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Fossil Group is planning to launch over 100 wearables products covering eight brands in 40 countries by the end of 2016. The wearables, slated to feature in over 20 languages, will include display and non-display watches and trackers. The company will support the wearables with branded apps across all brands, three product categories, and two operating systems.

Fossil chief strategy and digital officer, Greg McKelvey, said: “One of the distinct advantages of a fashion company...

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Shipments of wearable devices across the globe are expected to see a 38.2% year on year increase and reach 110 million by the end of 2016, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker. The market will grow on account of the pervasiveness of new and different wearable products. However, the main focus of the wearables market will continue to be smartwatches.

The combined total of watch and wristband shipments will increase from 72.2...

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Kaspersky Lab has introduced a new version of its Internet Security for Android product to also facilitate management of protection through Android Wear devices, as well as improving performance speed and protection quality.

The new version allows a user’s smartwatch to show notifications from Kaspersky Internet Security for Android when it is installed on a paired smartphone or tablet. A user can also remotely give commands to the product on the watch by pressing keys on the...

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Amnesty International has launched a new #360Syria ‘virtual tour’ website using WebVR technology which reveals the destruction wrought by the Syrian government on the city of Aleppo.

The demonstration, known as “Fear of the Sky”, is powered by Mozilla A-Frame technology, an open source framework which streamlines WebVR development and facilitates simple creation of WebVR experiences with HTML.

The #360Syria website features specially-created 360-degree...

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IDC estimates that the global wearable device market is anticipated to see 44% year on year increase in shipments to 111.1 million units in 2016. Additionally, the segment is expected to witness a five year CAGR of 28%, resulting in 214.6 million units by 2019. As a result, EQM Indexes is launching an index, named WEARXT, to monitor the wearables segment.

WEARXT monitors the combined performance of around 45 to 55 global stocks that generate revenue from wearable technology...

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New research from the International Data Corporation (IDC) has examined wearables ‘intenders’ – consumers who plan on purchasing a wearable product in the next six months.

These consumers are expected to play a leading role in the next surge of wearables adoption in the US. The survey’s data is based on a poll, undertaken by IDC's Buyer Behaviour Practice, of 1,500 Americans who intend to purchase a wearables product in the next six months.

The research...

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The global wearable technology market is estimated to total $196.5 million by 2022 mainly on account of research and development undertaken by a large number of industry players, according to Grand View Research.

Increasing disposable income across the globe, technological advancement, price, quality, battery life, 3D printing and crowd funding are other factors that are expected to make a positive impact. Players in this industry include Apple, Adidas, Garmin, Fitbit, Nike, Google,...

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More than two thirds (69%) of wearable device owners say they do not use login credentials, while over half (56%) say they use their devices to access business apps, according to new data released by Centrify.

The study, which polled 100 attendees at the RSA Conference, found that while a major cause of concern remains the fact that though wearable owners do not use login credentials and get ready access to corporate data, 42% of respondents say that identity theft is their foremost...

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Royal Philips has announced the launch of a new wearable healthcare monitoring solution for patients in ‘low acuity’ situations.

Healthcare stakeholders are looking for cost-effective means to monitor, diagnose and treat patients as across the globe, while the industry is faced with a burgeoning ageing population and an increasing number of people with chronic diseases accounting for 86% of healthcare costs. Philips looks to address this need with its connected health solutions...

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Information management provider Recall has announced it is introducing a wearable RFID scanner program to its inventory at a Recall Information Center in Atlanta.

The technology facilitates continuous audits of Recall customer assets on a daily basis and involves the use of a belt mounted scanner that automatically audits tagged assets.

Technical trials have shown that this new scanning method has enhanced the overall process, as assets are regularly audited while the time needed for...

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The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has examined potential security vulnerabilities in wearable devices in its latest report.

The study, entitled “WearFit: Security Design Analysis of a Wearable Fitness Tracker”, makes use of a fabricated wearable fitness tracking system, dubbed WearFit, in order to illustrate these flaws via a security analysis.

The report uses the fictitious wearable in context with what IEEE perceives to be the top 10 software...

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The latest research note from CCS Insight projects sales of 411 million smart wearables, worth $34 billion, in 2020. The research firm anticipates robust growth over the next five years, with sales of 123 million units, generating $14 billion in revenue in 2016.

Wrist-worn devices are the star innovators in the market, with fitness, activity and sports trackers accounting for almost 50% of all shipments in the next year, at more than 60 million units. Meanwhile, smartwatch sales...

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Regular readers of this publication who remember GreatCall launching its Lively device which combines health functionality with emergency response – well, the company needs a little bit of help with it.

GreatCall has launched an Indiegogo campaign for its Lively Wearable, which will see feedback gained from early adopters, as well as aiming to reach...

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In order to improve the accuracy of quality checks and to boost efficiency at its manufacturing plants, Ford has developed a wearable and an Android app. This innovation at the automaker began at its plant in Valencia, Spain, and the technology will now be rolled out to other plants.

Prior to the launch of the technology in Valencia, workers made use of a paper-based system that that involved walking to and fro for more than one kilometre on a daily basis to refer information on...

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A study from Michigan Technological University has revealed progress made on more versatile wearable technology using iron instead of semiconductors.

The research, published in Scientific Reports and led by Yoke Khin Yap, a professor of physics at Michigan Technological University, argues that silicon semiconductors are susceptible to overheating and face limitations in terms of size, as well as being at a disadvantage as they leak electricity. The alternative approach suggested by...

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Toy manufacturing giant Mattel has completed the acquisition of Sproutling, a maker of smart technology products and smart monitors for parents and families.

Sproutling, with offices in San Francisco, will keep developing and launching products under the bespoke brand. Additionally, the company will collaborate on design and development of new products for the Mattel range of brands, based on Sproutling's technology platform.

Mattel global head of strategic development and M&A,...

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A research note from analyst house Gartner argues that sales of wearable electronic devices will bring in revenue of $28.7 billion (£20.1 billion) in 2016, with smartwatches generating $11.5 billion of the total. Global sales of wearable electronic devices are anticipated to see 18.4% year-on-year growth to 274.6 million units in 2016.

Angela McIntyre, research director at Gartner, said: “From 2015 through 2017, smartwatch adoption will have 48 percent growth largely due to...

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A new report from Transparency Market Research argues that the global wearable sensor market will see a 45.20% CAGR through 2020.

Growth in the global wearable sensor market is mostly on account of increasing health awareness and advancements in the healthcare sector, the researchers argue. Wearable sensors are utilised to monitor patients suffering from a variety of diseases. Demand for wearable sensors is anticipated to increase from many industries, such as sports, gaming, and consumer...

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Here’s an interesting statistic in the latest survey from IEEE – almost one in 10 consumers believe wearable technology will become redundant or unnecessary in the coming year.

The poll, of more than 2,000 consumers, found digital devices and digital cameras to be the most unnecessary piece of tech this year (15%), with e-readers (9%) in second place. On the other side, 43% of respondents said drones would be the most influential in 2016. Smartphones (38%) and 3D...

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Though augmented reality (AR) and wearable devices have caused a stir in consumer technology, a new report from Beecham Research argues that enterprise applications will be the major driver of growth in these segments.

Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and retail have been identified as some of the most dynamic markets, where AR offers novel, hands-free interaction along with more control and access to information.

The report details market activity and consolidation and lists recent...