Sony files patent for SmartWig

Sony has filed a patent for the SmartWig, another addition to the wearable technology sector. The patent says the SmartWig can be worn when you have natural hair and will cover “at least part of a head of a user.”

The device will be used for communication; can help in navigation through GPS as well as measuring blood pressure for things like health apps.

Sony believes the device could be “used as a kind of combined technically intelligent item and fashion item at the same time.” The communication interface and sensors are meant to be hidden from sight by the wig when in use.

Sony continued: “The usage of a wig has several advantages that, compared to known wearable computing devices, include a significantly increased user comfort.”

Google and Samsung have paved the way with wearable smart technology; a market many believe will take off during 2014. Samsung has already released its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, whilst Google Glass technology is currently in development.

The one question we have is, why wigs? Eyewear and watches are significantly more common and it makes sense for them to get a smart technology boost, but wigs aren’t that common. Sony says: “it is to be noted that the wearable computing device proposed herein may be worn by any people, even by people who usually do not wear wigs.”

“Wigs are useful to enhance a user's appearance and change other's impressions because different hairstyles give different impressions. Thus, many people use wigs. Especially bald people that usually wear wigs in their daily life could take advantage of the wide variety of functions that are provided by the wearable computing device proposed herein.”