Opening Ceremony and Intel's MICA |
SANTA CLARA, United States — Wearable
technology is creating a new space for innovation and attracting the attention
of a diverse and growing ecosystem of players, from Silicon Valley to Madison
Avenue and fashion megabrands to small designers with big ideas who are willing
to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Even casual observers can’t miss the
eye-grabbing headlines about Apple’s $10,000 smartwatch or recent moves by TAG
Heuer and Gucci.
With retail revenues from wearable devices projected to exceed
$53 billion by 2019, according to Juniper Research, there is little reason to
wonder why so many people are watching the wearables space. But if wearables
are going to make the transition from high-tech novelty to everyday necessity,
technology companies need to partner with leading designers and fashion brands
to produce products that deliver real value without sacrificing style.