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Smart Wearable Gloves Market size is projected to expand at a notable pace over 2021-2027. Increasing focus on product innovation in face of rapidly surging demand across varied applications, including healthcare, entertainment, and sports, among others, are positively impacting the market development.
The accelerating demand for smart wearable gloves across healthcare, gaming, industrial, and other sectors have prompted companies to focus on technological upgradation. Recent research activities have been focused on exploring and improving the capabilities of smart wearable gloves to expand its scope of usage and facilitate better integration of these devices with advanced technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), internet of things (IoT), and machine learning.
Meanwhile, the increasing affordability of smart wearable gloves is also expected to be favorable for product adoption across many end-use verticals over 2021-2027. To cite an instance, in June 2020, researchers from MIT developed a low-cost and fiber-based smart glove dubbed “MemGlove” – made with off-the-shelf components, which make them appropriate for mass production.
Among components, the smart wearable glove sensors market has witnessed exponential growth in recent years. Increasing research focus on use of different sensors is broadening gloves functioning across several uses. Sensors can use finger movements to perform actions, which is considered pivotal in various processes.
For instance, a May 2020 study examined the use of haptic-feedback smart glove with palm sliding sensor, triboelectric-based finger bending sensors, and piezoelectric mechanical stimulators in AR/VR applications. The study found that the glove was able to achieve 96% accuracy in object recognition through machine learning. The glove could be a promising solution for low-cost and advanced human-machine interaction. These qualities could potentially be beneficial in diverse sectors viz., home healthcare, sports training, entertainment, and medical industries.
Smart wearable gloves are experiencing rapid growth in the healthcare sector due to product innovation focusing on improving patient care. For example, the Neofect smart glove has been designed to promote brain reorganization and motor learning to improve hand and arm function in adults recovering from stroke.
North America smart wearable gloves market is witnessing substantial growth due the growing presence of companies working towards extending their offerings to accommodate a wider consumer base. The US, in particular, houses numerous organizations that are working on integrating advanced technologies in their products to gain a better standing in the sector.
For instance, in May 2021, tech giant Apple was granted a patent for segmented force sensors for its smart gloves. The company intends to use its force-sensing gloves that can sense the force of a user’s movement and translate the movement into an input.
Apple Inc., NEOFECT, ProGlove, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Lab Brothers LLC, Blue Infusion Technology, Maze Exclusive, Vandrico Solutions, Inc., Seekas Technology Co., Ltd., Motorola Mobility LLC, Huawei, and Symbol Technologies LLC are some notable companies in the smart wearable gloves market. These brands are focusing on incorporating advanced technologies to expand the scope of applications and meet customer requirements.
in February 2021, Taiwanese electronics company Foxconn announced a partnership agreement with British medical device company GyroGear to manufacture and market smart wearables, including the product GyroGlove. GyroGlove leverages an adjustable and electronic gyroscope and helps reduce tremors. The glove can help people with Parkinson’s disease who deal with shaky hands by giving them better control over their hands, thereby restoring the quality of life.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, smart wearable gloves were considered crucial in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, especially in the healthcare setting. Robotic and telerobotic systems were considered vital in reducing the risk of the transmission of the virus to frontline healthcare workers by allowing them to triage, monitor, assess, and treat patients from a safe distance.
Owing to their design, smart wearables have significantly supported healthcare delivery and medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The products also have notable use across robotics in the industrial sector, which could strengthen their adoption post COVID 19 crisis as well.