Wearable technologies event attracts big names

The event focuses on wearable technologies, their applications and their commercialisation, as well as providing a view from end-users in the health & fitness, sportswear, textiles and consumer electronics industries.

Presenting companies include Adidas, Oxylane, Google, Bayer Healthcare, Fitbit, 4iii, Samsung and many more.   Wearable technology is one of the most popular trends of 2014. There has been a 10-fold increase in internet search interest since the beginning of 2013, and it is expected that $1bn will be invested in wearables in 2014 alone. This level of investment will only continue to rise as the largest companies in the world compete for a slice of a market which IDTechEx analysts predict will be worth $70bn in 2024.   IDTechEx maintain an extremely comprehensive database of over 1200 companies across the entire wearables ecosystem.

By constantly updating and growing this resource, it allows IDTechEx analysts to observe trends and identify opportunities for growth in this highly competitive field.   Wrist-worn devices are currently the most popular and publicized area in wearable technology. Smart watches in particular have been extremely prominent in the media, culminating in the formal announcement of Apple’s eagerly anticipated iWatch.

Smart wristbands (such as the Fitbit Flex, Jawbone Up and Nike+ Fuelband) have also become increasingly popular, with the market for fitness trackers being one of the key growth sectors. These devices are an extremely promising prospect for developers; they contribute to the ever growing need to counter the global obesity epidemic, without requiring lengthy and costly clinical trials.

Therefore, the market has become extremely competitive and the incorporation of a broader range of more reliable and accurate sensors is key to making a device stand out from the ever-growing crowd.   Convergence to the wrist is a very sensible first step for developers. The electric watch has been around for nearly 60 years, and typically has form factor and specifications which fit well with many traditional electronic devices. However, there is a huge number of emerging technologies which will allow for developers to get creative as the industry expands beyond the wrist. Sensors are becoming increasingly versatile and mobile, energy harvesting and storage systems are becoming smaller and more efficient and both e-textiles are beginning to emerge.