The Fierce Medtech Innovation Week was a virtual event hosted by Fierce Medtech and Fierce Electronics, two online publications focusing on the medtech sector run by Questex, a publications and events company. The event consisted of 1.5-hour virtual sessions held over 26-28 April 2021.

Contents that will be covered in this webinar include: From Mini-LED to Micro-LED displays and what the trend means; Motivations and drivers of micro-LED displays; How COVID-19 can impact the business; and Discussion of value propositions of micro-LED displays

In one of the first studies of its kind, medical and engineering researchers have shown wearable devices that continuously monitor blood sugar provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults.

A wide variety of portable and wearable electronics have become a large part of our daily lives, so a group of researchers wondered if these could be powered by harvesting electricity from the waste heat that exists all around us.

Nextiles is launching into the sports and performance market to provide smart thread technology that captures biometric and biomechanics data.

Thursday 13 May 2021 - Understand why multi-mode harvesting and new forms such as harvesting infrasound and using triboelectrics look promising. Learn applications for the newest supercapacitor variants with the best of both worlds between supercapacitors and batteries. What, why, where, when, who? Best practice?

Being unable to walk quickly can be frustrating and problematic, but it is a common issue, especially as people age. Noting the pervasiveness of slower-than-desired walking, engineers have tested how well a prototype exoskeleton system they have developed - which attaches around the shin and into a running shoe - increased the self-selected walking speed of people in an experimental setting.

A multi-disciplinary team is driving environmental and societal change by developing novel affordable and simple to manufacture QuickFitting textile multi-point pressure sensing strips for real-time monitoring in the medical and healthcare sector for potential use in areas such as prosthetic fit and bandage compression therapy for leg ulcers.

Plastic Logic has announced a new flexible 5.4in colour display that is set to revolutionise smart wearable devices.

Gas accidents such as toxic gas leakage in factories, carbon monoxide leakage of boilers, or toxic gas suffocation during manhole cleaning continue to claim lives and cause injuries. Developing a sensor that can quickly detect toxic gases or biochemicals is still an important issue in public health, environmental monitoring, and military sectors.

Current research on flexible electronics is paving the way for wireless sensors that can be worn on the body and collect a variety of medical data. But where do the data go? Without a similar flexible transmitting device, these sensors would require wired connections to transmit health data.

COROS Wearables Inc have announced a partnership with performance coach Shane Benzie, and Running Reborn. The partnership aims to develop further research into the scientific field of Vertical Oscillation, as well as to educate on the benefits of training with COROS Running Dynamics by pairing this data with professional movement techniques to ensure that training and recovery are optimised.

It is not uncommon to have a favorite bra, or a lucky pair of pants. Now, innovations in E-Textiles and Smart Clothing have taken this phenomenon to the next level. Imagine a pair of pants that can play your party playlist when you get too sad, or a bra that can turn down the thermostat when your indoor workout raises your temperature.

Researchers have succeeded for the first time in measuring brain waves directly via a cochlear implant. These brainwaves indicate in an objective way how good or bad a person's hearing is. The research results are important for the further development of smart hearing aids.

Researchers have designed an AI-powered, voice-activated backpack that can help the visually impaired navigate and perceive the world around them. The backpack helps detect common challenges such as traffic signs, hanging obstacles, crosswalks, moving objects and changing elevations, all while running on a low-power, interactive device.

OPPO has announced the launch of the OPPO Band, the smartphone brand's first wearable device designed to enhance and improve the fitness experience. It's the newest addition to OPPO's smart device line and follows the success of the OPPO Watch series last year.

Replacements for active RFID improve range but retain a problem of life being limited by battery life. Energy harvesting is slowly being adopted to reduce the problem but weight, size and cost are issues.

If it becomes possible to affordably harvest energy in the available space as fast as it is consumed, the battery life problems with most wearables will be solved.

On 22 - 24th of March 2021 IDTechEx attended (virtually) the LOPEC conference, organised by the European Organic Electronics Association (OEA). This premium article reviews a selection of the most interesting and/or commercially relevant talks.