515 Million Mobile Sensing Health & Fitness Sensor Shipments in 2017

Based on health industry interviews and surveys with over 2,000 individuals, ON World’s recently published report analyzes the market for mobile sensing solutions for health and wellness.
San Diego, CA, May 30, 2013-- Mobile sensing technologies are revolutionizing healthcare by providing low-cost patient-centered solutions with real-time patient to doctor monitoring, according to ON World, a global technology research firm. 
“Advances in low power wireless communications, MEMS and multi-sensor arrays have resulted in viable body area network applications for clinical patient monitoring, assisted care, at-home chronic disease management and general wellness,” says Mareca Hatler, ON World’s research director.  “At the same time, there has been enormous growth for mobile sensing apps for smartphones and tablets.” 
By 2017, there will be 1.4 billion mobile sensing health and fitness app downloads worldwide and health apps will increase the fastest over the next five years.
Mobile sensing solutions include wearable and implantable sensors as well as carry-able devices that can be used while the user is mobile.  Global annual sensor shipments for mobile sensing health and fitness devices-- including dedicated devices and health/fitness enabled smart devices such as smart watches, smartphones and tablets— will reach 515 million in 2017 up from 107 million in 2012. 
ON World’s recent survey (Q2:2013) with over 1,000 U.S. consumers found that nearly 4 in 10 are interested in purchasing a smart watch and 48% are likely to use their smart watch for health or fitness.  Respondents are especially interested in using their smart watch for blood pressure and heart rate monitoring as well as activity tracking.
Traditional health products are quickly being replaced with mobile sensing solutions.  The pace of innovation in this area is illustrated by the fact that 60% of the mobile sensing products ON World evaluated were launched in 2012 or later.  Cardiac/ECG monitoring is a popular developer area that makes up 22% of the health products ON World researched.  There are a growing number of innovations targeting diabetes management such as Cellnovo’s cellular connected continuous blood glucose monitoring system, smartphone/cellular connected blood glucose meters by BodyTel, Entra Health, Sanofi/AgaMatrix and Telcare.  Breakthrough implantable sensor technology will be one of the fastest growing markets where blood glucose sensors with multi-month lifetimes will change the lives of diabetics and lower overall healthcare costs.
Although it is widespread for fitness, wearable multi-sensor vital sign monitors is still an emerging market for healthcare. The results from pilots so far confirm that wearable vital sign monitors are effective and preferred by both patients and health workers. Between 2012 and 2017, wearable health and fitness device shipments will increase by 552% and make up over 80% of the mobile sensing health and fitness device market at this time.
Based on input from more than 2,000 individuals, “Mobile Sensing Health & Wellness” analyzes the global market for mobile sensing solutions for health and wellness including 5-year forecasts for dedicated devices, passive and active sensors, communication chipsets, health/fitness-enabled smart mobile devices, smart watches, monitoring services, mobile apps and subscriptions.
The report also includes primary research findings from several recently completed surveys and an in-depth analysis of the leading vendors.  The technologies covered in the report include Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Smart, WiFi, ZigBee, ANT, BodyLAN, NFC and others.  The report may be purchased separately or as part of a set with another report, “Mobile Sensing Sports & Fitness.”
The report synopsis and a free executive summary is available from: http://www.onworld.com/mobilesensing/health