Internet of Things & Wearable Technology Insights

At BI Intelligence, we've been tracking the wearable computing market, following how the fitness tracker, smart watch, and other wearables ecosystems are evolving. If fitness trackers can't catch on among mainstream consumers, smart watches and other wearable computing devices will also struggle.

In the BI Intelligence chart at the bottom of this post, you can see how the U.S. fitness tracker market is breaking down by manufacturer. Despite a lot of different offerings, sales are surprisingly concentrated....

Marking its foray into the crowded wristband fitness tracker space, Garmin launched at CES 2014 the vivofit, a waterproof device that learns a user's fitness habits and sets different daily goals. Unlike most competing wristband trackers that require a recharge after seven to 10 days, the company promises a full year's worth of battery on one charge, thanks to two user-replaceable coin cell batteries.The vivofit aims to go head to head with other fitness wristband trackers such as the Nike+ Fuelband SE, the Fitbit Force and the Jawbone Up. It will come in five flavors — black, purple, teal, blue and slate — and in two sizes: small and large. The vivofit ships in the first quarter of 2014 and costs $129.99. A bundle with a heart-rate monitor will also be available for $169.99, allowing users to get more accurate calorie-burn information while working out....

Overview

Building upon a study performed in 2014, PwC launched the 2016 Consumer Intelligence Series report on wearables to better understand the wearable technology consumption landscape and identify trends in the industry to unearth potential opportunities and applications. We sampled 1,000 US consumers via an online survey to explore consumer behavior and preferences towards wearables.

This research primarily focused on the attitudes consumers have towards wearable technology, as well as an in depth look at penetration and usage of various types of devices. Additionally, we explored the benefits and underlying motivations behind usage and how it impacts both individuals and society....