Wearable Technology

Following the announcement of a formal partnership between Flex and MAS Holdings, IDTechEx Analyst James Hayward looks at the big picture of the developing e-textiles value chain. This article describes the differing strategies from various key players, examples of success from smaller innovators, and key pressure points which cause problems to this day.

With the advent of the Internet of Things era, strong demand has grown for wearable and transparent displays that can be applied to various fields such as augmented reality and skin-like thin flexible devices.

Video of astronauts tripping over moon rocks can make for entertaining Internet viewing, but falls in space can jeopardize astronauts' missions and even their lives.

Jiobit will use technology to solve real life problems, starting with keeping parents and kids connected.

Instead of just wicking sweat away, the team's yarn will be able to chemically analyze its contents and change color accordingly.

Smart plastic demonstrates excellent performance in terms of data storage and processing capabilities.

For the first time, researchers have integrated nano-scale sensors, electronics and microfluidics into threads - ranging from simple cotton to sophisticated synthetics - that can be sutured through multiple layers of tissue to gather diagnostic data wirelessly in real time.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories has received a contract valued at up to $1.0 million for the development of high performance fibers for protective apparel applications.

Flex has partnered with MAS Holdings to develop revolutionary new wearable technologies that accelerate and integrate the Intelligence of Things into clothing and enable more natural, intuitive interactions between people and technology.

The Internet of Things adds new sensing and communications to improve the functionality of all manner of things in the world, leading towards broader connectivity, and huge amounts of data generated and exchanged.

Video interview with Quad Industries at the IDTechEx Show! (Berlin, Germany | 27-28 April, 2016).

Video interview with VARTA Microbattery GmbH at the IDTechEx Show! (Berlin, Germany | 27-28 April, 2016).

Profusa, Inc has announced that it was awarded a $7.5 million dollar grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the U.S. Army Research Office to develop implantable biosensors for the simultaneous, continuous monitoring of multiple body chemistries.

The new electrode is comfortable and accessible, allowing users to carry on as usual with their daily routines, while monitoring their muscle activity for many hours, for a range of medical and other purposes.

Video interview with FeelIT at the IDTechEx Show! (Berlin, Germany | 27-28 April, 2016).

LG Innotek has announced the development of new concept textile flexible pressure sensors. This sensor senses pressure from the entire surface of the sensor and it is even bendable.

StretchSense, a wearable sensor company based in Auckland New Zealand, has announced that it has secured Series A funding from Japanese corporation Start Today Co Ltd

A rough estimate of the amount of steps taken in a day might be enough for the average fitness tracker or smartwatch user, but, for people with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease, more fine-grained data could be life changing.

With hype around some of the core wearable technology sectors beginning to wane, IDTechEx have released their latest analysis of this diverse and growing industry in their brand new report Wearable Technology 2016-2026.

Video interview with FlexEnable at the IDTechEx Show! (27-28 April, 2016 | Berlin, Germany).