Health care specific wearable devices a growing industry

A recent International Data Corporation (IDC) report stated consumers, along with businesses, will purchase approximately 112 million wearable computer devices within the next four years. The data shows a nearly 79 percent growth rate from the 19 million units sold in 2014 to the estimated amount in 2018.

However, one of the biggest surprises might be the majority of these wearable devices will be purchased and used in the health care industry. Anything from a wristband to a piece of clothing to smart technology could be used for health care purposes to monitor worker wellness more closely, the source reported.

As recently as 2012, the wearable fitness bands medical devices accounted for nearly a $1.5 billion industry. Heart rate monitors and wearable fitness bands are the fastest-growing technological devices being used in the market.

Not only are actual wearable devices growing in the health care industry, but applications to track, monitor and collect data on health-related issues are growing as well. According to ABI research, the wearable devices market could reach $50 billion by 2017, which includes apps that could track body weight, blood pressure, pulse, sleep, cholesterol, height and glucose.