IDC: Wearable tech is here to stay

More than 19 million units to ship this year alone

Wearable technology is set for explosive growth in the coming four years, according to IDC, which claims the market has emerged from the early-adopter phase to become an industry mainstay.

By the end of 2014, some 19 million wearable units will ship globally, a figure which will rocket to 111.9 million in four years' time, the analyst said - representing a compound annual growth rate of 78.4 per cent.

"The worldwide wearable computing market is finally expanding beyond early-adopter status to more functional and stylish lifestyle accessories that are making their way on to the pages of GQ and Shape as well as Computerworld and Wired," IDC said.

Three main segments have emerged in the wearable space: complex accessories such as FitBit fitness trackers, which are commonly priced at the lower end of the market; smart accessories, which depend on other IP-capable devices and third-party applications; and smart-wearable devices such as Google Glass (pictured), which function fully on their own with no need to connect to another device.

Ramon Llamas, IDC's research manager for mobile phones, said cheaper complex devices have whetted users' appetites for wearable tech.

"Complex accessories have succeeded in drawing much-needed interest and attention to a wearables market that has had some difficulty gaining traction," he said.

"The increased buzz has prompted more vendors to announce their intentions to enter this market. Most importantly, end users have warmed to their simplicity in terms of design and functionality, making their value easy to understand and use."