Microsoft plans to weigh into the wearable computing market with a smartwatch, Forbes reported Thursday.<\/p>\n
The US technology tighten tapped into talent behind its gesture-sensing Kinect accessory for Xbox video game consoles to help make a sensor-loaded smartwatch, according to Forbes.<\/p>\n
Smartwatch capabilities were said to include fitness features such as measuring and tracking heart rates.<\/p>\n
Like the growing array of “wearable computing” devices, Microsoft’s creation will be designed to synch wirelessly to applications in smartphones, Forbes said.<\/p>\n
last month, market tracker IDC predicted sales of wearable tech items would triple this year to 19 million units worldwide, growing to 111.9 million by 2018.<\/p>\n
IDC said the wearable sector is still led by fitness trackers such as Jawbone UP and Fitbit devices.<\/p>\n
“The increased buzz has prompted more vendors to announce their intentions to enter this market,” IDC research manager Ramon Llamas said in a statement released with the forecast.<\/p>\n
“Most importantly, end users have warmed to their simplicity in terms of design and functionality, making their value easy to understand and use.”<\/p>\n
Apple is also rumored to be working on an “iWatch,” although the iPod, iPad, iPhone and Macintosh computer maker has not commented on that.<\/p>\n
Google, meanwhile, recently opened its Glass “explorer” program to anyone in the United States with $1,500 to spend on the Internet-connected eyewear.<\/p>\n
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