Picture credit: Amazfit

California-based firm Amazfit has introduced its first ceramic-based wearable activity tracker, which assesses biomechanical signals and daily activities.

The device connects the user's daily activities and biomechanical signals with smart data. It tracks a user's steps, distance travelled, sleep quality and calories burned. It also receives and transmits incoming call alerts through vibration.

Amazfit is a lightweight and slim activity tracker designed like a fashion...

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Almost half of all Germans who own a fitness wearable device have either stopped using or do not use it, according to new research.

The 2016 DKV Report, titled 'How Healthy is Germany?', indicates that nearly 50% of those who use a fitness tracker have either stopped using it, or do not use it. A total of 2,830 Germans were surveyed by GfK Nuremburg for the report.

Clemens Muth, chairman of the board of management at DKV, said that most people in Germany do not see the...

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VSP Global and the University of Southern California (USC) Center for Body Computing (CBC) are partnering to launch an important academic study and consumer pilot test involving the company’s latest version of tech-embedded eyewear, Level, which is still in a prototype mode.

Developed by VSP Global’s innovation lab, The Shop, Level incorporates a gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer that helps a wearer...

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Verkotan, a CTIA authorised test lab, is improving wearable testing with the GPS Air Performance Test that is patent pending. The test has been developed with other leading players in the wearable industry. The Centre for Wireless Communication (CWC) at University of Oulu and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland TEKES and Hilla Program contributed in funding of the project.

Verkotan has developed a real over the air GPS...

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Bloomlife, a San Francisco-based digital health company, has announced the closure of a $4 million seed funding round aimed at commercialising its smart pregnancy wearable product.

The wearable will be able to automatically track and detect contractions in expectant mothers, visualising it on a smartphone. It is currently available via an Early Access Program on their website, until launch. The new funding will also go towards accelerating commercialising of the wearable's next...

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Insight Partners has published a new report which argues that the global wearable technology market is set to grow from $26.19 billion in 2015 to $170.91 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 20.8%.

The smart watches segment was the largest in 2015 as the hand worn terminals product segment is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 24.4% between 2016 and 2025, the researchers argue.

Among the application segments, healthcare and medical boasted the largest share of the wearable technology market in...

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Fossil has announced the launch of the Q Wander and Q Marshal smartwatches with pre-orders beginning August 12 and availability in stores from August 29.

Q Marshal and Q Wander are compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones and start at $295, with integration including Google Fit, UA Record by Under Armour, UP by Jawbone, and MyFitnessPal.

“Q Wander and Q Marshal beautifully marry form and function for a stunning addition to your everyday style,” said Jill...

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A study from Hexa Reports titled “China’s Wearable Technology market” argues that the wearable technology market in the country is anticipated to see substantial growth by 2025.

Over the past 20 years, the Chinese market has witnessed rapid expansion, resulting in the transformation of China’s society and economy on account of manufacturing capabilities and rising consumer consumption in the country. The country is one of the world’s major producers for...

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The global smart glass market is being driven by a shift in demand from passive to active smart glass technology coupled by factors such as growing applications in aviation, marine, and solar power, according to Technavio.

The firm adds that the global smart glass market is anticipated to see a CAGR of close to 20% through 2020, growing from $210 million (£160.6 million) in 2015 to $520 million (£397.6 million) by 2020.

Chandrakumar Badala Jaganathan, a lead analyst...

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In order to raise public awareness on personal sun exposure, La Roche-Posay has rolled out a stretchable skin sensor called My UV Patch formulated to provide real-time tracking of UV radiation.

The patch is water and sweat-resistant and can be used for up to three days during all outdoor activities, including swimming. The transparent adhesive measures approximately one square inch and 50 micrometers thick – half the thickness of an average strand of hair – and unlike the...

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International digital security provider Gemalto has collaborated with Rio de Janeiro’s public transportation ticketing operator RioCard to implement contactless transport ticket wristbands in Brazil’s second largest city. The application of this contactless payment solution will make it easier for users to make secure payments, and will benefit them in various modes of transportation such as, bus, ferry, subway and train.

Gemalto will provide RioCard with its waterproof...

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Fitbit sold 5.7 million devices in the second quarter of 2016 on a 46% year-on-year increase in revenue to $586.5 million during the period.

The US accounted for 76% of revenue on sales growth of 42% year-over-year while EMEA revenue grew 150% year-over-year while accounting for 17% of the company’s revenue during the period. APAC accounted for 2% of the company’s revenue while seeing a 54% decline in sales. Excluding the impact of the progressive shut down of retailer...

Picture credit: John Brhel/Binghamton University

A new smartwatch app being developed at Binghamton University in New York aims to improve communication and prevent falls at nursing homes.

The new app is being developed by two researchers – assistant professor of systems science and industrial engineering Huiyang Li and PhD candidate Haneen Ali – at the Binghamton University in New York.

The app aims to help certified nursing assistants (CNAs) respond to alerts more quickly and help prevent...

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Electronics firm Knowles, which manufactures in-ear wearable computing devices among others, has reported a 1% year-on-year decline in revenue to $190.3 million in the second quarter of FY2016, with CEO Jeffrey Niew telling analysts the results are within guidance.

Gross profit grew 2% year-on-year to $72.9 million while non-GAAP gross profit declined 2% year-on-year to $75.1 million during the same period. Niew explained: “In our mobile consumer electronics segment, sales came in...

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US retail giant Target will feature the wearable breathing and rollover monitor MonBaby in 444 brick-and-mortar stores across the country, as part of the Connected Home line announced in 2015.

MonBaby is already on sale on Target.com and a number of other online retail channels since early 2016. A certain portion of the brick-and-mortar stores featuring the device will be Target's Baby 360 specialty stores that were launched in...

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Royal Philips has announced the launch of a series of HIPAA-approved wearable technologies including health watches, blood pressure monitors, and thermometers.

Statistics reveal that more than 66 million Americans above the age of 50 have at least one chronic disease, even as 90% of chronic conditions can be avoided by modifying one’s lifestyle. In order to help patients and people in this area, Royal Philips is launching wearable technologies and the first phase of personal health...

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A research group from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed ultra-thin transistors aimed at improving the performance of electronic and wearable displays.

As the IoT era gains ground, there has been robust demand for wearable and transparent displays suited to the requirements of various fields such as augmented reality (AR) and skin-like thin flexible devices. However, the researchers argue that previous technology for flexible transparent displays...

Picture credit: Garmin

Garmin has announced its results for the second quarter ended June 25, 2016, with revenue growing 5% year-on-year to $812 million.

Gross margin expanded to 57.0% compared to 54.2% in the prior year quarter, and operating margin expanded to 24.7% compared to 21.5% in the prior year quarter. GAAP EPS grew 18% year-on-year to $0.85 while pro forma EPS grew 21% year-on-year to $0.87.

Cliff Pemble, president and chief executive officer of Garmin, said: “We achieved strong results in...

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Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies (GLNT) and start-up XEED are working on utilising wearable technology to aid patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

GLNT released findings from a new study, published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, examining how clinicians can use wearable tech to decide when considering advanced therapy for patients. GLNT’s KinesiaOne technology – which uses wearable sensors linked to a web...

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Preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker revealed that global smartwatch shipments declined for the first time ever in the second quarter of 2016, falling 32% year-on-year to 3.5 million units.

Apple topped the market with its shipments totalling 1.6 million watches though it was the only vendor in the top 5 to witness an annual decrease in shipments. However, to put things into perspective, the year-on-year comparison is...