A new technological advance that will allow a great leap forward in consumer electronics and human-machine interaction.

Authors: Adolfo Benedito and Susana Otero. AIMPLAS, Technological Institute of Plastics.
Printed electronics employs traditional printing technologies for the deposition of conductive, semiconducting, and dielectric materials, facilitating the development of new flexible electronic components such as OPV solar cells, OLED light-emitting devices, printed batteries, flexible displays, and RFID antennas, as examples of the numerous organic electronics developments that will be partially or fully printable in the coming years.
 
The report recently presented by Smithers Pira, "The Future of Functional and Industrial Print to 2020," identifies printed electronics as one of the key sectors, where printing technologies are being used to industrially manufacture displays, lighting, PV systems, and sensors, among other applications. The use of printing technologies for the development of electronic components, RFID antennas, sensors, and printed circuit boards is already a major business for many suppliers, whose applications are creating new business opportunities. The report forecasts rapid growth for this emerging sector in the coming years, projecting an increase from $67 billion in 2015 to over $105 billion in 2020.
 
Wearable Electronics
: Meanwhile, the development of portable wireless technology and the democratization of smartphones have ushered in a new era for wearable electronics, which is still in its early stages. Devices once considered for use only in industrial settings are now finding popularity among consumers seeking to improve their quality of life through various applications such as health monitoring, sports and fitness tracking, and lifestyle enhancements.
In this sense, the wearables market is growing and increasingly promising. With projected sales of 250 to 350 million units by 2019, compared to nearly 150 million units in 2015, wearables represent a new and attractive revenue stream for both consumer electronics and fashion manufacturers.
 
Competition is fierce, and the available products are incredibly diverse: smartwatches, smart glasses, fitness trackers, and accessories, either standalone or integrated with a smartphone or tablet. The potential for innovation seems limitless.
Watches are currently the most common form of wearable electronics used by consumers. Smartwatches are gaining popularity because they not only display the time, calendar, and altitude, but also track heart rate and pulse, offer health analytics, and allow users to make and receive calls and messages. This demonstrates the significant potential for wearable electronics in the market.

Evolution of Wearables:
The idea of ​​miniaturization and portability has always been a fundamental objective of any device. The rise of microelectronics in the distant 1970s and 80s gave a huge boost to this endless quest: ever smaller. A basic triangle underpins this entire endeavor: size, aesthetics, and functionality. And from all this emerges a very important current trend of great social, economic, and commercial significance: innovative electronic devices, or "wearables." In fact, when we talk about "wearables," we are using an anglicism that means "wear" (to wear on one's body), constituting all those digital or non-digital elements that we can wear on our bodies as an extension of ourselves. They include all kinds of glasses, bracelets, watches, headbands, patches, fabrics, headphones, etc.
Size, as we have already mentioned, is critical; aesthetics are also crucial because fashion leaves its mark, its distinctive and social character; Functionality is key, because advanced and innovative utilities and applications are sought, going beyond that classic and visionary electronic wristwatch, the legendary CASIO (now back in the spotlight thanks to the magic of fashion). From simply telling time, we've moved to integration and an endless race for the most outlandish applications and functionalities: integrated radios and televisions, high-level communications extensions, location devices, vital sign monitoring, security controls, and much more.
From the distant times of exotic China in the 17th century, when, during the Qing dynasty, an abacus was miniaturized to fit into a merchant's ring, or later in 1762 when the first marine chronometer with an integrated analog clock appeared, or through the first hearing aid in 1987, to the most modern "Google Glass." It's a whole history of devices designed to help us understand ourselves better, stay perfectly connected with our surroundings, and expand our senses to the fullest.
 
Let's not deny the enormous entertainment value of these devices, but if we have to highlight two market niches particularly receptive to the development of these systems, there's no doubt that sports and biomedical applications are the most demanding and current for this type of system. Undoubtedly, monitoring personal physical condition during exertion and sporting events holds great appeal for consumers immersed in today's society. And so, the commitment of large international corporations in the field of consumer electronics to the health ecosystem has become evident over the last few years. Well-known brands like Apple, Google, Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, and others ruthlessly monopolize the wearables market. In fact, statistics show that more than 70% of current devices are related to recording and monitoring vital signs. There is a constant search and race for the most precise, unique, and specialized measurement imaginable. From positional controls for monitoring other devices or people, to safety systems for preventing crises in chronically ill patients, to monitoring general health variables such as cholesterol and glucose levels, and even intelligent systems for detecting infections and acting accordingly.
 
However, this technological race is encountering the critical barrier of device independence, whether due to energy consumption or the need for data processing for interpretation. In this regard, 56% of current wearables depend on other devices to control or manage their functions and measurements, such as a smartphone or a personal computer; 26% are independent; and 18% have mixed functions.

Printed and flexible electronics will enable a new generation of wearables.
Printed and flexible electronics are allowing the development of electronic devices and components that can be integrated directly onto the skin. New high-conductivity, high-resolution inks can be printed on elastic materials without losing their functionality. Looking to the future, even intracorporeal wearables are being considered as key elements for the future of medicine.
Portable sensors, like those developed by the startup MC10 and other companies, will take computing to its next frontier: our bodies.

Sophisticated sensors, such as MC10's BioStamp, will still require several years of development before reaching the market. However, many scientists are delving into the development of integrated body sensor networks for monitoring and preventing certain episodes and diseases. Harrison Hall, a doctoral student at Dartmouth College, is working on a body sensor network to detect and measure epileptic seizures.
In the coming years, wearable health sensors will continue to grow in capabilities and will very likely become integrated into our daily lives.
Authors: Adolfo Benedito and Susana Otero. AIMPLAS, Technological Institute of Plastics.