Are you interested in wearables and connected devices?

Debate around Google Glass can go on and on. You look weird wearing it. No, I take that back, you look pretty cool. Maybe. What does it do? And what about the smartwatch on your wrist? What does that do? That little thing clipped to your jeans or shirt, does that count your steps or track your activity or something? Does that bracelet you're wearing do the same thing? How do you not have cancer already?!

I'm a little torn about wearable and connected devices. On one hand, I just want to tell myself, "Live and let live, man." On the other hand, no. Do you remember a time when you wore a wrist watch for the sole purpose of telling you the time, and maybe the date? We're not counting its fashion purpose for the sake of this argument. And what about the time when you'd fork over $300-500 for a 6MP point-and-shoot so that you could take nice pics while you were on vacation? Do you remeber when overpriced MP3 players could only hold about 25 songs at a time? It's really nice that our smartphones have become like the Swiss Army knives of our tech lives and beyond. Our phones will tell us the time, date, weather, sports scores and more. Want to take nice photos and edit them? Our phones will do that. 

So, is it just me or does it feel like wearables and connected devices is like a weird step back? Why would you wear a watch that tells you when you've received an incoming text message? Why wear glasses that can search Google for you or take pictures when it takes just a few seconds to whip out your smartphone and do the same thing? Our need for having so many gadgets on us dwindled down to just one thing when smartphones became as advanced as they are now. But instead of rejoicing in this minimalism, we're now strapping ourselves with all kinds of gadgets that can connect to our smartphones. 

Maybe I'm just getting old and developing this get off my lawn attitude. I probably won't ever buy a smartwatch unless I can have video conversations on it, Dick Tracy style. That was always a dream of mine as a kid. Except, now that I think about it, I'd rather do it on the bigger screen on my phone. I wouldn't walk down the street or sit in a room and have a chat with my watch. Google couldn't pay me to wear Google Glass on a daily basis unless it was some exorbitant sum. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who was wearing Google Glass? If so, do you even remember what the conversation was about? I'm always wondering whether the little camera is recording me or not.

OK, Glass. Tell me why I shouldn't just use my smartphone to do what I'm about to ask you to do. Never mind, take a picture of my lunch and send it to my girlfriend.

Many of you might say, "Dude. You don't get it. Smart watches and fitness accessories and Google Glass can do so much more than what you've mentioned. Don't be so myopic." Perhaps that's true, but perhaps that's still out there in the future. With the state of wearables and connected devices these days, including cars, refrigerators and your home security system, there is still a long way to go before ma and pa can ever find interest in using them. I've been working in this business for a while, so I have lots of friends who get first looks at these new gadgets -- yours truly included. Most of us will maybe use these toys for a little while, tell everyone it was really cool, then stuff the gadgets in a dresser somewhere. 

Do you wear any gadgets now that connect to your smartphone? If not, do you want to? Are you eager to get your hands on Google Glass as soon as it becomes affordable, if ever? Would you buy a smart watch so that your smartphone can stay in your purse or pocket most of the time? 

It's going to be hard to change my mind, I think. Right now I'm satisfied with the Bluetooth headset I use to listen to Spotify when I'm at the gym.