Business and Technology Insight Forums Tokyo 2016

Half-day Insight Forum 5

Wearable Technology: Products, Markets and Trends

Honored VIP speaker

Dr. Masahiro Inoue
Gunma University

Research progress with
stretchable electronics.

The introduction of widespread wearable technology within consumer electronics markets has been one defining feature of 2014 and 2015. However, many of these products are direct derivatives of technology from the mobile phone, generally sticking to the components-in-a-box design principle. The next generations of wearable technology are beginning to move beyond the box and beyond the wrist, with key product areas like smart eyewear, smart clothing and skin patches approaching commercial readiness.

This session will look at the entire wearable technology industry, which IDTechEx analysts estimate to be worth around $38bn in 2015. This ranges from prominent incumbents (including electronic wristwatches, headphones, hearing aids, and alike) to key growth sectors (including smartwatches and activity trackers), and sectors which have significant growth potential (smart eyewear, e-textiles, skin patches, etc.). IDTechEx have produced detailed market forecasts for all of these categories and more, concluding that the wearable technology industry as a whole will reach $110bn by 2026.

All Insight Forums will be conducted in English

This forum can be attended on its own or in addition to the Enabling Technologies for Wearable: Materials, Sensors, Displays, Haptics, E-Textiles and Power forum in the afternoon, which is complementary in subject matter. A discount is available for booking both.