John McLear's NFC ring has shipped 25,000 units after far exceeding its Kickstarter goal. Wearers can share contacts and pictures, and unlock cars and houses. Its near invisibility and usefulness helps it avoid the pitfalls of most wearable tech.

People prefer wearable devices that are unobtrusive, fit into daily life and existing habits, and look stylish. But even if all these boxes are ticked, do they really want to wear technology on their wrists, faces and around their necks?

In 2014, wearable tech became a hot topic, from NFC rings that unlock your car to the rise of collaborations between tech developers and high-end fashion designers. But forecasts suggest tech accessories are set to take a back seat, making way for wearable garments.

Smartphones are no longer just a means of communicating. They wake us up, get us from A to B and even help us find love. We’ve almost forgotten their original purpose. Text trumps voicecalls and apps trump SMS – it’s a good time to ask – what’s the future of the mobile phone?