Tech we could soon be wearing

Samsung will unveil its Galaxy Gear smartwatch next month at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin. The watch will perform the same tasks as other watches, including making and receiving phone calls, surfing the web and answering e-mails. The arrival of Google Glasses and the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch means the body is the latest battleground for technology companies. Everywhere from the face to our feet, is coming under the scrutiny of firms trying to work out where to make money out of wearable tech. And as fashion meets technology, it’s a designer’s dream, making geek even more chic than ever before. Here are trends to expect on our bodies.Communication ringsNearly 60 years ago JRR Tolkein imagined a ring with the power to rule. Now it is a reality. The NFC Ring has built in technology that can be used to unlock our mobile phone or tablet, share pictures and transfer information, simply by touching them. It can also be used to open electronic door locks so you need never lose precious minutes rummaging for elusive keys .Smart socksNo longer just a cotton odour-eater, socks of the future could help runners to avoid injury and maximise their performance. The Sensoria, produced by Heapsylon, is a smart sock with sensors woven into the textiles that detect pressure signals from the foot and supplies them to an anklet. That stores the information, tracking the runner’s regular form and even sending an alert when they are moving in a way likely to cause an injury.Clothes that charge phoneHalf of Britons are now self- confessed “nomophobes”, afraid to venture out without a mobile phone. So clothes capable of producing their own power supply could soon be a must- have gadget. Wearable Solar has already produced its first generation of lightweight garments using flexible solar panels that can charge a smartphone to 50 per cent capacity after just an hour in the sunshine.

Lifestyle

Tech we could soon be wearing