Wearable Technology

Researchers have succeeded for the first time in measuring brain waves directly via a cochlear implant. These brainwaves indicate in an objective way how good or bad a person's hearing is. The research results are important for the further development of smart hearing aids.

Researchers have designed an AI-powered, voice-activated backpack that can help the visually impaired navigate and perceive the world around them. The backpack helps detect common challenges such as traffic signs, hanging obstacles, crosswalks, moving objects and changing elevations, all while running on a low-power, interactive device.

OPPO has announced the launch of the OPPO Band, the smartphone brand's first wearable device designed to enhance and improve the fitness experience. It's the newest addition to OPPO's smart device line and follows the success of the OPPO Watch series last year.

If it becomes possible to affordably harvest energy in the available space as fast as it is consumed, the battery life problems with most wearables will be solved.

On 22 - 24th of March 2021 IDTechEx attended (virtually) the LOPEC conference, organised by the European Organic Electronics Association (OEA). This premium article reviews a selection of the most interesting and/or commercially relevant talks.

Despite the continued development and commercialization of various wearable electronic devices, such as smart bands, progress with these devices has been curbed by one major limitation, as they regularly need to be recharged. However, a new technology has become a hot topic, as it shows significant potential to overcome this limitation for wearable electronic devices.

Mekoprint is a Danish contract manufacturer. Here, we focus on its recent activities in printed electronics, specifically the manufacture of 'intelligent diapers' (based on a presentation at LOPEC 2021).

As the number of people with chronic diseases and the size of the aging population continue to grow, medical device design engineers need adhesive solutions that are both gentle and secure to help support device compliance by end users.

Food scientists have made an antibacterial gel bandage using the discarded husks of the popular tropical fruit, durian.

In recent years there have been exciting breakthroughs in wearable technologies, like smartwatches that can monitor your breathing and blood oxygen levels. But what about a wearable that can detect how you move as you do a physical activity or play a sport, and could potentially even offer feedback on how to improve your technique?

Sports footwear firm inov-8 has unveiled the world's first running shoe to use a graphene-enhanced foam in the sole, bucking the widespread trend for carbon-plate technology and doubling the industry standard for longevity.

The United States Army announced that it will work with Microsoft on the production phase of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System program as it moves from rapid prototyping to production and rapid fielding.

In late February 2021 IDTechEx attended the Flex2021 conference. Conference talks and attendees were a mix of primarily early-stage companies and academics. This premium article covers a selection of the most interesting and/or commercially relevant talks.

In this premium article, IDTechEx examines various approaches that have been made in developing non-invasive glucose sensors for diabetes management.

From microwave ovens to Wi-Fi connections, the radio waves that permeate the environment are not just signals of energy consumed but are also sources of energy themselves.

On 17 - 19th of March 2021 IDTechEx attended (virtually) the Canadian Printed and Flexible Electronics Symposium), known as CPES2021. This premium article reviews a selection of the most interesting and/or commercially relevant talks

As increasing numbers of devices gain electronic functionality, many new applications will require some sort of display. This growth in functional, wirelessly connected devices is an exciting technological transition that could radically reshape how we interact with previously inanimate objects.

We are looking for entrepreneurial, enthusiastic people to join IDTechEx to apply their technical knowledge. You will be involved with technology scouting, market research and consultancy in a rapidly growing, exciting, global firm.

A research team has recently developed a water-tube-based triboelectric nanogenerator that can efficiently convert various irregular and low-frequency mechanical energies, including ocean wave energy, into electricity, providing a new avenue for the development of "blue energy".

Investigating the fields of Component and Electrode Attachments in the Wearables Industry