Tag: Wearable technology news

While mobile chips are becoming faster and more powerful, wearables have now upped the ante.

The mobile chips in high end smartphones and tablets are growing faster and ever more powerful, but those devices aren’t astounding consumers who were buying them as fast as they could hit the shelves, so chipmakers may start looking toward wearable technology for their next area of explosive growth.

Wearables could actually provide chipmakers with the challenge that they need for the next few years.

The growth curve could be quite the steep one as long as those companies can provide what is needed in order to make consumers love wearable technology as much as they have come to love their smartphones and tablets. According to principal analyst, Linley Gwennap, from The Linley Group, it is too early to say whether or not chipmakers will actually grab hold of this opportunity, or even if wearables will turn out to be the next big tech trend, as many of the industry giants are hoping.

Currently, the wearable technology remains a market that is moving less than 10 million units per year.

Surveys are currently suggesting that while consumers have initially been attracted to wearables such as fitness trackers, all too many of them are finding themselves forgotten and buried under a pile of other devices that were enjoyed for their novelty but were then forgotten once that had worn off. Furthermore, the best devices – such as some of the smrtwatches that have been launched – are prohibitively expensive for the majority of consumers and end up collecting dust on the shelves.

Gwennap explained that “We’re talking about [US]$200 or $300 for a smartwatch today. That’s kind of a two-spouse decision.” He added that if the doors are to open for the majority of consumers to participate, then wearable devices under the $100 price barrier will need to start becoming available.

He explained that he feels that one of the best ways to move these devices will be to bundle them with smartphones, for example, the case of Samsung Galaxy Gear being sold along with the smartphones as a bundle, so that as little as $50 can be charged for the smartwatch.

Cheaper wearable technology will be dependent on more powerful and yet less expensive chips. Should this be achieved, it could be an area that will be highly lucrative in the not too distant future.

Intel steps into the field of wearable devices with acquisition of Basis Science

Wearable technology has become a hot issue. Technology firms around the world have begun investing in the research and development of smart watches and other sorts of wearable devices that may become popular with consumers in the future. Intel is one such firm, and the company has recently finalized the acquisition of Basis Science, makers of health tracker technologies. Health has become a popular field for wearable devices due to the increasing mobility of consumers. These devices could be helpful for people that want to keep track of information concerning their day-to-day health.

Basis attracts attention from technology firms for its wearable device

Basis suggests that it has been approached by various technology companies in February, all seeking acquisition. Interest from these firms is largely focused on the company’s Basis Health Tracker, which is a watch that keeps track of a user’s heart rate and other information. The watch is the only product that Basis has produced, but it has become quite popular because it exists as a convenient solution for those that are health-oriented.

Intel intends to establish a presence in the emerging wearable device market

Intel has a strong interest in wearable devices because of trends that have begun to emerge among consumers. Google Glass has managed to highlight the interest that consumers have in wearable devices. These augmented reality glasses have generated a great deal of hype and have also shed light on similar products being developed by other technology firms. The demand for smart watches is also on the rise and Intel is keen to ensure that it can establish a noticeable presence in an emerging market.

Wearable devices may not replace smartphones any time soon

Some firms have suggested that wearable devices will eventually replace smartphones and tablets. The issue, however, is that wearable devices are still in a state of infancy. They do not have the technical abilities needed to dethrone smartphones as t he favored mobile device among consumers. In the future, this may change, but wearable devices may currently be little more than a gimmick.