What’s next in wearables? - Wearable Europe 2020 conference & expo
Wearable Europe is a conference and exhibition dedicated to addressing exactly this question. The event, hosted by IDTechEx, takes place on May 13th and 14th at the Estrel Convention Center in Berlin, Germany. It is a showcase of the latest innovation for wearable products, from hearables to smart clothing, VR, AR & MR to skin patches, smartwatches to exoskeletons.
IDTechEx Research found that the wearable technology industry was worth over $50 billion dollars in 2019 and has grown with a CAGR of nearly 20% over the last five years. Now that wearable products are becoming increasingly accepted and adopted around the world, there is a huge opportunity to build on this growth by further improving these products to add more value for their users.
The initial wave of wearables relied heavily upon technology developed originally for the smartphone. Newer dedicated components (e.g. optical heart rate in smartwatches) have helped improve the capabilities of the products in the market today. The IDTechEx event focuses on the innovation currently happening towards the next waves of wearable products which will emerge in the coming months, years, and decades.
The conference and exhibition are designed to facilitate networking, collaboration and commercial development of these new technologies for wearables. The conference track runs over two full days, sitting in parallel with 6 other tracks covering synergic technology areas and markets. The exhibition includes exhibitors from throughout the supply chain, from key material and component providers with the building blocks needed for the products, to manufacturers with live manufacturing demonstrations on the show floor, through to end product players demonstrating their product concepts and innovation.
There is also a host of other key events which will take place during the week to enhance the experience. Such as Demonstration Street, a Matchmaking service and the Gala Awards Dinner, recognising company development and success. As well as the co-located conferences 3D Printing and 3D Electronics, Electric Vehicle Materials, Graphene and 2D Materials, Printed and Flexible Electronics and Sensors.
The theme of this year’s show asks “What’s next for Wearables?”. IDTechEx also has a team of analysts acting as market researchers and technology scouts throughout the areas covered at the event. The analyst team supports the event by inviting key speakers with the most innovative ideas and the most impressive commercial prospects. Whilst nobody can predict all of what will be next in this diverse product ecosystem, the IDTechEx Show provides a glance into the future with the technology and ideas that are presented.
The analyst-led programme is split into several key sectors, reflecting the breadth and variety that has always been represented within “wearable” products.
The event focuses on key technology trends which will determine the future of the variety of products in this sector.
The event continues its strong tradition in electronic textiles. This topic has grown in maturity over the last five years, with a consolidation of industry expertise, the introduction of new industry standards, and the formation of partnerships between key players and brands as the product volumes begin to increase. We will hear from leading players from the sector in the conference, as well as the opportunity to see and feel the products in the exhibition, including examples of live machinery demonstrations across several varied process type.
As wearables have developed, there has been a significant focus shift, starting with the development of consumer products, but increasingly towards emphasis on healthcare. Historically, medical devices made up around 40% of the total revenue from wearables.
The boom in the consumer sector based around smartwatches from 2015 and more recently from true wireless headphones, the total percentage from medical wearables has fallen slightly. However, with these consumer health products has come huge investment and discussions as to how these consumer devices can be used in the healthcare context.
Hearables is another key theme at the event. A building trend, coined over 5 years ago but with commercial interest rising to the surface in 2019, hearables represents a key theme at the event. The conference track will bring together leading brands in both the headphone and hearing aid space alongside presentations from key technology innovators from emerging players as this supply chain begins to see innovation and disruption.
For more information about the event and for the latest attendee discount please visit www.WearableEurope.tech.
Women of Wearables are media and community partner of this years conference and expo, WoW members can use code WE20-WOW for 30% off tickets!