Stop Trying to Replace What Exists...Create Something New

Are smart watches the only thing that tech companies care about when in comes to wearable technology? Are they exploring other avenues or focusing all their energy and money in an already over saturated market?

With so many companies vying for the best smart watch in the industry, consumers are being overwhelmed and bombarded with options. I think its time for these companies to put the smart watches down and venture and explore other areas of wearable and even printable technology that the average consumer would find value in.

Some companies are taking heed and spending their research and development dollars in a more viable market. IDTechEx will be hosting an annual event on the the topic of printed electronics in San Jose, California this month. At the event their be companies such as Qualcomm who will be showing of their "printed electronics label that will gather data from a golf club to deliver feedback on a player’s game to his smartphone." Another company, Blue Spark Technologies, will showcase a "child’s bandage that can deliver temperature information to a parent’s handset." While "another company will show a vest that uses printed electronics to send information about a baby’s respiration and sleep." All these companies and the many more that will be at the event are exploring new ways to use printed and wearable electronics. These new innovations will bring more value to a consumers life than adding another smart phone to the already overly saturated smart watch industry.

Rest Devices' MIMO uses printed electronics to monitor sleep and respiration.

What do you think about wearable or printed electronics? Do you think that companies should continue to vie for market share of the smart watch industry or should they should focus their research and development dollars else were? Do you have any areas that you think companies should make either a wearable or printable technology for?

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