Digital Lifescapes

The wearable technology sector growth was largely a story about the smartwatch: a premium product anchored around a single wrist, sold at a steep price, and adopted primarily by the health-conscious and the tech-savvy. That narrative is now changing in ways that are genuinely interesting to anyone tracking the intersection of Applied-AI, consumer electronics, digital health, and connectivity infrastructure. The latest worldwide market study by ABI Research offers a timely and data-rich window into just how fast that transformation is unfolding. Wearables Market Development Wearable device shipments are projected to grow from 402.96 million in 2026 to 544.08 million by 2031, as vendors broaden access to advanced health, fitness, and connectivity features at more affordable price points. That is not incremental growth; it represents a meaningful expansion of who is wearing smart technology and why. Equally compelling is the revenue picture: the category is expected to generate $44.22 bil...

Wearable technology adoption has reached a turning point in developed markets across the globe. Berg Insight released its latest findings of the connected wearables market. Shipments of connected wearables reached 116.8 million worldwide in 2018. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4 percent, total shipments of smartwatches, smart glasses, fitness & activity trackers, smart clothing, mobile telecare and medical devices as well as other wearable devices are forecasted to reach 238.5 million units in 2023. Wearable Device Market Development Bluetooth will remain the primary connectivity option in the coming years. A total of 67.7 million of the wearables sold in 2023 are forecast to incorporate embedded cellular connectivity, mainly in the smartwatch and telecare or medical device categories. The connected fitness & activity tracker segment is led by Chinese Xiaomi, which has been successful with its Mi Band fitness tracker. Fitbit is still among the lar...

Telecom services and American healthcare technology are becoming closely intertwined. According to the latest market study by Parks Associates, over two-thirds of U.S. broadband households already use a healthcare related mobile software app or portal on a monthly basis. "Connected health devices and apps are starting to open healthcare services to larger populations, but right now, consumers spend less than 1 percent of their time interacting with the healthcare system through hospitals, clinics, doctors, and health coaches," said Harry Wang, research director at Parks Associates . Online health services are starting to open new engagement opportunities, and companies in the connected home space -- such as broadband and security service providers -- can help to drive consumer engagement by integrating connected home technology with healthcare solutions. By 2019, millions of households will benefit from a smart home platform that offers solutions in at least one of thre...

One of the largest emerging applications for the Internet of Things is healthcare related technologies that enable remote monitoring and diagnostics. According to the latest market study by Berg Insight, around 4.7 million people in Europe were using connected care solutions at the end of 2013. The term connected care refers to users of traditional telecare, next-generation telecare and telehealth solutions within the European countries where the study was conducted. Until 2019, Berg Insight forecasts that the number of connected care users will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.2 percent to reach 13.7 million. Traditional telecare is currently the largest and most mature of the three market segments. The next-generation telecare and telehealth market segments are in a more nascent stage but are entering a strong growth phase that is expected to last for many years to come. The European connected care industry is facing major changes that will reshape the compe...