LONDON, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A number of sports,
fitness, and wellness trackers are becoming more complex and
already require more capable hardware. This is being provided by
wearable operating systems (OSs), which aid in programming the
device and improving performance, safety, and security. Many of
these OSs are becoming more general purpose, similar to those found
in smartwatches, as the level of functionality is increasing.
Simple sports, fitness, and wellness trackers that only track one
metric, for example, heart rate, require a real-time OS that
completes the highest priority task first. These OSs can be
developed by the device vendor, or leveraged from another OS, such
as Google's Wear OS or the open-source Linux OS. ABI Research, a
market-foresight advisory firm providing strategic guidance on the
most compelling transformative technologies, forecasts that sports,
fitness, and wellness trackers will be dominated by Linux and
proprietary OSs between 2018 and 2023, making up 53% and 38% of the
market respectively in 2018, with Android-based OSs completing the
lineup.
"With sports, fitness, and wellness trackers including devices
such as activity trackers, heart rate monitors, and pedometers, the
OS market is likely to remain very varied," says Stephanie Lawrence, Research Analyst at ABI
Research. "Smarter devices, such as activity trackers that record
numerous metrics, including those found in other more specific
devices (i.e. heart rate and number of steps), require a more
complex OS in order to power the increased number of features."
For devices with one major feature or function, such as heart
rate monitors, a real-time OS is required. These devices are
critical systems that have a specific action that must be completed
within a certain amount of time to give a quick, predictable
response. A real-time OS completes the highest priority task fist,
pausing any secondary tasks, ensuring that, in this case, the
user's heart rate is continuously monitored. The type of device
that is being developed must be taken into consideration when
looking into an OS. Sports, fitness, and wellness tracker vendors
also need to determine whether to develop a proprietary OS that
will function accurately with the device, leverage a current OS
that will have high functionality and app availability, or adapt an
open-source OS that will offer a much cheaper alternative.
Companies such as Google provide the Android-based Wear OS,
allowing wearable vendors to offer a device with a recognizable
user interface, a large library of apps, and compatibility with
various smartphones, both Android and non-Android such as Apple.
OSs such as Wear OS are used to power more complex devices that
have many features. An increasing number of sports, fitness, and
wellness tracker vendors are developing their own OSs, including
Fitbit and Garmin, as it allows the company to ensure that the OS
works completely with the device from start to finish, supporting
all of the features, extending the battery life, and allowing for
connection to various smartphones on different OSs. Proprietary OSs
can be general purpose or real-time depending on the requirements
of the device. As sports, fitness, and wellness devices do not
require a large library of apps, a proprietary OS, or leveraging a
free open-source OS, is often the best way to go as it allows the
device and the OS to be built in-line with each other.
"A wearable OS is an important aspect to consider when designing
and developing a sport, fitness, and wellness tracker, as the type
of device being made will determine what type of OS will be
required," concludes Lawrence. "The most important considerations
for vendors are: what type of OS is required and which, if any,
other devices need to interoperate," concludes Lawrence.
These findings are from ABI Research's Wearables Operating
Systems and Platforms report. This report is part of the
company's Wearables, Usables, and Expendables research
service, which includes research, data, and Executive
Foresights.
About ABI Research
ABI Research provides strategic guidance for visionaries needing
market foresight on the most compelling transformative
technologies, which reshape workforces, identify holes in a market,
create new business models and drive new revenue streams. ABI's own
research visionaries take stances early on those technologies,
publishing groundbreaking studies often years ahead of other
technology advisory firms. ABI analysts deliver their conclusions
and recommendations in easily and quickly absorbed formats to
ensure proper context. Our analysts strategically guide visionaries
to take action now and inspire their business to realize a bigger
picture. For more information about ABI Research's forecasting,
consulting and teardown services, visionaries can contact us at
+1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific or visit www.abiresearch.com.
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SOURCE ABI Research