The market for wearable devices will reach more than 100
million units annually by 2016 as a range of factors combine over the next five
years to drive consumer and healthcare adoption, according to ABI Research.
These devices, ranging from heart rate monitors for
measuring an individual’s performance during sports to wearable blood glucose
meters, will all enable greater detail in tracking, monitoring, and care often
through connections provided by mobile phones.
Ultra-low power wireless technologies such as single mode
Bluetooth 4.0, existing proprietary, and the planned 802.15.6 specifications
are combining with mobile handsets and social networking application
capabilities to drive adoption of a new generation of body-worn sensors.
These sensors have the capability of automating details
on an individual’s activities to inform friends and drive advice and feedback.
A number of short range wireless protocols are jostling
for position in this emerging market and they line up against traditional
tethered connectivity such as a USB cable to a computer as well as emerging M2M
offerings,” said Jonathan Collins, principal analyst, wireless healthcare and
M2M, ABI Research.
While the sports and fitness market has been embedding
proprietary short-range wireless connectivity in devices for many years, it has
remained a niche market.
The market is now reaching a key growth period with
support and commitment to standardized specifications. The professional
healthcare market is also starting to look at the potential for embedded
wireless communication in wearable devices for in-hospital and remote patient
care.
By Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com
