The introduction of the Apple Watch did not create takeoff growth opportunities in the wearable device market. Consequently, vendors are working on other attractive products, and virtual reality (VR) currently stands out among the wearable technologies that are under development.
The fabless IC design industry during the first half of this year has not performed well due to lower-than-expected shipments of end products such as smartphones, PCs and notebooks. However, the market is hoping that the situation will improve with the coming peak season in this year’s second half.
As applications of Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies widen, online-to-offline (O2O) will become the prevalent business model. The latest research by Topology Research Institute (TRI), a division of TrendForce, finds the falling prices of IC components drive down the costs of sensors. This trend in turn accelerates the developments in the IoT industry related to technological advances and entries into different vertical markets.
Chinese and Taiwanese tech companies are currently making an impact on the electric scooter (e-scooter) market. Taiwan-based e-scooter manufacturer Gogoro received much praise for its Smartscooter at this year’s International CES. Since its reveal, the Smartscooter has captured the public’s attention with its innovative design, use of smart technologies and distinct business model.
“The Chinese robotics sector is behind in R&D capabilities and expertise,” said Harrison Po, consultant for Topology Research Institute (TRI), a division of TrendForce. “However, dedicated domestic suppliers have emerged and the country continues to import industrial robots from major foreign manufacturers in order to keep the rising labor costs in check.”