Mobile Meetings Series: Wearable technologies: a world of seamless you and digital you

The consumer electronics industry is convinced that wearable technology will be the next big thing, with analysts predicting a market worth over $30 billion by 2020. However this is dependent on those in industry engaging with the needs of everyday people and their behaviour, as well as ‘high profile techies’ or early adopters. As a result, Hunn anticipates the market growing according to people’s current needs, e.g. the need to track pets or children, rather than the consumer being swept away by spectacular novelties like wearable glasses.

Beecham Research also anticipates that enterprises will adopt wearables to help employees carry out specific tasks. “At present wearable tech is seen largely as an accessory – for example, an extension to smartphone use – but that will change,” the research firm says. “The true potential of wearables are as standalone devices in their own right providing access to a wide range of connected services.

In the context of a fast growing demand for wearable technology, the roundtable meeting will focus on:

• What is the role of mobile in supporting the development of wearable technologies for consumers and connected services?
• What are the key policy barriers to fully exploit the market potential for wearable technologies and stimulate connected services for a thriving economy?
• How can researchers, policy makers, the consumer electronics industry and mobile providers work together to exploit the full potential of wearable devices?

Event summary