Wearable tech will drive the rise of the ‘human cloud’ of personal data

The study, “The Human Cloud: Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productivity”, was commissioned by Rackspace in association with the Centre for Creative and Social Technology (CAST) at Goldsmiths, University of London. The exploration was supported by quantitative research into attitudes and behaviour regarding wearable technology among 4,000 UK and US adults.

Key findings from the survey respondents who have used wearable technology include:
· 63 per cent of UK and 71 per cent of American respondents stated that wearable tech has improved their health and fitness
· One in three respondents in the UK and USA believe that wearable tech has helped their career development
· 39 per cent of UK respondents and 53 per cent of US respondents say that wearable tech has made them feel more intelligent
· Wearable tech has boosted self-confidence for 46 per cent of respondents in the UK and 54 per cent in the US
· 53 per cent of respondents from the UK and 60 per cent of those from the US believe that wearable tech helps them feel more in control of their lives
· 27 per cent of UK respondents and 36 per cent of US respondents use wearable tech to enhance their love lives

“We are at the beginning of massive mainstream uptake of wearable devices, with the launch of Google Glass set to further boost adoption,” said Robert Scoble, Startup Liaison Officer and Technology Evangelist at Rackspace. “However, it is important to note that wearable technology and the cloud go hand in hand – together they provide the rich data insights that help users better manage many aspects of their lives. Cloud computing is powering the wearable technology revolution. It allows the data generated by wearable devices to be captured, analysed and made readily accessible whenever users need it.”

Wearable technology will enable crowd-sourced public service improvements
With adoption becoming mainstream, wearable technology will form an integral part of the ‘Internet of Things’ – a growing network of devices – from wearable tech and smartphones to road traffic sensors - that connect to the internet to share data in real time. The research revealed that citizens may be willing to share the data generated by wearable technology with central or local government, enabling authorities to crowd-source insights which can be used to enhance public services.

· 19 per cent of Brits and 22 per cent of Americans would be willing to use a wearable device that monitors location for central government activity
· One in three British and American citizens would be willing to use a wearable health and fitness monitor that shares personal data with the NHS or healthcare provider

“The rich data created by wearable tech will drive the rise of the ‘human cloud’ of personal data,” said Chris Brauer, co-director of CAST at Goldsmiths, University of London. “With this comes countless opportunities to tap into this data; whether it’s connecting with third parties to provide more tailored and personalised services or working closer with healthcare institutions to get a better understanding of their patients. We are already seeing wearable technology being used in the private sector with health insurance firms encouraging members to use wearable fitness devices to earn rewards for maintaining a healthier lifestyle. It is likely that the public sector will look to capitalise on the wearable technology trend with a view to boosting telehealth and smart city programs.”

With such a strong emphasis being placed on establishing a healthier lifestyle across the UK and US, adoption of wearable technology among health conscious consumers is on the rise.

"The growth of wearable technology devices tailored for the health and fitness market is exploding and is a trend we expect to continue. With 16 million registered members and more than 200,000 health and fitness activities being logged daily by MapMyFitness users, our ability to effectively manage this data is critical," said Robin Thurston, CEO of MapMyFitness. "By leveraging Rackspace's Hybrid Cloud solutions, we're able to capture and process this data in real-time, while also analysing trends in a way that helps drive value back to our business and deliver a more compelling user experience."

One in five think Google Glass should be banned due to privacy concerns
Despite the many benefits that wearable technology is set to deliver for both consumers and governments, there remain serious concerns about privacy, with over half (51 per cent) of respondents citing it as a barrier to adoption. Almost two thirds (62 per cent) think Google Glass and other wearable devices should be regulated in some form, while one in five (20 per cent) are calling for these devices to be banned entirely.