IDTechEx projects hype "shift" in $30bn wearables market

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Though the hype surrounding some of the core wearable technology sectors is declining, an IDTechEx report argues that the market will be worth over $30 billion in 2016, with over $11 billion of the total generated by newly popular products including smartwatches and fitness trackers.

The value of the market is expected to rise to over $150 billion by 2026 and IDTechEx anticipates disruption, commoditisation and rapid evolution of product form factors.

Companies are now beginning to look...

By Wearable Tech, 12 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Applications, Research, Virtual Reality.

Why it’s too early to name major players in nascent wearable payments space

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According to a report by MarketResearchReports.Biz, even though China is the most immediately attractive market for wearables due its proportion of potential early adopters, the wearable payments market is yet to kick into gear as most players are still zoning in on form factor and functionality.

Though Apple is the early mover with its Apple Watch that features payments capability, it is too early to ascertain which players will dominate the market as the space is set to attract a lot of...

By Wearable Tech, 07 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Mobile Wallet, NFC, Payments, Research.

Wearables in Middle East and Africa positive amidst personal computing downturn

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The wearables market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) geographical segment witnessed growth of 65.3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2016, according to IDC, which monitors seven major countries across MEA, even as shipments into these countries totalled 419,925 units during the quarter. IDC projects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1% for the 2016–2020 period for the MEA wearables market.

Nakul Dogra, a senior research analyst for personal computing, systems,...

By Wearable Tech, 05 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Regulation, Research, Smartwatches.

Nanomaterial advancement offers bendable wearables

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Wearables today are limited in their flexibility due to current widely-adopted materials being unable to carry the current required for electronic devices. Many researchers have attempted to overcome this hurdle with nanomaterials, but a new ultrathin film could be the most promising advancement yet. 

An international team of nanomaterial researchers...

By Ryan Daws, 13 June 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Clothing & Textiles, Devices, Research.

India wearable market hits 400,000 units in Q116 with fitness bands the key

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According to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, the wearable market in India was largely reliant on fitness bands, with 87.7% of market share in the first quarter of 2016 while smart wearables, devices that run on third-party applications, had market share of about 12.3%. IDC also reported that overall wearable sales during the quarter totalled a little over 400,000 units.

Xiaomi was the leading vendor in the quarter with 27.1% market share and Mi, its affordable...

By Wearable Tech, 09 June 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Fitness, Research.

Research: Safety devices will drive wearables beyond fitness – phones will be 'just screens'

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Ericsson surveyed 5,000 smartphone users in Brazil, China, South Korea, the UK and the US for a ConsumerLab report on the views of the 280 million smartphone users around the globe about wearable devices. 

According to Ericsson's 

How advancements in integrated circuits could transform healthcare wearables

Picture credit: Yei Hwan Jung and Juhwan Lee/University of Wisconsin–Madison

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison claim to have developed the fastest stretchable, wearable integrated circuits, which could disrupt the healthcare wearables space.

The details were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials and the team was led by Zhenqiang “Jack” Ma, Lynn H. Matthias Professor in Engineering and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in electrical and computer...

By Wearable Tech, 01 June 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Fitness, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness, Implants, Research.

Wearables to see 140m sales and $30bn of revenues this year

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A report from SNS Research argues that the global wearables market will see 140 million unit sales and $30 billion of revenue by the end of 2016.

The research firm adds that fitness and sports centric wearable device shipments are anticipated to witness a CAGR of 28% over the next half decade, finally totalling 80 million device shipments by the end of 2020.

Wireless carriers are increasingly integrating wearable devices within their M2M and IoT strategies and these devices are...

By Wearable Tech, 26 May 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Apps, Fitness, Research.

Grand View Research: Global wearable tech market to hit $196bn by 2022

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A new study by Grand View Research projects that the valuation of the global wearable technology market is expected to reach $196.5 million by 2022.

Investment in research and development by a large number of industry players is expected to play a key role in growth in the wearable technology market in the years to 2022, according to the researchers. Another key factor set to positively impact the market is increasing disposable income across the globe.

During the forecast period,...

By Wearable Tech, 19 May 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Research.

Wearable shipment volumes grew 67.2% year on year, says IDC

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The total shipment volumes of wearable devices grew 67.2% year on year to 19.7 million units during the most recent quarter, according to analysis from the International Data Corporation (IDC), with Fitbit continuing to lead the pack.

The figures, from the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, found Fitbit continues to be the leading vendor, followed by Xiaomi, Apple and Garmin, with Samsung and BBK tied for fifth spot.

IDC's wearables team research manager, Ramon Llamas,...

By Wearable Tech, 18 May 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Research.