Emerging Technology: Wearable Digital Walkie Talkie

Over the past few years, wearable technology has advanced tremendously with innovations like smartwatches, fitness trackers, augmented reality glasses and more. Another emerging wearable technology that is gaining popularity is the digital walkie talkie. A digital walkie talkie allows users to communicate with each other over short distances without needing a cell phone network. In this article, we will explore the concept of wearable digital walkie talkies, their advantages over traditional radios, popular models in the and potential use cases.

What are digital walkie talkies?
Technology has now enabled communication devices to become more compact and wearable. A digital walkie talkie is a two-way radio communication device that can be worn like a watch or clipped on to clothing like a badge. Unlike traditional analog walkie talkies that use radio waves for communication, digital walkie talkies use digital signal processing and low-power wireless radio technology like Bluetooth or WiFi. This allows them to have better sound quality, longer battery life and encryption features for secure communication.

Similar to a traditional walkie, the wearable digital walkie talkie has a push-to-talk button to initiate conversation. When the button is pressed and held, the microphone is activated allowing the user to speak. Releasing the button switches it back to receiving mode. The radio unit can be clipped on to the belt, lapel or wrist worn like a smartwatch to allow hands-free communication.

Advantages over analog radios
With digital capabilities, wearable digital walkie talkies offer various advantages over traditional analog radios:

- Clear Audio Quality: Digital audio using modem technology delivers clearer noise-free voice quality compared to analog systems prone to static and interference.

- Long Range: Depending on the technology used, some digital radios can communicate over a longer range than analog - up to a few miles compared to usually less than a mile for analog.

- Encryption: Security features like encryption ensure private secure communication that can't be hacked unlike analog modes that are susceptible to scanning.

- Multiple Channels: Digital systems allow different communication groups to operate on separate frequencies without interference.

- Compact Size: Digital radio units are much more compact than bulky analog models allowing them to be worn discreetly.

Popular digital walkie talkie models
Some of the leading manufacturers have come up with versatile wearable digital radio solutions:

- Motorola Solutions ENTERPRISE BT Series: Rugged IP67 rated smartwatches with integrated PTT radios compatible with professional radio networks.

- Hytera PD782i Portable Digital Radio: Small clip-on digital walkie talkie with Bluetooth integration, encrypted communication and emergency functions.

- BTech PMR Series: Analog and digital PMR446 license-free radios with rugged designs, long battery life and wireless headset support.

- Orion Labs CoPilot Smart Badge: Attachment badge fitted with WiFi radio, GPS, Bluetooth and applications for versatile on-premise communication.

Potential applications
The growing popularity of digital radios is driven by various use cases across industries:

- Warehousing/Logistics: Effective on-ground communication for inventory management, distribution and fleet tracking operations.

- Construction: Safety communication for crews spread across large sites without cellular coverage.

- Hospitals: Secure radios integrated with nurse call buttons and location services for staff response.

- Retail Stores: Communication aids for employees to stay connected on sales floors and manage customer requests.

- Industrial Plants: Critical workflow communication for production teams amid heavy machinery and electronic interference.

- Security Teams: Covert communication for private security and law enforcement without using conspicuous cell phones.

- Disaster Response: Reliable alternative to cellular networks during emergencies for first responders coordinating rescue operations.

Future capabilities
As 5G networks and technologies like AI, narrowband-IoT, edge computing continue to mature, digital radios will gain even smarter capabilities in future:

- Integrated sensors: Radios converging with smartwatches to track vital signs, environmental metrics to enhance situational awareness.

- Predictive maintenance: AI powered predictive diagnostics for critical infrastructure using radio networks as data pipelines.

- Geolocation: Precise locating of radios within large areas like ports, campuses using RTLS and ultrasonic positioning.

- Push-to-Video: Enabling live video calls and footage sharing over the digital radio network during emergencies requiring visuals.