BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the age of wearable computing dawns, everyday body-worn objects such as watches and glasses are getting smarter and connected. Smart clothing is no different, serving in part as a fashion accessory, but mostly driven by the “quantified self” trend that includes measurement, tracking, and analysis of the body, in the process providing tools to help people live healthier lives.
“The ultimate wearable computer is a piece of smart clothing that one can wear as a garment or a body sensor that can track and measure specific vital signs,” says research director Aditya Kaul. “Both of these device categories are designed to seamlessly integrate with users’ daily lives.”
According to a new report from Tractica, the market for smart clothing and body sensors is just beginning to take shape, both from an end-user perspective and a value chain perspective. Today, sports enthusiasts are leading the adoption of smart clothing with sensor-infused shirts, shorts, sports bras, and socks that provide biometric data on muscle activity, breathing rate, and heart activity zones, all data that is not currently tracked by fitness bands or smart watches. Over the next several years, the market intelligence firm anticipates that connected apparel items will gain traction in the mass consumer market, as well.
Meanwhile, the body sensor sector is experiencing a transition as heart rate monitors decline in unit volume and newer devices like baby and pregnancy monitors, headbands, posture monitors, and 3D trackers begin to build momentum.
Tractica forecasts that smart clothing shipments will grow from 140,000 units in 2013 to 10.2 million units by 2020, while body sensor shipments will decrease from 3.0 million units in 2013 to 1.2 million by 2017, before rising again to 3.1 million units in 2020.
Tractica’s report, “Smart Clothing and Body Sensors”, includes a detailed analysis of market drivers and challenges, technology issues, and the industry ecosystem. The study provides global shipment and revenue forecasts through 2020, segmented by device category, application market, connectivity technology, and world region. Key smart clothing and body sensor companies are profiled in depth and the report also includes strategic recommendations for current industry participants, as well as those who are looking to enter the market. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.
About Tractica
Tractica is a market intelligence firm that focuses on human interaction with technology. Tractica’s global market research and consulting services combine qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a comprehensive view of the emerging market opportunities surrounding User Interface Technologies, Biometrics, Digital Health, Wearable Devices, and Automation & Robotics. For more information, visit www.tractica.com or call +1.303.248.3000.
