The wearable electronics business has ballooned into a $20 billion industry in 2015, and experts believe it will hit $70 billion by 2025. The major players in the market are wearable devices, such as activity trackers and apparel. The health care sector has found great success in wearable tech, as it blends medical information, fitness, and wellness together for the everyday consumer. Of the two types of wearable electronics, however, apparel presents a wealth of excitement.
Wearable devices
Google Glass may be the first device that comes to mind when you think of wearable electronics, but the most popular wearable devices are activity trackers from FitBit, Jawbone, Garmin, Nike, and several other companies. These activity bands strap directly on the user’s wrist and track steps, stairs climbed, calories burned, and even sleeping patterns. Users connect the devices to their smartphones for a detailed summary of daily activity. The activity bands can also be programmed to vibrate when the user receives a call or text or as an alarm alert. Other wearable devices include:
- Smart watches
- Oculus Rift – virtual reality headsets
- Wireless headphones
Electronic apparel/textiles
This exciting and growing market is pioneered by Google’s Project Jacquard. Textiles used in making clothes are similar to wires used in a smartphone or tablet’s touchscreen. Google’s Project Jacquard is geared toward using wires that look, feel, and act like yarn to create electronic apparel. Users can then pair their clothing with their smartphone to answer a call by touching a collar or turn up the volume of their music by swiping a pant leg. The conductive thread can withstand heat from an iron and thousands of cycles through the wash. Additionally, it can be integrated into any number of clothing styles.
At Brewer Science, we work with leading innovators in this emerging field. Learn more about how we can help you modify or produce your wearable electronic product by contacting us online or by calling us at 1-573-364-0300.