Credit: Beecham Research Limited
In the parable of the six blind men and the elephant, the lesson is that your view of an object is greatly influenced by your perspective. So it is with “wearable technology;” the term means different things to different people. We’re still more or less at the expansive stage of development in this field, though I’m not certain that we’ll reach a contracting stage any time soon. That is why I find the interactive “Wearable Technology Application” chart published by Beecham Research Limited to be so helpful.
It divides the wearable technology markets into eight separate sectors, including Glamour, Safety/Security, and Communication, as well as our Health Tech favorites: Sport/Fitness, Wellness, and Medical. For each sector, it lists common applications and functions, as well as sample product categories that deliver those applications and functions. You can click on each sector and get more details about that sector.
The chart is not comprehensive, and there is certainly some overlap between the sectors. Still, it is a very useful starting point to help get your head wrapped around this rapidly growing industry. It provides a framework into which you can place new products and research initiatives, and can help you better understand the big picture of this elephant that we call “wearable technology.”
