Digital Lifescapes

More applications for the Internet of Things (IoT) will translate into a significant demand for semiconductors. The emerging IoT market drove demand for 150 million units of multicore microcontroller unit (MCU) chips in 2015 -- that will rise to 1.3 billion units by 2020, according to the latest market study by ABI Research. Industrial IoT, wearables and smart home are the current key market drivers, with the majority of future growth coming from the smart home industry, which will represent 450 million of the total multicore MCU shipments -- that will account for 36 percent of market share by 2020. ABI analysts believe that this growth will be driven by more integrated connectivity and sensor processing hubs and an ongoing shift toward implementing innovative software solutions. "Traditionally, device manufacturers tend to use multiple single-core MCUs to handle a device's multiple sensor functions and connectivity solutions," says Malik Saadi, vice president at AB...

Sensors are an essential component of most Internet of Things (IoT) use-case scenarios. Sensors also enable the key applications in wearable devices. This is why made-for-wearable sensors are being developed around the world, and the market is already primed for significant growth. According to the latest worldwide market study by IDTechEx Research , made-for-wearable sensors will represent 42 percent of all sensors in wearable devices in 2026 -- that's up from just 7 percent in 2015. There will be a $5.5 billion market for sensors used in wearable technology applications by 2025. However, several key challenges must be overcome before these sensor technologies can realize their full potential. Wearable sensor systems will help to drive market development. The textile and electronics industry has started to merge together around e-textiles. High-value sport and fitness applications are the current focus. Vertical industry apps will also include healthcare, home textiles, and ...

Mobile device technology is evolving rapidly. Enhancements such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, near field communication (NFC), and gesture recognition are predicted to be the big winners. These mobile technologies are projected to make the greatest penetration gains over the coming years, according to the latest market study by ABI Research. "Hands-free operation or gesture recognition is soon going to become a key differentiator in high-end flagship smartphones, media tablets, and smart glasses," says Joshua Flood, senior analyst at ABI Research . Samsung's latest Galaxy S4 has already incorporated the technology within its handset and has received significant recognition for its new innovative user experience. Furthermore, with a host of new smart wearable products soon to be released, it is easy to imagine the usefulness of the interface with this product. In 2013, almost 12 percent of smartphones shipped will have vision-based gesture recognition capabilities....