The wearables market is expected to grow to around €56.5 billion in 2024, up from €24 billion in 2019, according to UK-based analysts GlobalData. With the growing popularity of smart personal devices, there is also a rise in demand for accessibility. But what direction will the wearable device industry go in 2022? Ametek Crank, a specialist in graphical user interfaces, recently released their 2022 trends, outlining which key themes will drive the wearable market next year and through the decade.

The report underlines the fact that consumer demands will “outgrow the basic offerings that are offered by Apple watchOS, Google Android.”

Here are five predictions from AMETEK Crank’s, CEO, Brian Edmond:

1. Low power will be in high demand – No one wants to plug in their device daily, consumers are already seeking more battery life with the expectation of the same rich user experience (UX) they have always had.
2. Consumers are seeking even richer graphical experiences – Consumers are consistently demanding a smartphone-like experience on any device they use, driving manufacturers to juggle graphics, memory, and power budgets to keep costs down. Keeping up with this demand will be paramount to brand success.
3. Growing diversification of wearable health devices – Not only will devices become smaller in form but with an increased focus in the health and wellness industries, the diversification for wearable devices will serve a multitude of needs (going back to the need for increased battery life).
4. Less streamlined and more flexible platform architectures – The key for wearables products is to select hardware that offers built-for-purpose options to make design tradeoffs easier and minimise the power wastage that comes with using less-efficient components. Adopting platforms and ecosystems that are built to make these choices easier and scale over time, a key component for wearables development moving into 2022.
5. Adaptation to the silicon shortage – The shock of the dwindling semiconductor supply is over, now manufacturers are finding ways to keep their products in the market and use the resources they already have to deliver new ones. Relying less on hardware specifics and more on flexible processes, tools, and application architectures will help them streamline product delivery for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of British Columbia recently announced what they claim is the first battery that is both flexible and washable. Innovations like this could be a game changer, as “wearable electronics are a big market and stretchable batteries are essential to their development”, said Dr Ngoc Tan Nguyen, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC’s faculty of applied science.