As expected, wearable tech gadgets are stealing the spotlight with exciting products ready to debut and the latest innovations in the rapidly growing industry of wearable tech. Be it smartglasses, watches or wearable fitness and activity wrist-wear bracelet trackers, the market is filling fast with new and exciting products each year.
One of the most publicized wearable tech categories is that of smartwatches. According to the latest report from Berg Insight, by 2017 smartwatches are predicted to be the largest wearable device segment. Consequently, the focus has been on developing the most functional, yet appealing, computerized wristwatch that connect to either a smartphone or tablet; such devices display more than content and notifications on the watch itself of a user’s activity and habits as they also allow access to an enriched application ecosystem.
Samsung (News - Alert) Electronics Co. Ltd. has achieved significant improvements as smart wearable provider in recent time with Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, the successor to the Galaxy Gear. Samsung announced the Gear 2 and Gear Neo, which both run Tizen instead of Android (News - Alert) in February; both were released this month. The Galaxy Gear initially offered was criticized for its weight and thickness, both concerns have been improved.
The Gear 2 products and the Gear Fit, a slender and form-fitting fitness band, respectively have Samsung moving toward its goal of taking the lead in a new category. Gear Fit promises to catalyze a completely new market of devices, while Gear 2 helps expand Samsung’s line of new smartwatches. The latter offer, “consumers increased connectivity, customization, and control,” reports the company on its website. JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division, Samsung Electronics said with Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo, the company brings wearable technology to the next level in terms of convenience and style, with a lightweight design, and premium finishes; they reflect the modern trends for feature-rich devices that wear comfortably around the wrist.
The Samsung Gear Fit is slender and has a form fitting wristband; it uses flexible OLED display and is equipped with a curved 210-mAh battery. It uses bending technology in the production of the cell, that involves a process to increase the energy density of the battery. It is said to outlast the competition in time between charges. New lamination technology and a colorful interface complete the new device package.
Compared to the original Galaxy Gear, Gear 2, Samsung’s 2nd-gen smartwatch, is lighter and offers a better battery life.
A post on AndroidHeadlines.com, yesterday, revealed that Samsung SDI has made advancements in battery tech and is a major player in the smartband batteries market; it has created the bendable battery for the Gear Fit wristband which makes it more comfortable on the wrist and can reduce the size of the battery while increasing the battery's capacity.
Lee Kyung-sang, of Samsung said key components, like the curved battery that feature a process to increase the energy density for smartbands is available for other wearable devices, even smartwatches. He suggests that performance and design of wearable devices might be powered by the latest flexible battery; he says the future-type battery, after the curved display for smart watches, is likely to bring wearable technology to the next level; the computational devices for the wrist will be thinner and have a longer lasting batter life, he said.
Samsung SDI’s flexible battery breakthrough for the wearable tech sector and Samsung Electronics commercialization of graphene flexible material has brought a new tech trend that is sure to give them a good advantage over competing mobile manufactures. With the Gear's promising hardware that offer consumers enhanced connectivity and a completely integrated approach for the most personal wearable experience, and Samsung now utilizing the perfect material for battery efficiency, has the manufacture amongst the major players when it comes to innovative wearable devices on the market.
The wearable tech market is one key focus of the Wearable Tech EXPO later this year taking place July 23-24, 2014 at the Javits Center in New York.
Edited by Maurice Nagle