For the New Year, C4 is focusing on wearable technologies. Two key events catapulted wearables — the introduction of Google Glass and the launch of the Pebble Smartwatch, the crowdfunding wonder that raised more than $10 million, making it one of the most successful Kickstarter projects to date.
The fusion of fashion and accessories with associated apps, software and hardware will change the way people use technology in their everyday lives. It is becoming more common to connect low-energy devices like wristbands to iPhones for health or behavior tracking — with technologies like micro-controllers, flexible screens, Internet of Things (IoT), and personal data collection — as well as Wi-Fi, motion sensors, GPS, digital compass, accelerometers, location-based services, speech recognition, localization, MEMS and network technologies.
With new products from brands like Apple, Epson, Fitbit, Garmin, Google, Magellan, Microsoft, Nike, Qualcomm, Reebok and Samsung, wearables will be big in 2014. By 2017, companies will ship more than 64 million wearable devices. that includes 35 million smart watches, a significant bump from 400,000 that are expected to be sold this year, according to Berg Insight, a Swedish telecom market researcher. retail revenue from smart watches and glasses will reach $19 billion by 2018 as compared with $1.4 billion this year, says Juniper Research.
FIVE KEY AREAS
2014 will be a watershed year for wearables, particularly if it’s on your wrist, embedded in clothing or an optical form factor.
1. Fitness Trackers
Put on your running shoes because CES will showcase some awesome fitness trackers and smart watchers. Activity tracking bracelets like the Fitbit Flex, the Nike FuelBand and the Jawbone UP are at the vanguard of more complex wearables that are on the way. We’re seeing innovative experimentation with new form factors, behaviors and interactions.
2. Smart Watches
Smart watches have more multi-function capabilities than activity trackers. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smart watch shipped 800,000 units in just two months. The Qualcomm Toq smart watch is compatible with Android smartphones and features Qualcomm MEMS technologies and Mirasol display technology.
3. Wearable Health
These devices run the gamut from managing chronic disease and optimizing fitness programs to clothing. By 2016, wearable wireless medical device sales are expected to reach more than 100 million devices annually, according to ABI Research. Investors in the wearable health space are optimistic about sensors embedded in devices, as seen in the fall funding round for Basis, developer of health and heart rate sensors. It closed a $12 million Series B funding round, with investments coming from Intel Capital, INovia Capital, Dolby Family Trust, Stanford University, Mayfield Fund and Peninsula-NCG.
4. Sports and Safety
Tech devices also are designed to boost the skills of recreational, amateur and pro athletes during training. Sensors monitor the body’s movements to improve everything from a golf game to the pace while running. MC10 and Reebok introduced the Checklight skulllcap that includes a tri-axial accelerometer to measure linear acceleration, a gyroscope to measure rotational acceleration and microprocessor that analyzes data and is worn during sports to detect concussions in athletes. MC10 also makes a hydration-sensing Band-Aid that wearers scan with a smartphone. Magellan’s Echo Smart Sports Watch displays real-time fitness data and works with sports apps.
5. Glasses, Optics and Augmented Reality (AR)
Smart glass shipments will reach 10 million per year by 2018, compared to nearly 87,000 in 2013, forecasts Juniper Research. First generation applications such as video documentation and communication will be used in the health care sector, but smart glasses will also be used for diagnostic reference, surgical assistance and monitoring. Smart glasses are also used in engineering and logistics applications. However, the largest opportunity is the consumer sector with the adoption rate dependent on engaging hardware and apps. In optics, interactive devices include Google Glass, Tele-Pathy, Meta, Recon and Optinvent. Epson’s Movaril smart glasses are targeting developers and the enterprise. Vuzix is targeting the industrial, medical and B2B markets. Multimedia optical devices like Avegant, Oculus Rift and castAR — or AR devices that let you see the world with extra details layered on top of it are coming from companies like Meta and Infinity Augmented Reality.
It will be interesting to watch this ecosystem develop. Reach Susan at: susan (at) c4trends – dot – com