Wearable technology reached new heights today with the news that Sony has filed a patent for smart wig that could keep an eye on blood pressure or use GPS navigation.

The high tech hairpiece could include a camera, laser pointer or sensor for GPS, wirelessly communicating with other devices.

According to a filing with patent authorities in the US, the sensors will be hidden in the wig, which could be made from “horse hair, human hair, wool, feathers, yak hair, buffalo hair or any kind of synthetic material”.

“It is an object to provide an improved wearable computing device and system including such a wearable computing device.

“There is provided a wearable computing device, comprising a wig that is adapted to cover at least a part of a head of a user, at least one sensor for providing input data, a processing unit that is coupled to the at least one sensor for processing said input data, and a communication interface that is coupled to the processing unit for communicating with a second computing device, the at least one sensor, the processing unit and the communication interface being arranged in the wig and at least partly covered by the wig in order to be visually hidden during use.”

Three protoypes include a wig with a laser pointer and the ability to change sides on a Powerpoint presentation; a navigation wig that uses GPS and tactile feedback to direct users; and one that gathers data on users such as blood pressure and temperature.

However, Sony told Bloomberg that the device was only at a research stage and it was not yet decided if the technology would be commercialised.

(Additional reporting: Bloomberg)