**5. Conclusions**

**Figure 10.** Smart bola jewelry.

traditional unappealing access control key may be modified to match with the organization's

Prototypes were easy to make by taking apart traditional access control keys and changing the RFID tags to the designed ring, bracelet and tie tack. The access control system with scanner was left unaltered. In the user test ca. 25% thought that the access control key jewelry was a good idea. The ring was better than the tie tack or the bracelet in usability. The prototype of the ring was experienced as it was too large. The bracelet was deemed fit for only females. The tie tack positioning in the scanner was experienced as too difficult, unless it was detached from the tie. The people not attracted by jewelry wanted to integrate the chip with a watch, mobile phone, or wallet. On the other hand, it would have been taken to use from the pocket as does the traditional access control key. One approach was that the tag could be integrated as an already existing piece of jewelry with user, for example, wedding ring. One possible solution could be if nanotechnology "greased" into the ring surface and printed electronics,

The price is the bad side of the idea. Access control keys that are 'jewelified' are 10–100 times as expensive as the current ones. In home usage, this could work better, as the quantities are more small, and individuals may decide on the budget themselves. On the other hand, the material choices are at least partly limited because of the weak penetration of standard sig-

Bola jewelry is a communication device for the pregnant lady and the unborn child, possibly also after birth. A piece of traditional Bola jewelry makes a noise of mechanical jingling, when in the smart version (**Figure 10**) you can create or upload many a voice – mother, father, and grandparents talking, music, and different kinds of voice recordings. A personal connection is made to an unborn child. Music and recordings of those nearest soothe strengthen the bond with the baby and the outside world. When the child is being born, she remembers and reacts to the sounds she has heard in the uterus, and that creates feelings of safety and calms the baby. Smart Bola jewelry could be worn elsewhere than the neck, for example, the wrist. A designed and even tailor-made piece of Bola jewelry becomes an object for everyday use and a memento for the kid and the mother, or both. Why not for the whole family. After the birth, even the father can use the jewelry with the child. The prototype was built by creating

brand and visual look, as well as create personal designs.

but this was seen as a possible future solution.

nals, which in turn limits design.

128 Digital Transformation in Smart Manufacturing

*4.3.3. Bola jewelry*

The smart jewelry is positioned in the so-called suicide quadrant of innovation when creating new products and new markets. According to this study, the smart jewelry seems to be a so-called high concept, which arouses people's interest. On the other hand, the smart jewelry sellers are already on the market but have not yet broken through the big scale. The markets and products are still in the introduction phase of their lifecycle. In other words, the market development degree of smart jewelry is low. The technology already exists and trends also seem to be moving toward smart jewelry, but the demand is not there yet, with the exception of low cost bauble and toy jewelry.

People are especially concerned about the duration, safety, security, and maintenance of technology. The marketing message should focus on alleviating these doubts. Of course, the tradition also has great impact. Jewelry has a long history. It is a big jump to suddenly switch to jewelry with technology inside. Some people will never accept this. It would be useful if a couple of big and credible companies started to focus on smart jewelry more prominently. This would also pave the way for other entrepreneurs in the industry. So far, mainly startups and researchers have made the work of activists ("Believe me, let's move forward together") in the creation of markets, but now more powerful market builders are also needed ("You have the need and we have the solution") to develop market to the next level.

Prototypes, surveys, trial runs, design probes, participatory and passive observation, interviews, workshops, and storytelling were used as methods to increase user understanding and explore business potential of smart jewelry. Almost all people interested in traditional jewelry reacted to smart jewelry with a strong or fairly strong emotion, positively or negatively. About 40% of these people saw smart jewelry as fun, cool, fantastic, and an inevitable future. About half of them loved the smart jewelry. On the other hand, 25% of people could not tolerate the idea of smart jewelry. The remaining 35% were unable to form a clear opinion. One-fourth of the test users were not "jewelry people." They did not use even traditional jewelry. This group was studied to find out if smart jewelry could attract new customers as jewelry users. According to the study, however, potential buyers of smart jewelry nowadays use traditional jewelry.

*Every piece of light jewelry is unique. The jewelry combines the blacksmith's craft and technology. The jewelry is made of silver. Light jewelry has no need to be charged and is ecological because it derives its energy from body heat and solar energy. Inside a piece of jewelry containing LEDs and other electronics is a 6000-hour warranty, which means the use of over 3 hours a day through the course of 5 years. The jewelry is recommended to be serviced every five years, with regard to electronics and to replace the* 

Digital Smart Jewelry: Next Revolution of Jewelry Industry?

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71705

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As a summary, the smart jewelry seems to have a business potential, but as often with radical products and new markets, there is much of uncertainty. First early adopters have been caught but there is yet miles to go. A good sign is that some people are genuinely enthusiastic about the smart jewelry. On the other hand, the smart watches can somehow equate with the smart jewelry. After the initial interest, the eagerness toward them has faded. It is uncertain; can the smart jewelry revolutionize the jewelry industry—and if it is able to do that, when will this happen? At least nowadays, the business is still quiet. Maybe, the killer application

*necessary components. You only need to send it to service center.*

is still missing.

**Author details**

Lappeenranta, Finland

**References**

Erno Salmela\* and Ivary Vimm

DOI: 10.1002/jsc.512

Publishing; 2009. ISBN-10: 1848445725

\*Address all correspondence to: erno.salmela@lut.fi

2008 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9780857028044

School of Business and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology,

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[2] Kemmis S, Wilkinson M. Participatory action research and the study of practice. In: Atweh B, Kemmis S, Weeks P, editors. Action Research in Practice. Partnerships for

[3] Gummesson E. Qualitative Methods in Management Research. SAGE Publications; 2000

[4] Heikkinen HLT, Rovio E, Syrjälä L. Toiminnasta tietoon. Toimintatutkimuksen mene-

[6] Sarasvathy SD. Effectuation: Elements of Entrepreneurial Expertise. Edward Elgar

[7] Furr N, Dyer J. The Innovator's Method. Bringing the Lean Startup into Your

Organization. Harvard Business Review Press; 2014. ISBN-10: 1625271468

[5] Ansoff I. Strategies for diversification. Harvard Business Review. 1957;**35**(5):113-124

Social Justice in Education. Routledge; 1998. p. 21-36. ISBN: 0203024478

telmät ja lähestymistavat. Hansaprint Oy; 2010. ISBN: 9789519140360

People expect from the smart jewelry to experience esthetic, functional, emotional, ecological, symbolic, social, and cultural value. The weighting of these values varies among different kinds of smart jewelry. The esthetic value, however, is common and the most important to potential users. Next comes emotional and symbolic values. These three values are causes why people could use jewelry instead of other products that do functionally the same thing. That is why the smart jewelry users will mainly come from subgroup of traditional jewelry users.

As wearable technology and the Internet of things become more common on the consumer market, the smart jewelry market will also probably grow. The healthcare and wellness industry seems to be a particular force for growth. A different sensor technology has increased and become considerably cheaper. Besides functional value, people appreciate jewel-like devices rather than an engineered appearance that may also be connected to some illness and thus create sense of shame. This seems to be the only cause to tempt nonjewelry people to smart jewelry users. According to the study, there are many target groups for functional smart jewelry. Therefore, the business potential is big.

Designed light jewelry has the potential as well, but for considerably smaller target group than functional jewelry. They could be directed at five target groups: (1) for women and their spouses born in 1960s and 1970s that have a positive outlook on life, (2) for tourists as a souvenir, (3) for different kinds of communities, (4) for entertainment business, and (5) for pets. Young people were not interested in light jewelry. However, some young test users said that jewelry should be challenged more comprehensively and forget the traditional shape of jewelry.

When the market is immature, there is no even common language among people—so-called market definition. If there is no common definition of the market and a subsequent shared language, it becomes difficult to create new demand and supply. As a result, the market will grow slowly or may die completely. In this study, an initial market definition was named concisely" smart and digitalization comes to jewelry." Later it created more specific definitions and own definitions for the light jewelry and functional jewelry. A value proposition can be considered to be a focused market definition. It connects supplier's offering with the customers´ expectations, needs, and benefits. For example, the value proposition of light jewelry for positive women born in the 1960s and 1970s was defined as follows:

*Light jewelry produces moments of joy for you, your family, and friends. It emphasizes your selfconfident and bold trendsetter image—including your playful personality. Light jewelry is a vibrant mystical object. Just when you think you see something, the jewelry shapes into something else entirely. Light jewelry has adjustable color options and allows flexibility in various costumes and uses. In addition, light jewelry is distinct from traditional jewelry by being stunning also in low light. On the other hand, the jewelry is stylish in the absence of light, so that it also suits peaceful moments.*

*Every piece of light jewelry is unique. The jewelry combines the blacksmith's craft and technology. The jewelry is made of silver. Light jewelry has no need to be charged and is ecological because it derives its energy from body heat and solar energy. Inside a piece of jewelry containing LEDs and other electronics is a 6000-hour warranty, which means the use of over 3 hours a day through the course of 5 years. The jewelry is recommended to be serviced every five years, with regard to electronics and to replace the necessary components. You only need to send it to service center.*

As a summary, the smart jewelry seems to have a business potential, but as often with radical products and new markets, there is much of uncertainty. First early adopters have been caught but there is yet miles to go. A good sign is that some people are genuinely enthusiastic about the smart jewelry. On the other hand, the smart watches can somehow equate with the smart jewelry. After the initial interest, the eagerness toward them has faded. It is uncertain; can the smart jewelry revolutionize the jewelry industry—and if it is able to do that, when will this happen? At least nowadays, the business is still quiet. Maybe, the killer application is still missing.
