The fashion-forward trendsetter will be wearing sensors for remote monitoring embedded in their near-future attire, predicts GigaOMPro in a new study (by subscription). Highlights published in FierceMobileHealthcare include the following:
- The global market is expected to grow to 170 million devices by 2017
- ABI Research anticipates industry growth of wearables at 41% per year. The needs of older adults for monitoring and well being will help drive wearables, with this segment estimated at 36 million units in 2017, up from under 3 million units in 2011. (ABI Home Monitoring)
- Driven by advances in materials, batteries and chips
- Wearables include watches, glasses, smart fabrics, contact lenses, small screens, rings and bracelets, hearing aid-like devices called “hearware,” smart badges, wrist computers and even smart skin tattoos
- The GigaOMPro author even considers the possibility of wearable health devices replacing smartphones over the next decade
- Tech brands will include Google, Microsoft and Apple–the latter will have to play some catchup
A second FMH article this week features yet another bit of research, this time by IMS. According to them, the global market for wearable technology is expected to triple to $6 billion by 2016, with device sales between 39 million and 171 million by 2016, roughly in line with GigaOMPro. Continuous glucose, fitness and heart rate monitors are expected to dominate, with up and coming sleep sensors, acupressure and smart watches and glasses (like Google’s in development). Wearable technology market to hit $6B by 2016. More data in IMS Research’s release
Can’t get enough about wearable sensors? BlogTalkRadio’s mHealthZone (Happtique) this week presented 30 minutes on Wearable Devices: Fashion or Function? with Sonny Vu of Misfit Wearables (you have that right). His website has several infographics, the most pertinent here.