Videoworks

38  WWW.SUPERYACHTBUSINESS.NET  |  DECEMBER 2014

Business insight

Videoworks and the wearable tech revolutionSmart watches, clothing and glasses are now available for 

superyacht owners. These digital solutions change the 

way we interact with our surroundings for a different 

experience onboardJULIET BENNING REPORTS

If Google Glass becomes a popular request among its clients, Videoworks will begin installing the software it developed for Glass on a larger scale

As the rising tide of intelligent technology continues to surge into the world the superyacht industry must consider how its application can improve life onboard for

guests and crew. Forward thinking companies investing in its development will reap the benefits of market share, whilst those resistant to change will trail in their wake – businesses need to have a game plan in place to act on the competitive opportunity while

taking note of the challenges and pit falls.The potential for future growth in the

wearable technology market is massive. The market was valued to be $6.3 million in 2010, $5.1 billion in 2014, and by 2018 is predicted to surpass $12.6 billion*. Wearable technology has undoubtedly become the buzz phrase of

the year as companies such as Google, Pebble, Apple and Motorola jostle for consumer attention, each with their own shiny all-singing all-dancing offerings.

Smart watches, clothing, jewellery and glasses will be shaping our lives to come, revolutionising the way we interact with our surroundings and consequently posing serious questions as to how we can protect our privacy and security.

While wearables are still a long way from overtaking smartphones, the market is

expected to grow at a rapid rate over the next few years. So far health and fitness apps have proved the most palatable for the average consumer, taking up a 61% chunk of the wearable tech market.*

But how will wearable technology impact life onboard a superyacht and when will the

DECEMBER 2014  |  WWW.SUPERYACHTBUSINESS.NET  39

Videoworks wearable technology

The Videoworks team demonstrating

Google Glass and Moto 360

FUTUREAPPLICATIONS

The future of wearable technology onboard:w Using watch or Glass to see CCTVw Crew call w Food/ drinks orderw Lighting/ blinds/ temperature/ music

controlw Guest gaming becomes more visually

and physically engaging than ever beforew Crew are aware of guest location for

safetyw Easy access to manualsw Crew control of domestic appliancesw Jewellery, such as a ring, to unlock doors

or operational devices onboard

industry start to feel the heat of change? One superyacht company at the vanguard of the wearable revolution is the Italian AV and electronics expert, Videoworks.

Benefit for the crew“We have been developing software for Google Glass since the concept was first launched” explains Videoworks’ communication and marketing manager Sara Stimilli. “Although the product has only been available for customers in the US and UK we were able to get a friend in the US to buy it and send it over to the office in Italy. Since then we have studied how it can work for us.”

For anyone who has been living under a rock for the past 12-months and is unaware, Google Glass is a wearable optical head-mounted display (OHMD) computer, which Google has developed with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. The product has been available for interested parties, so called “Glass Explorers”, since early 2013, but at the time of writing is still not stocked on store shelves.

Analysis from the technical team at Ancona-based Videoworks quickly came to the

conclusion that Google Glass would not be suitable for guests due to the relaxed nature of their break onboard and the discomfort that can come from the eye movements needed to see the small mirror screen. “But we quickly found that Google Glass could work well for the crew” reveals Stimilli.

“The most immediately noticeable quality about Google Glass is that it is hands free so we thought about how this could benefit the crew” says Stimilli. At the moment the chef is the crewmember who would be at most advantage from using Glass by being able to receive guests orders via the Videoworks specialised MyConcierge app. Seeing this information in their Glass the chef will be able to continue chopping and preparing food uninterrupted. Videoworks anticipates that other uses for the Glass would be for crew to control music, both personal and in the crew mess or galley, or to be able to easily access manuals wherever they are on the yacht. Mostly Glass would be used by interior crew for controlling lights, AV systems and blinds.

Videoworks used its close connection to the CRN and ISA shipyards in order to gauge a reaction from crew who experienced Google Glass at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show. “We received positive feedback from the crew who were all very enthusiastic about being able to try something new,” explains Stimilli. The company plans to take the Glass concept out to shipyards in Viareggio to further investigate the reactions of the captains and crew of its core shipyard client base.

If Google Glass proves to be a popular request among its clients, Videoworks will begin installing the software it has developed for Glass on a larger scale. The company expects that it will be able to launch its Google Glass offering at next year’s Monaco Yacht Show, which it hopes will be ahead of any competitors. “As far as I know we are the only superyacht AV company looking to offer wearable technology options in the near future.” Stimilli divulges.

But Google Glass isn’t the only piece of wearable technology Videoworks will offer. Having already acquired a Moto 360 smart watch, the company is eagerly anticipating the launch of the Apple Watch, which it will adapt for owner use.

“In my opinion the watch will be more popular than Google Glass” Stimilli predicts. Videoworks will use its representative in the US to buy the watch and send it back to Italy where it will be studied in preparation for launch to the superyacht market. “The watch will be aimed at owners. The design is much

more appealing and discreet than that of the Glass. We anticipate that owners will be able to use the watch for all kinds of functions such as choosing music, calling crew and even checking the CCTV” Stimilli adds.

Looking aheadIf Videoworks is the first superyacht industry entertainment solutions provider to plan for the wearable future others will follow. We’re at day zero for wearables, similar to 2007 for the iPhone, and at the moment the technology is unrefined and pricey. Before wearables really take off, developers will have to establish how they can perform seamlessly alongside smartphones, which will remain ubiquitous, as well as how they will be able to communicate with other household utilities.

Wearable technology also represents an entirely new way for innovative marketeers to reach potential customers – but they must be prepared to create prototype apps for endless experimentation.

The US real estate company, Trulia, has already created a prototype application that allows users to experience house hunting through Google Glass. Users are notified when near to a property that fits their search criteria, can view the listing through Glass and contact an agent if they need more information. This could be the kind of application brokerage companies should consider in future.

Wearable tech applications need to integrate experience and create convenience, and as the interconnected world of smart devices grows, there’s no reason why the superyacht industry shouldn’t be poised to exploit it.

* Head Tech* ABI Research