As first reported by 9to5Mac, Apple has been bringing on board experts in sensors that monitor the human body. They’re from companies like AccuVein, C8 MediSensors and Senseonics.
The wearable technology market is expected to grow immensely in popularity in the next few years: one firm estimates the 500,000 smartwatches that have shipped so far this year will explode to 5 million units by the end of 2014. The optimism built into the numbers comes from the long-held assumption that Apple will do its own smartwatch. But lots of big consumer electronics companies will help bring the devices into the mainstream: that may include Microsoft, Motorola and Samsung, in addition to entries from smaller, niche companies like Pebble.
But wearable computing includes far more than watches. There’s Google Glass, of course, and simple fitness-tracking, wrist-worn devices like Nike’s, and products from Jawbone, Fitbit and others. Clothing with sensors in them will be part of the mix too, like Heapsyl
