Of the wearable technology, and the change brought about

Or even the fact that you can keep up with your heartbeat rate, fitness track, doctor’s and general appointments, weather and even sleep patterns data at your fingertips. Gone are the days when a simple watch was simply that, a watch!

This are some of the key demands that have driven the uptake of Wearables by most of the C-Suite in the region today. Demand for real-time data, including personal health information, is driving the market for wearable, wireless devices.

Apparently, at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show and Mobile World Congress there was a clear indication that there is a great shift into wearables.

According to an IMS Research released in December 2015,the wearable technology market continues to rapidly expand, with total unit shipments expected to reach almost 280 million by 2019, driving $43 billion in revenue globally.

The report also indicates that in the last 18 months, the market has seen a surge of creativity, particularly with infotainment applications and fitness applications. With wireless charging enabled wearables already being adopted by high profile volume manufacturers such as Apple, the potential for growth is immense with 23 million wireless charging enabled wearable receiver products shipping during 2015.

For instance, our own CEO Harry Hare, currently uses an I’m IMWALBO2CO3 Bluetooth smartwatch, a smartwatch that connects via Bluetooth and users are able to easily see incoming calls, read SMSs, e-mails, notifications and any app directly to your wrist, said that all in all the wearable devices largely depend on what exactly the c-suite are looking at and their lifestyle generally.

Mr. Hare said that the growth of the wearable market has been brought about by the fact that now we have wearable devices that are coming into the market that one can control and use them to sort of minimize any intrusions.

“When manufacturers started making the Wearable Technologies, there was a lot of hype and no practical product came on the onset. But on the second phase of wearables there are newer devices that are not quite intrusive because one can easily control them and use them to sort of minimize the intrusion,” said Mr. Hare.

The wearable devices largely depend on what kind of a person one is. If you are a CIO who is more of a fitness enthusiast a recommendable wearable would be FitBit Flex which is a slim, stylish device that helps you track steps, distance, and calories burned and shows you how you’re stacking up against your daily goals.

At night, it tracks your sleep cycle, helps you learn how to sleep better, and wakes you silently in the morning. Access your stats anytime on your computer, tablet, or from smartphones both iPhone and Android. Flex is your perfect companion, and stays with you everywhere – even in the shower.

But if you are a general person a smart watch would simply work out as most of the current smartwatches come incorporated with fitness, weather and most applications that are in the fitness wrist bands.

Samsung is currently the local leader in wearable tech with a history of delivering smart watches/fitness bands as early as 2013 with the first Gear, followed by the Gear 2, the Gear Fit, the Gear S and now the Gear S2.

“The Wearable industry is still in its youth stages as potential and existing consumers grapple with understanding how exactly items like the smart watch fit into their daily lives beyond just fitness and health tracking and looking trendy. One thing that wearable industry has come to learn when it comes to Smart watches is that people are receptive to the technology but still want something that has a familiar look and feel to a conventional watch. Our most current wearable is the Galaxy Gear S2 which is gaining traction locally in what is still a young wearable market,” said Ryan Mule, Tablet Product Manager Samsung.

Some recommendable smart watches would include the Samsung Gear S2, a wearable that we have interacted with previously.Released in 2015, The Gear S2 represents Samsung’s real arrival on the smartwatch scene. One of the real benefits of the S2 is the fact that you’ll be able to use the S2 with an iPhone and other Android devices.That opens up an enormous opportunity for both the Korean giants and for those iOS users whom are so far unconvinced by what the Apple Watch can do.

From checking the current weather thanks to Accuweather in to checking your heartbeat. From replying to texts to playing the song that keeps you going. It’s all with a turn of the rotating bezel.

One other notable thing about the watch is that it allows you to Track your daily activity levels, heart rate, water intake and caffeine intake. It comes incorporated with S Health app, Samsung’s application that helps one track and monitor their health and wellness. In case you are having a bad at the office, the smartwatch also sends you timely motivational messages.You can also set idle alerts to remind you to move when you’ve been sitting too long.

“We have expanded our wearables reach into Virtual reality as well in 2016 by offering the Gear VR headset which as one of the most affordable virtual reality headsets globally and powered by Oculus technology that forms the backbone of modern day consumer VR,” he added.

Another notable wearable device would be theHuawei Talk Band. The TalkBand B3 pairs seamlessly with your Android or iOS smartphone and the integration maximizes all of TalkBand B3’s features. The active wrist reminder means you’ll never miss an incoming call. If your smartphone goes missing, TalkBand B3 helps you find it. Simply tap the display, click on the TalkBand B3’s phone icon, and your smartphone will begin ringing.

The Jawbone UP is yet an amazing wearable and quite affordable. Despite the fails like the Google Glass which didn’t pick up so well, the wearable market is set to grow with the growth of disruptive technologies like Internet of Things.