You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

This Is the Key to an $80 Billion Wearables Market Connected gadgets that are indistinguishable from their disconnected peers will fuel the growth of wearable technology.

By Andrew Nusca

entrepreneur daily

This story originally appeared on Fortune Magazine

MC10
The MC10 Biostamp.

Several factors have dogged the nascent wearable technology market. The lack of breakthrough innovation around batteries, for one, requiring wearers to plug in on-the-go gadgets more than they'd like. The lack of sophistication around tiny user interfaces is another, though that will no doubt improve over time.

But a big one? The social factor. Beyond the geeks of Silicon Valley and elsewhere, it's just not cool to wear a watch, glasses, or headset that's as big as a hood ornament.

That's going to change, according to Juniper Research. The British market observer believes that the wearable technology market will grow to $80 billion by 2020—and the key will be making the connected gadgets virtually indistinguishable from their disconnected peers.

That means that Apple must be on to something as it continues to make atypical hires from the fashion and apparel world. Observers, including Fortune"s own Philip Elmer-Dewitt, believe the new talent will help smooth the rough edges of a technology that's as personal as a bracelet, watch, or ring. (So, apparently, does Google.) The best wearables, and the ones best positioned for profitability, may be those that allow their technology to completely recede into the background.

Nevertheless, wearables will be a diverse growth market that's not merely Internet-connected jewelry. Wearables that attach to the skin, such as MC10's Biostamp, are also part of this category—though they're in a "more embryonic state" and require a much larger shift in consumer habits than a smart watch, Juniper says.

Many technology companies—including Apple, ARM, Google, Intel, Lenovo-Motorola, LG, MC10, Microsoft, Omate, Qualcomm, Sony, and Withings, plus wearables-savvy design firms like Gadi Amit's NewDealDesign and Yves Béhar's Fuseproject—are well-positioned to benefit from the boom. With the right features, consumers are, too.

Andrew Nusca is a senior editor at Fortune. He edits the Tech section of the magazine and technology stories on Fortune.com. He is based in New York.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Solutions

Streamline In-House Developer Work with This $40 Program

Microsoft Visual Studio features tools to help programmers code faster and build complex projects across different languages and platforms.

Business News

'Wildly Inappropriate': Woman Says She Was Denied a Job Because She Didn't Wear Makeup During the Interview

Melissa Weaver was applying for a VP of HR job at a tech company via video.

Marketing

You'll Never Succeed in a Complex Market Unless You Try These Strategies

Complex industries offer opportunities in market needs, potential profitability and expansion opportunities — but the key to being successful is developing and supporting a clearly differentiated value proposition that separates your organization from potential competitors. Here's how to do it.

Side Hustle

I Started a Semi-Passive Side Hustle That Earns $33,000 a Week on Amazon: 'Selling There Is a No-Brainer'

Dr. Jenny Woo wanted to create a product that would help people connect, and it turned out to be a lucrative one.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.