(c)iStock.com/MF3d

A survey of 1,000 UK adults from KPMG has found that though privacy concerns remain, consumers are open to sharing health data with certain entities.

74% of respondents were ready to share health data collected via wearable or fitness band with their GP, and almost half of the respondents were open to the NHS streamlining storage of medical records at a single national database to facilitate access to medical practitioners across the country.

However, only 7% were open to wearable data...

(c)iStock.com/RyanJLane

A new WinterGreen Research report predicts that the global fitness wearables market will grow to reach $14.9 billion (£9.77bn) by 2021.

This growth will be driven by professional athletes, consumers and teams looking for a performance advantage.

The current focus in the fitness wearables market is not on what data can be shown, but on the meaningfulness of the data in improving and managing personal fitness and athletic performance. The devices are being used in teams to improve...

Picture credit: Omate

Updated Wearable technology manufacturer Omate has launched the Omate TrueSmart+, an upgrade on its current arsenal of smartwatches featuring an always-on sensor hub and a micro SIM card holder similar to an iPhone, as well as the TrueSmart-i.

The TrueSmart+ has a 1.54 inch display at a resolution of 320x320, runs on Android Lollipop alongside Omate’s own 3.0 user interface and has strengthened rubber straps integrating Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G and GPS antennas.

“Thanks to our Kickstarter...

(c)iStock.com/PonyWang

New industry research from ReportsnReports.com has revealed that by 2016, wearable device shipments will surpass 140m globally and will account for almost $30 billion in revenue.

The report, entitled “Wearable Technology Ecosystem 2015-2030: Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals and Forecasts”, argues the wearable market is anticipated to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% in the next half decade.

The important technologies facilitating...

(c)iStock.com/Mutlu Kurtbas

A new report from Visiongain projects the value of the global wearables technology market to touch $16.1 billion in 2015, though the market has not gained traction in the near past in terms of technological evolution, sales and end-user adoption.

The entry of the Apple Watch into the market could turn out to be a watershed for the global wearables technology market and ensure mass market adoption in 2015, the researchers argue. The development could transform the overall size of...

Picture credit: Omate

Today, the most important device in our connected life is our smartphone. It has totally changed the way we interact with each other. It is the first thing we check when we leave a place.

We may touch our pockets a few times a day just to feel safe – according to recent survey figures most US smartphone owners check their phones at...

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/101cats)

After being touted as “the next big thing” for some time, wearable technology has captured the attention of the consumer. The big question is – what should developers and marketers consider from a legal and regulatory perspective if they’re developing or using wearables?

While the ability to summon a taxi or order a pizza at the flick of the wrist may be a...

(c)iStock.com/deepblue4you

The wearable technology market is expected to rise from $20 billion in 2015 to close to $70 billion in 2025 led by the healthcare sector, according to IDTechEx.

Growth and development in the sector is being driven by the likes of Apple, Accenture, Adidas, Fujitsu, Nike, Philips, Reebok, Samsung, SAP and Roche. Advanced informatics is expected to make have a huge impact as new healthcare and informatics devices could be a billion dollar opportunity.

IDTechEx has analysed Google...

(Image Credit: HTC)

Earlier in the week I posted my concern at the lack of Android Wear devices which could support mobile payments in the future – due to a lack of NFC – leaving an open goal for the Apple Watch and Samsung's upcoming Tizen-based Gear S2 smartwatch. 

One manufacturer which has been completely absent from the smartwatch race thus far is HTC; despite being named as an OEM for...

NFC is a technology which Android users have bragged about having access to over iOS for years – but now some manufacturers of Google-based devices have abandoned it whilst Apple has embraced it with success for mobile payments. 

Google Wallet launched in May 2011 as a disjointed service which had little support due to a shaky relationship with retailers and banks after Google wanted details of transactions stored for its advertising business. Apple, meanwhile, as a hardware business...

(c)iStock.com/edoma

According to Argus Insights, demand growth in the US wearables market has slowed down after a post-holidays peak in January 2015. Yet consumer feedback volume grew significantly from 2014 to the first half of 2015.

The report used data from around 328,000 consumer reviews since January 2014 and found that interest in wearables declined for a short while after the 2013 holiday season, before picking up and peaking in January 2015. Interest in wearables rose fourfold over this period, but...

(c)iStock.com/Wavebreak

The Apple Watch has got everyone talking about smartwatches and has been selling amazing quantities – so is there still room for smaller manufacturing brands in the wearables marketplace?

In my opinion, yes. Products such as the Apple Watch have so many features they cannot hope to do everything perfectly, or to exploit every feature any customer would wish for. Third party apps, of course, can extend the functionality of the device – but they are limited to the...

(Image Credit: Samsung Mobile)

When it comes to design - both hardware and software - there's little dispute that Samsung's Gear S2 has upped the game with its unique rotating bezel and UX. It's even attracted legendary Italian designer Alessandro Mendini. However, it's become clear the Korean giant has some hurdles to overcome when it comes to software and services. 

The issue lies...

(Image Credit: UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering)

Most current wearable devices use Bluetooth to communicate, but this can be wasteful due to a how difficult it is for the signal to pass through a user's body. This causes an effect called "path loss" whereby a signal is weakened on the way to its destination, as well as causing security worries due to the distance the signal travels around the user being susceptible to eavesdropping. 

A team led by Professor...

(c)iStock.com/Sky_Blue

China faces stark disparity in terms of medical resources and, as a result, the online healthcare market and telemedicine industry in the country are set to benefit from opportunities in ensuring that technology covers the gap. Additionally, the accelerated pace of growth in wearables and medical informatisation is set to boost the aforementioned sectors.

The China online healthcare market was valued at CNY 10.88 billion (£1.12bn) in 2014, with transaction revenue providing 90% of...

(c)iStock.com/pixedeli

Move over Xiaomi, there’s a new kid on the block. According to latest IDC industry figures, Apple had the second highest number of shipments of wearable devices in the second quarter of 2015, narrowly behind Fitbit.

The numbers, taken from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, saw Apple ship a total of 3.6 million units in Q215 representing almost 20% of shipments, while Fitbit shipped 4.4m at 24.3%. Xiaomi, which similarly announced itself in the first quarter,...

(c)iStock.com/sapfirr

To fully leverage smart textiles for the future for wearables, we need a manufacturing shift.

Smart textiles and interactive garments have played a strong role in the wearables space for the last twenty years, driven by visionary design prototypes such as the Philips New Nomad project from 1998, exploring the integration of digital interactivity into a range of apparel and jewellery.

Since then, we have seen a proliferation of prototypes and small release products, but a major impediment...

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/frankiefotografie)

A new wearable device for infants created by a Cambridge-California social enterprise could be the key to preventing fatal or crippling ailments such as diarrhoea & malnutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and others. 

JustMilk is a device which attaches to a mother’s nipple when breastfeeding to deliver key antibiotics, antimalarials, antiretrovirals, vitamins, nutrients, and...

(c)iStock.com/alphaspirit

Enterprise use cases for wearable technology appear nascent, yet there is a diverse selection of case studies and opportunities out there.

That’s the view of Tractica in its latest paper on enterprise wearable technology, which features 40 profiles of wearable applications in industry verticals including automotive, field services, and healthcare.

The paper, published in partnership with the Enterprise Wearable Technology Summit event, is essentially a directory of the most...

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/nzphotonz)

The use of wearables in healthcare is still in an infant stage, but research from TrustMarque points towards 81% of respondents wanting more use of connected devices in patient care. 

Benefits of wearables in healthcare are well-documented but include; remote monitoring to allow patients to go home earlier to improve their comfort, reduce the burden on manual hospital checks,...