Dive Brief:
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About 1.6 million smart watchers were shipped in the second half of 2013, and over 17 million total wrist worn trackers are expected to ship in 2014, according to a study by Canalys.
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Fitbit shipped the most wearable wristbands during the second half of last year, followed by Jawbone, which had the second largest market share at 21%, followed by Nike with 14%. Other fitness prints made up the last 8%.
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As for smart watchers, Samsung Galaxy Gear had the largest market share, a dominating 54%. Sony had the second most shipments at 19%, and Pebble, a fitness-focused smart watch came in just under Sony's numbers at 16%. All other smart watches accounted for the remaining 11%.
Dive Insight:
Fitness trackers may be limited at present to tracking basic exercise metrics, but they're quickly merging with smart watches into devices which may someday soon be an important part of of patient monitoring. In other words, while smart watches and fitness trackers may be popular with consumers now, they'll become a part of the medical world soon enough. I'm keeping my eyes open for smart watch/fitness trackers that can be used post discharge from the hospital, or in the community to maintain chronically ill patients. That kind of product should be coming soon.