The Catalyst had a productive email interaction with Sebastian Weides, Senior Product Manager (PDA & CIT), Newland EMEA. He shared key insights on innovative solutions and the future of wearable technology.
This conversation explored Nwear’s unique approach to technology and design, highlighting their commitment to integrating advanced features that cater to modern needs.
Can you provide an overview of the Nwear product line and its key features?
Nwear is Newland’s range of wearable scanning technology, which allows users to do their daily tasks hands-free.
The range has five products:
- The BRAND NEW WD5 Industrial Smartwatch is the latest addition to the Nwear product line. It is powered by Android 13 GMS, a 2.0 GHz octa-core processor, Bluetooth 5.1, dual-band WiFi 6, and NFC. The WD5 is designed to look and feel like a high-end Consumer smartwatch.
- The WD1 II Watch mobile computer is worn as a watch around the wrist. It is powered by Android 13 GMS, has a 2.8” capacitive touchscreen, a 3300 mAh battery, WiFi, and 4G.
- The WD2 Wearable barcode Scanner is worn on the top of the hand thanks to its electronic hand strap and is activated by a light press of the thumb. It connects to its host via Bluetooth.
- The WD3 Wearable Badge barcode scanner can be used as a stand-alone device and is often worn around the neck like a lanyard. It connects to its host via Bluetooth.
- The WD4 Wearable Ring Scanner is worn around the index finger like a ring to allow users to scan while keeping both hands free. Equipped with a 670 mAh battery, it offers up to 10 hours of uninterrupted scanning time. Its Bluetooth 5.0 enables reliable and fast communication with the host.
What sets Nwear products apart from other wearable scanning devices in the market?
The main advantage of the Nwear range is that it complements each other. The WD2, WD3, and WD4 can be paired with the WD1 II or the WD5 for an instant barcode scan check. The range offers robust yet lightweight devices to help users experience high efficiency.
Alternatively, each device can be purchased separately and paired with any Android or Windows device.
Ultimately, the Nwear range presents an exceptional value proposition. Its high-quality, high-performance and competitively priced products make it one of the leading products.
Could you explain the technology behind Nwear products, particularly their scanning capabilities?
The WD1 II Watch Scanner and the WD5 Industrial Smartwatch are equipped with the Android operating system, and all the Newland applications are pre-installed on the devices. This ensures that the devices are ready for use as soon as the users receive them.
The WD2 Wearable barcode Scanner, the WD3, a Bluetooth companion scanner, and the WD4 Wearable Ring barcode Scanner come equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 for fast and steady communication during data transmission and processing.
The WD2 and WD3 also have Newland’s 2D Megapixel scanning technology. This technology ensures the devices can capture high-density, high-volume, distorted barcodes printed on various materials. They also feature Acuscan technology, which helps the devices capture the correct item even when barcodes are grouped close together. The WD2 also has an option for extended-range scanning, which is useful for warehouse applications where items are stored on higher shelves or for use by forklift truck drivers who need to scan codes without leaving the vehicle.
What are the primary use cases of Nwear in industries such as retail, logistics, and healthcare?
Nwear is suitable for all industries and is not limited to retail, logistics, or healthcare. The Nwear range offers comfortable, fast, rugged, and safe devices with a stylish appearance, so it is suitable for any application where scanning barcodes but remaining hands-free is important. For instance, these devices are used for order fulfillment applications in online retail, where the picking rate is increased using wearables to an average of 180 picks per hour compared to just 110 when using a handheld device.
What steps have you taken to make the Nwear series ergonomically comfortable for long-term use?
Newland has drawn on our 30-year experience in AUTO ID, from assessing the best devices available on the market to receiving feedback from industries and consumers to create Nwear products. We focused on creating a clear, well-lit display with a compact size, lightweight design, and comfortable materials for our industrial smartwatches. The WD2, WD3, and WD4 have also had attention paid to the weight and material used to make them as comfortable as possible to cope with the demands of users wearing them for many hours.
How does the user interface enhance the overall user experience, especially in fast-paced work environments?
The WD1 II Watch Scanner and WD5 Industrial Smartwatch have a customized Android operating system similar to traditional mobile phones and computers. This customization enhances functionality for today’s business applications and environments while ensuring no impact on GMS certification. The WD2 Wearable Barcode Scanner, the WD3 Badge Barcode Scanner, and the WD4 Ring Scanner can quickly scan to any host device using Newland’s software, such as Nhub and EasyConnect.
These interfaces enable users to quickly adapt to devices without slowing down daily tasks.
What industries have shown the most interest in adopting wearable scanning solutions like Nwear?
Wearables started out being used in manufacturing and logistics, but for the past 5-6 years, warehousing and retail have shown the most significant growth. Due to the rise of consumer-focused online orders, Nwear wearables have become essential for tasks such as order fulfillment.
How do you see Nwear competing with other wearable scanning technologies on the market?
Wearable devices are now integral to the AIDC industry and have become standard across product lines. It is crucial to include these devices in our catalog and ensure they remain innovative.
Our goal is to continue to offer high-quality devices with top performance, high availability, and the best competitive prices on the market. The Nwear range has a promising future!
What innovations can we expect to see in future iterations of the Nwear product line?
With the Nwear product line, Newland can explore multiple directions, such as incorporating scanning and printing, AI features, RFID scanning, voice commands, and Haptic feedback and controls.
Please share some information about Nwear’s collaborations or partnerships.
Nwear by Newland is already actively collaborating with various software providers, and we aim to build on these existing partnerships. In addition to Newland’s management software, Ndevor, which supports our devices, we also collaborate with platforms like SOTI and other EMM providers, and we work with IVANTI to support industrial browser and terminal emulation applications.
While the Nwear range works seamlessly as a unified solution, it is also highly compatible with non-Newland devices. This flexibility allows our channel partners and customers to create tailored solutions and form partnerships that maximize the potential of Newland products.
As The Catalyst continues to showcase groundbreaking solutions in the tech industry, this exchange with Nwear provides valuable insights into how their offerings are shaping the future of wearable technology.
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