Watch just the start of wearables revolution

Jul 29, 2015 at 10:25 pm by Staff


The $24 billion global market for wearables is expected to treble in ten years, according to IDTechEx Research.

The UK company - organiser of the US trade event in Santa Clara next November 18-19 - says the wearable technology market will rise to $74 billion in 2025, crating a large opportunity for new technologies and applications. Speakers cover fashion, healthcare, sportswear, enterprise and military applications.

A tenfold increase in internet search on the topic has been accompanied by about $1 billion invested in wearables in 2014, expected to rise as the largest companies in the world compete for a slice of a market.

The chart gives the 2015 split of wearable technology devices by revenue, excluding basic "infotainment" devices such as basic headphones and electronic watches.

Wrist-worn devices - under 'advanced infotainment' - are currently the most popular and publicised area. Smart watches in particular have been extremely prominent in the media, culminating in the launch of Apple's Watch. Smart wristbands (such as the Fitbit Flex and Jawbone Up) have also become increasingly popular, with the market for fitness trackers being one of the key growth sectors.

These devices are seen as an extremely promising prospect for developers. Emerging technologies will allow developers to get creative with wearable sensors becoming increasingly versatile and mobile, energy harvesting and storage systems becoming smaller and more efficient, and e-textiles beginning to emerge.

Sections: Digital business