Technology advances every day. While a person may believe that he has the latest and greatest device, it may become an obsolete technology in a month or a year. As years go by, these developments can change people´s lives in subtle or radical ways. Five years after the Apple Watch made the wearable concept mainstream, today companies are developing in new devices.

Research developments have led to greater innovation in recent years, and have driven market demand for wearable devices, also leading to new product categories such as smart clothing and hearables, becoming part of people´s daily life. The general focus in recent years has been to provide a new aesthetic design to devices, to attract more customers and bring a new fashion sense to smart technology.

Wearable technology is an emerging trend that integrates cutting-edge technology into daily activities. This technology fits with the most changing and active lifestyles of the current century. It can be worn on a small part of the body and is focused on tracking and improving health, fitness and wellness.

The most common Smart Wearables include smart rings, smart jewelry, smart watches, fitness trackers, smart clothing, and small head-worn displays, but there's more.
The rapid technological developments in the Smart Wearable technology market bring competitive intelligence, product innovations and a variety of strategies to the main players in the industry. A detailed understanding of some of the industry´s pioneers, as well as current market dynamics and potential growth opportunities, will help new start-ups thrive in this industry.

There are many examples of smart wearable technology devices already available on the market that are tailored to different person's specific needs and budgets. Quantifying bracelets, headphones and smart watches have become a resounding success in the industry in recent times. In fact, sales have almost doubled compared to last year, and the great market winner is Apple, which thanks to its AirPods dominates this niche, especially in the 'hearables' section, which are succeeding above the rest of wearables.

But these aren't the only ones trying to make it big, and some tech companies are trying to outdo new features and implementations.

Ōura Ring and Motiv Ring

These two companies offer something different. Their devices are essentially sleek smart rings that are less flashy than a smartwatch and offer most of their features.

Instead of just being an activity tracker, Ōura gives the user a personal activity goal that is calibrated daily based on his own individual recovery status and readiness to perform. The ring tracks overall daily movement, steps, exercise, burnt calories, and integrates data to balance both your recovery and training. In addition, the ring measures the physiological signals of the human body, analyzes and understands the personal lifestyle, and brings the user as close as possible to a better well-being state. It makes personalized suggestions and can display user trends over time, specifically tailored to each individual.

Ōura Ring includes several sensors, including an infrared optical pulse measurement, a 3D accelerometer, diverse body temperature sensors and a gyroscope. All these sensors combined provide data on three main areas: sleep, preparation and activity. Also, in 2019, the company launched a new feature to quantify meditation: 'Moment'.

Regarding Motiv Ring, it combines fitness, heart rate and sleep tracking with online security features that protect the user's identity. The ring automatically tracks activity progress and measures other metrics. It detects when the user sleeps and when he gets up in the morning thanks to sensors built directly into the ring. Active heart rate tracking gives a clear picture of the benefits and health impact of your favorite workouts. This helps prevent strokes and improves overall cardiovascular health. Plus, it adjusts daily goals based on personal progress toward a weekly goal.

Bellabeat

Other devices, like Bellabeat, are ditching the watch normal form, opting for something completely different. Its Leaf device, which the brand´s refer to as smart jewelry, is a pendant, brooch, and bracelet all in one. This device monitors sleep, activity and wellness tracking.

Designed specifically for women, it incorporates meditation, menstrual cycle tracking and breathing exercises, among other interesting features. It even has some discreet alarms.
In addition to this product, the company also created Spring, the first smart water bottle powered by Artificial Intelligence.

Wearable speakers

The idea of so-called 'wearable speakers' is not new. In 2016 LG launched one with an attractive proposal known as LG Tone Studio, and later Bose came with its sweat-and-water-resistant SoundWear to be used in the gym or for exercise.
The concept is the same: delivering better sound quality in a speaker worn around your neck for an immersive audio experience. In addition, these devices usually include a microphone to be also used as a telephone. They connect with mobile devices via Bluetooth, becoming kind of personal assistants.