Wearable Technology

These past 12 months have seen numerous celebrity deaths, athlete drug scandals and the end of Brangelina however, it was also the year Tesla announced fully automated cars, Alexa became part of the family and Leicester City won the Premier League. As we plan ahead for 2017, IDTechEx analysts have taken a look back over the past 12 months and picked out the most impactful technology launches, acquisitions and products from 2016. Happy New Year from all at IDTechEx!

Researchers have developed a low-cost skin patch that changes color to indicate different levels of hydration, representing a potential new medical technology.

Researchers have developed a power source inspired by the electric eel. In a study they have demonstrated a method that suggests that self-powered batteries for biological applications such as pacemakers may one day become a reality.

A sophisticated new type of "tag" on whales that can record data every second for hours, days and weeks at a time provides a view of whale behavior, biology and travels never before possible.

The Gyeonggi-do Europe Business Center has been established in Korea to help European companies enter the Korean market.

Faster production of advanced, flexible electronics is among the potential benefits of a discovery by researchers.

One of the smallest known optical blood-flow sensors, which measures the volume of blood flow in subcutaneous tissue.

It could be used for tracking robots in underground tunnels, caves or under ice. They need to be able to navigate themselves, and we don't have sensors today that would be able to track them.

A microneedle patch, which combines stainless steel needles embedded in a soft polymer base - the first such combination believed to be scientifically studied. The soft material makes it comfortable to wear, while the stiff needles ensure reliable skin penetration.

Video Interview with Multek at the IDTechEx Show! in Santa Clara, USA (November 16-17 2016)

IDTechEx research analysis has shown that this industry, which is almost a century in the making, is finally coming of age. Major players are finding more nascent applications and new entries are progressing out of semi-commercial prototypes and into full market launches.

Technology Analyst James Hayward interviewed Yariv Erad, CEO of Hisep Technology. They have developed an RF direction finding system used alongside wireless sensor nodes for applications within smart clothing and IoT.

Researchers have used the wonder material graphene to make the novelty children's material silly putty® (polysilicone) conduct electricity -- creating extremely sensitive sensors.

Video Interview with Forster Rohner at the IDTechEx Show! in Santa Clara, USA (November 16-17 2016)

Has the time come to replace traditionally used silicon with printable organic semiconductor inks? Scientists believe so, especially for future electronics that need to be flexible, lightweight, wearable and low-cost.

A new method for producing conductive cotton fabrics using graphene-based inks opens up new possibilities for flexible and wearable electronics, without the use of expensive and toxic processing steps.

Video Interview with FitPay at the IDTechEx Show! in Santa Clara, USA (November 16-17 2016)

On the 29th November at the IBM Watson IoT Centre in Munich, Germany, about 60 attendees took part in a meeting about the decision by IBM to become the 401st member of the EnOcean Alliance, a group of companies that focus on hardware and software for the Internet of Things (IoT). This network was initiated by EnOcean, a German company based around Munich that, about 15 years ago, developed a battery-less, wireless technology that enables sensor solution for the IoT, building automation, and smart homes. Technology Analyst Lorenzo Grande reports updates from the meeting.

A research team has come up with a way to build safe, nontoxic gold wires onto flexible, thin plastic film. Their demonstration potentially clears the path for a host of wearable electronic devices that monitor our health.

Video Interview with Sensing Tex at the IDTechEx Show! in Santa Clara, USA (November 16-17 2016)