
– What are we even looking for in our privacy agreements?
– Does the average person understand what permissions they are granting?
– In the case of education, what do the actual users know?
You shared a great resource from the office of the privacy commissioner which shares a solid starting point for what we should be looking at when reading the agreements. In K-12 education, the adults making the decisions aren’t the only users. We have an extra duty to give consent for a child/children and we probably (definitely) owe it to them to explain the safety and risks, from both ethical and educational perspectives. Here in Ontario, teachers have a legal obligation to comply with their school board’s privacy guidance when it comes to educational technology and applications… which we will share more about in Week 12!
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for checking our OER. Glad you liked the format and found it easy to get into. You raise some very good questions about privacy and I’m looking forward to your OER in W12. I’m not much of a privacy guru, but the first thoughts that come to my mind in reponse to those questions are:
– I don’t want my identity to be stolen
– I have no idea what I am really agreeing to 99% of the time and I tell myself, I’m not a criminal I don’t care what they know about me
– Most of our courses are in Canvas for this program – how many of our profs are looking through the data such as time on page, interactions, number of visits etc. to assess our engagement and participation in thier course? How is UBC using that data? Probably could find that out if I wanted to badly enough.
Anyways, cheers!
Hi, Bradley and Jeremiah,
Great resource! I have little experience and knowledge with wearable technology – it was informative to see how much is out there already. My only real experience with this type of tech was when I used a Whoop strap. For those that don’t know, this device is worn like a watch and uses heart rate data to determine how hard you train, how well you have recovered, and how good of a sleep you had. I didn’t think this type of technology had any relevance to education, but after thinking for a moment, I realize that it could be a great tool to promote physical and mental well-being for students. For example, in a physical health education course, students could be given Whoop straps to allow them to gain insight into their exercise and sleep habits. As someone who regularly asks students about their sleep schedules, it is shocking to see how poor they are! These students often confess to have stayed up til midnight or 1am the previous night, usually due to phone use… Sleep is extremely important to the well-being of anyone, especially during the developmental years of youth. I am a strong believer that the sleep discussion should be greater in public school education; Whoop straps, or other wearable tech of this kind, would be a valuable way to learn about, analyze, and improve sleep habits amongst students.
Hi Nik,
Thanks for engaging with our OER. I sort of had the same epiphany as you – I had no idea there is so much wearable tech in use or in development. There are even smart socks for diabetes patients (www.siren.care/). While there is a lot of wearable tech, not a lot of it is aimed specifically at education. I think there is defintely a need for more research and empiracle evidence correlating the data obtained from wearable tech and learning specifically.
Cheers,
Bradley
Great presentation!
I know that my current understanding of wearables is limited – highlighted when I went through your presentation. I can see how some industries may be reluctant to adopt these types of technologies. I can see how expensive including these types of technologies are in reality. There needs to be data collection, security of that data (like your presentation stressed), and then analysis of that information. Also, I can see that the gathered information needs to be creatively included in a way that actually aids learning/employment. I found the following articles that outlined unexpected/surprising problems with wearables. https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2020/07/28/14-issues-that-could-throw-off-the-wearables-revolution/?sh=b79f45b79b69
What is privacy and security to my students and classroom when considering using wearable technology? the data collection and storage may be accessed and modified. Depending on what information is collected, that information can be personal. Additionally, tracking the information over time means that there can be not only personal information but also years of information (especially if the information follows the students)
Hey Bradley and Jeremiah,
Great work here, wow! I really enjoyed viewing your Genially on wearable tech. Most prominent is the ease of your presentation in terms of navigation and interactiveness, so much so that I wish that I would have used Genially for my presentation.
You’ve really narrowed down the important information regarding wearable tech and have laid it out in a way that isn’t too overwhelming. You see, for me personally, I don’t have any wearable technology; I have an old iphone and might be the only one on staff with a regular old analogue watch. This does not mean that the idea of this gear doesn’t interest me because it definitely does. I would love to have an idea of my health tracked on my wrist or the ability to check my email without having to look into my phone or computer.
The fact of the matter, as you stated in your presentation, is the main barrier for these products is unavoidable. The cost associated with trying to buy products from this market is always my deterrent when it comes to the reality of the situation. What’s worse is that I find company’s such as Apple will release more upgrades and models in an effort to get consumers to purchase their latest tech. I can only hope that more company’s create other options for customers and bring the price point down to a reasonable number so that schools and individuals can also benefit from the excellent opportunities.
Thanks again for your presentation, awesome work!