When Will Wearable Tech Really Take Off?

Nov 20, 2013

A few years ago, "wearable technology" meant little more than a clunky 1980s calculator watch or a Bluetooth headset. Now, people are accessorizing with color-coordinated fitness trackers and super-spy-like smartwatches.

According to ShotTracker, wearable tech is "the next megatrend" — changing the way we live, work, and play.

This comes from a company that is crowdfunding its own basketball-based wrist and net sensorsthat, well, tracks shots. With one month left to meet its $25,000 goal, ShotTracker is offering rewards that include a spot in former NBA shooting guard Billy Thomas's shooting camp ($300) and a trip to the 2014 Men's NCAA basketball championship in Dallas ($10,000).

Athletes are a common target for wearable tech makers, many of whom have launched sports-related gadgets, including Reebok's Checklight for monitoring the number of blows to the head football players take, Instabeat for tracking swimmers' heart rate, calories, laps, and breathing patterns, and Misfit Shine, which tracks steps taken, activity levels, and sleep.

In fact, activity trackers and wearable fitness devices account for the majority of this year's wearable market — 96 percent. That number is unsurprising, though, considering how saturated the space is with devices like the Fitbit and Jawbone UP and Nike+ FuelBand.

Despite the efforts of manufacturing giants like Google and Samsung, the smartwatch market has yet to grow into a profitable project.

Consumers remain wary of wearable technology. A recent Harris Interactive poll showed that only 27 percent of Americans are "very or somewhat interested" in owning a watch-like smart device. Fewer people, even, expressed interest in owning headsets or glasses.

That hasn't stopped the world from talking about them, though. According to ShotTracker, the total number of tweets mentioning "wearable tech" in 2013 have skyrocketed since January, landing at almost 65,000 mentions in September — the same month Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Gear smartwatch.

A future full of wrist-worn fitness trackers, smartphone-connected watches, and futuristic Google Glasses appears to be on the horizon. By 2017, ShotTracker estimates, consumers will be clamoring for wearable devices, boosting shipments to a total 64 million — eight times more than the 8.3 million purchased last year.

It is unclear whether that timeline syncs with the expectations of in-field experts, like Misfit Wearables CEO Sonny Vu. The maker of the Shine activity monitor said recently that while "people are finding really compelling use cases" for wearables, he's "not really sure we're there yet with many of the products we've seen in the market."

For a more complete look at the future of "the next megatrend," check out ShotTracker's full wearable tech infographic below.

Source: PCMAG.COM