Apple Watch, anyone?

IN a not too distant future, “suit up” may have a different meaning in your daily life.

Since the age of the smartphones, we no longer channel our sense of style through fashion pieces; we “dress up” our phones too.

From the myriad of phone casing to the personalised wallpapers and locked screens – each and every part of our little smart devices is an extension of “who we are” as an individual.

With the trend of wearable devices gradually seeping through to the mainstream, we will slowly but surely define fashion a little bit more differently.

Remember the euphoria created by Google Glasses when it made its runway debut at the New York Fashion Week in collaboration with designer, Diane Von Furstenberg? While the concept of Glass did not take off due to perpetual concerns of invasion of privacy and essentially the practicality for everyday consumers, one cannot deny it is an exciting piece of technology – and I'm sure it will make a comeback, albeit in a different form.

This week is yet another exciting week because Apple Inc. is to make an announcement on the Apple Watch, the company’s latest product line since the iPad debuted in 2010.

Consumer is no stranger to the wearable technology market segment. There are already a number of players in the smart watch market, including Samsung Gear S, LG G Watch, Sony SmartBand Talk and more. For the health conscious and fitness enthusiast, there are Fitbit, Nike+, and Jawbone.

One may argue that Apple is entering a crowded marketplace by introducing the Apple Watch (it was first introduced to the public in September 2014). Will Apple be able to make wearable tech cool? Will it become a leader in this category and capture a significant portion of the market share? Apple has a solid and cohesive software and app ecosystem; will this help Apple Watch to become relevant to average consumers?

You may ponder and ask this: “I own an iPhone (and for some, an iPad), why on earth do I need a smart watch?” Wearable technology is not a new concept, but one cannot ignore the fact that it is still a considerably nascent market with a lot of potentials.

The iPhone, iPod and iPad, are products that Apple has successfully reinvent and re-imagine from existing product concepts; while the iMac and MacBook are product categories that Apple has enhanced and polished. Most of the early products failed to become a hit in the market until Apple comes along with products so appealing that new standards and expectations have been set in the consumers’ mind.

Apple has repeatedly proven that the company is committed to and has the capacity and ability to offer user experience so good that one would find it hard to turn their back away from its products. The company’s reputation for quality is undeniably strong.

When the iPad entered the market in 2010, users are blown away by its ease of use and how sophisticated the device looked. Would it be the same for the Apple Watch?

If we are already perceiving our smartphones as one part of our identity, one can only imagine how Apple may once again redefine the way we relate to and interact with smart devices once Apple Watch hits the market; because you and I know that when it comes to Apple, the design language is always equivalent to style, elegance and a fluid user experience.