Samsung certainly isn’t the first company to create a smartwatch, but it’s probably the first company to release a smartwatch that the average person will be aware of and that’s important. Up to this point, wearable tech has been something that the big tech companies see as the next big thing and coming soon, but with this release we have a big company with stands in a host of large electronics shops around the world pushing wearable tech forward.
The fact that the Samsung Galaxy Gear seems a half baked product ad reviews haven’t exactly been raving isn’t really that important. We’ve moved from “one day” to “day one” (and counting) of wearable tech and there are some big impacts coming.
Privacy
One of the big concerns about wearable tech is privacy, although things like the pebble smartwatch don’t have inbuilt cameras the bigger names such as Google Glass and the Galaxy Gear do. The idea that at any moment we could be caught doing something on film or camera is very worrying to many people. Especially if the footage was then used out of context to defame someone.
Perhaps it is no wonder that in our increasingly connected and recorded world we have discovered that nobody is perfect and even our heroes have faults. Wearable tech will no doubt increase this with more films of people doing things they shouldn’t or we don’t expect them to do leading to more sinicism.
As Christians we need to remember two things. God already knows and grace is important too.
More Distractions?
If you thought having your phone buzz in your pocket was distracting then what do you think about a watch that will vibrate and instantly show you a notification when you get it, or a notification instantly appearing in the top right of your field of vision (if you were wearing Google Glass). As we become more connected there are more distractions and wearable tech, if used incorrectly, will facilitate this further.
Does your church have a smartphones off policy? Would it be able to do that with Glasses or watches?
The Rise of the Cyborgs
There is the final ethical question as we move closer toward the cyborg, a human robot hybrid where we have the option of replacing “weak” human parts with better computerized parts. Of course the Galaxy Gear is a long way from this, but something like Google Glass with augmented reality displaces are much closer along the lines. It raises important questions about messing with God’s creation, what really makes someone/thing human and how far could/should this go?
All Bad News?
It’s not all bad news though. Certainly as we’ve seen on this site new technology can be used positively or negatively. Things like smartphones can provide people with multiple versions of the Bible and commentaries all the time. People can use them to search information about different topics being discussed and keep in contact with church members much easier.
Wearable tech might be no different. Imagine being able to see the notes for the sermon and keep looking towards the pastor, that would be much less distracting than looking down at a phone and looking up again. Or using the built-in camera in the gear to quickly take a picture of the sermon notes.
The wearable tech boom has just started and we have to think carefully about how we respond.
What do you think?
Bill Harding says
Chris,
I clicked on your article expecting some thoughtful discoveries of this new multimedia tool. I was completely surprised by your negative take on “wearables” technology as “messing with God’s creation.” Could you perhaps revisit this topic with a little more positive discovery and less initial judgment of things changing? I think your audience would appreciate it.
I am a university multimedia technologist during the day, and a church ministry volunteer by night. I think in both education and ministry, invention and progress have always led to God’s people being more free to serve with many talents. Any technological breakthrough can be perverted, for sure, but that does not mean we need to demonize technology advancements.
In the church, tech continues to refine how we communicate. I just read an article referencing “those headset microphones that Steve Jobs and mega-church pastors use…[ref. unknown]”. That does not mean we already are moving “closer toward the cyborg” by any means. In fact, opposing coming technology is the very thing that sets us back some times. (For instance, Christian inventor Thomas Edison who invented the motion picture camera sought to give the patent of the motion picture camera to his church, but they rejected it [Driscoll, Vintage Church, 270. Crossway 2008]).
For smart watches, I can see many things in the church and ministry world. Obviously, there are already many reasons for it to replace several things we turn to our smart phones for, such as appointments, screening calls when in a meeting, or even checking the time. But third party apps will eventually evolve this item into something that will work in sync with small details that will make a big difference. Here are some I see coming.
A pastor who is recording his sermon can start and stop the recording, and even mute or pause the audio when there is sensitive material (visiting missionaries, specific personal prayer moments, etc.)
An order of service can be uploaded and give notifications and timers for segments of the service to key individuals.
A back-up mic from the device can be available if the primary microphone fails
Bullet points can guide a pastor through their message.
Slides and bible verses can be transitioned at the speaker’s control.
While all of these tasks can and are completed with other devices currently, there are uses that are not bad news for privacy, and as for distractions, try filling any sanctuary with any number of people and try to eliminate distractions!
As for Google Glass which you mentioned, many of the same thoughts apply. Missionaries can ask for real-time navigation and translation, and record video from the field while working or evangelizing. Preachers can add a live POV shot to the broadcast or video. Teaching sessions not on the house audio can be recorded for upload and archive. Notes can be referenced on the spot. Text message questions can be sent to a preacher without distraction for them to answer on stage. Worship teams can know cues and keys and changes in the song. Ministers can Skype for meetings they cannot attend. There are so many opportunities. It just depends on how slow we will be to embrace.
I think that emerging technology is extraordinary for Christians to study with a watchful eye, but to embrace tools that God gives us this side of eternity to steward and use to advance the gospel, to share the good news of the person and work of Jesus Christ as God and Lord of our lives through every means possible. I look forward to you taking the challenge to tell us what is possible and what is already being done with wearables in the church world.
Eric Dye says
You might want to consider re-reading Chris’ post. He outlines some of the positives of wearable tech and I think his conclusion is very wise: “The wearable tech boom has just started and we have to think carefully about how we respond.”
Bill Harding says
Hi Eric,
I re-read Chris’ post as you suggested. I am still looking for where you say he “outlines some of the positives of wearable tech.” (Chris, I would love to see such an outline.) The only positive reference was about sermon notes, and that my friend, is not an outline. I stand by my previous comments. If either of you wants to expand upon the suggestions in my post, I would love to see where it goes. I think that discussion would be productive.
And I’m not trying to get on either of your cases. I honestly just wanted to see an article that was more hopeful and less negative.
The use of the author’s language was not one of overcoming the challenges, but more of invoking fear about them. (Chris, I don’t believe this is your intent, but your words do convey a certain tone.) These are the phrases that led me to this observation:
– Half-baked product
– Big concerns
– Very worrying
– Leading to more sinicism
– More distractions
– If used incorrectly
– Rise of cyborg
– Messing with God’s creation
– How far should this go
– We have to think carefully how we respond.
Chris wrote the article he intended to write, and I have no problem with that. If this is the article about the challenges, lets be proactive and write up “Overcoming the Challenges of Wearable Tech for the Church.” Otherwise, lets start at “The Possibilities of Wearable Tech for the Church.”
Chris wilson says
Hi Bill, I wrote the post and actually wrote a response to your original post but it appears It didn’t get posted (my internet connection is unreliable to say the least).
First thanks for the thoughtful response and the great examples you give in your comment. It’s great to write for a blog that get’s such thoughtful comments from people rather than just bleating that I’m wrong.
Secondly I think if you read this post in relation to all of my post you’d know that I can be a bit guey eyed over the latest and greatest thing. Maybe this was part of me reacting against that and summoning my negative perspective which unbalanced the debate.
For the record I do think that I could have said the privacy and distraction debate about lots of old tech as well as new tech and there are plenty of other (more accurate examples of cyborgs that are worth discussing, like the guy with the circuit board under his skin! Crazy or what.)
My main reason for writing this was because I read plenty of product reviews of the Galaxy gear that were that. A product review. They just said this product isn’t really great (and so using the phrase half-baked was negative not about wearable tech but this iteration which all but the most die hard samsung fans would admit) but very few really considered how our lives are going to change with wearable tech and as I say, we’re there, this is the start, technology seems to go faster than we can keep up with and the impacts of it are rarely understood until years later (positive and negative).
You’re right that I was more negative than positive (you only have to look at the length of each section to realise that) but when I sat down and looked at the galaxy gear and thought of the obvious uses for these device. Honestly, some of your suggestions are great but a lot could be done easier via other technologies [the example of a pastor not being distracted by the text message can be done with a screen or teleprompt that they can read and is less distracting than looking at a watch (google glass Is probably a draw)
I agree a counter post would be great and I’m sure Eric would love you to write it Bill if your interested?
Bill Harding says
Thanks for the response Eric. I appreciate you guys furthering this conversation, and I look forward to future content. If I can convince my boss here on the university to get demo wearables, I’ll let you guys know if I get a chance to take them on a run in the church as well, and hopefully we’ll have some pros and cons to discuss. Let me know any other way I can help with the conversation!