Smart watches to double up for CES

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has announced that the smart watch footprint at the 2015 International CES will more than double in size from the 2014 CES.

The Smart Watch Marketplace will return for a second year and is set to feature innovative companies showcasing the latest advancements in smart watch technology – state of the art wrist-wear transformed by GPS capabilities with installed music players, health monitors, message indicators and more. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2015 CES is the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies and will run January 6-9, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. “There is an overwhelming demand for wearable technology in the marketplace right now and smart watches are quickly becoming the accessory to have,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and Corporate Business Strategy, CEA. “The huge increase in size and scope of our Smart Watch Marketplace shows the growth potential for this category as smart watches become both fashionable and mainstream, with new capabilities and functions set to debut at the 2015 CES.” According to CEA research, Understanding the Market for Wearable Health and Fitness Devices, nine percent of online U.S. adults plan to purchase a smart watch in the next 12 months. The most important smart watch features to potential buyers are fitness-focused, including health monitoring (91 percent), peak performance monitoring (90 percent) and providing workout routines (82 percent). CEA’s U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecast shows wholesale (factory) projections to grow from 600,000 units and $95 million in revenue for 2013 to 960,000 units and $177 million in revenue for 2014. In total, smart watch exhibits at the 2015 CES are expected to cover nearly 2,000 net square feet (nsf) of exhibit space, up from 900 nsf at the 2014 CES. The Smart Watch Marketplace will be located at CES Tech West, which includes exhibits at the Sands Expo (Sands), The Venetian, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore at Wynn (Wynn/Encore). Major exhibitors located within the Smart Watch Marketplace include: Martian Watches, RIBX and Umeox. CES Tech West will also feature leading companies and the newest innovations in lifestyle technologies, including fitness and health tech, the Internet of Things, sensors, startups and other high growth technologies. The 2015 CES will feature 20 category-specific Marketplaces highlighting innovation across diverse product areas. The 2015 CES will also feature conference sessions targeting wearable technology.

* Follow Gadget on Twitter on @GadgetZA