Social aspects of conformables

Wearable devices promise to help us perform our tasks more efficiently and more enjoyably. Advances in technology will make these devices smarter, smaller, and easier to use. At the same time, the use of these devices will raise several social and cultural issues. Some of the potential social benefits of wearables have already been discussed. For example, Steve Mann has discussed their potential for empowering the user in terms of privacy and access to information. This paper discusses issues in the use of a specific class of wearable devices called conformables. These issues involve social conventions, user's feelings regarding wearable technology incorporated into their possessions and in personal spaces including the home, and the concerns with becoming overly dependent on and loosing control over wearable systems. Failure to resolve these issues could significantly prevent people from utilizing these devices to their full potential.