The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas offered a glimpse of the possibilities of wearable tech. The trend is moving back toward hardware again, after a large amount of attention for cloud computing software.

As the cloud industry increased its market share, hardware faded into the background of the tech world. Happily the wave of innovation in wearable tech is encouraging companies like HTC and Intel to jump back on the hardware bandwagon and take advantage of the latest shift. The personal computer is literally becoming more personal, as devices track sleep patterns, health statistics and display computer screens through smart eyeglasses.

At his CES keynote, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich introduced the Edison project with a completely different spin on the future of the mobile industry and the wearable device revolution that is upon us. It’s a marked shift in the direction of technology development that breaks from the smartphone (“computer in your pocket”) concept and what the industry calls “tethered devices.”

With more companies realizing the important shift in consumer tech, here is a glimpse into the future of the wearable technology industry:

1. The market isn’t saturated – Most startup pitches these days liken their idea to existing business models. It’s common to hear a founder say “Our company is the Foursquare of this niche” or “Our service is the Uber of this.” Tech startups these days mimic established companies and apply a similar process to a new industry. However, the wearable tech market is as wide open as it can get. Companies are still competing fiercely and there isn’t any one brand that is dominating the sector.
2. Designs will improve – As technology gets better, consumer demand rises. This demand creates competition that will encourage companies to differentiate their product offerings. For example, there are already various renderings of the Google Glass that combines the same technology with fashion forward designs. Mike Bell, head of Intel’s mobile business states, “They have to look like something you really want to wear before they get mass adoption, a problem they have is everything is a square touch screen. I’m pretty sure long term that’s not what people are going to want to wear all the time.”
3. Devices will not have to rely on smartphones – Similar to tablets that exist without connecting to a laptop because of their similar capabilities, wearable tech will begin to work independently from smartphones, without tethering via Bluetooth or NFC. Chips will get smaller, LED displays will become clearer and battery life will continue to lengthen. Users will be able to use their wearable tech with confidence while leaving their smartphones at home.

The world of wearable tech is still in its infancy. Big brands are racing to augment their market share. It’s exciting to see the rapid development in technology and design in this new industry. Wearable tech will help us become more accountable with our health, drive up productivity at work, and offer assisted information quicker.

For the latest trends in wearable tech, follow us on Twitter @ARTEMIA_Comm. Tweet us what your current favorite device is with the hashtag #wearabletech. We’ll be sure to share our latest findings on industry news.