Article

Entangle the Wearables: A Sociomateriality Approach to Design

Posted September 27, 2015 | Leadership | Technology | Amplify

Man's quest for an enhanced human experience using wearables, be it for productivity or for leisure, is age-old. Attempts such as arm-worn wings to enable flight or even an abacus on a ring date back several hundred years.1 However, the proliferation of contemporary wearables ranging from smartwatches to smart glasses, cameras, headsets, and clothing is a 21st-century phenomenon, and it has the potential to significantly alter the way people live, work, and play. But as with other technology development endeavors, the question of how wearables should be built so that they provide the optimal user experience remains. Further, how do we evaluate the performance of such wearables? We address these key questions in this article.

About The Author
Grace J. Ambrose
Grace J. Ambrose is a Lecturer in Marketing in the Lubar School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She holds a PhD in business administration with a specialization in marketing, an MBA with a specialization in marketing and HR, and an undergraduate degree in psychology. Her research interests and publications have focused on technology use by consumers. Dr. Ambrose has worked in product management in the pharmaceutical… Read More
Paul Ambrose
John D. Chenoweth
John D. Chenoweth is the Dean of the College of Business and Economics at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. He formerly served as an Associate Dean and Chair of the Department of Information Technology and Supply Management. His research has primarily focused on information technology education, online education, and diversity. Dr. Chenoweth co-directs the Wisconsin Center for Information Technology Services. He can be reached at chenowej@… Read More
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