This article is a summary of the latest considerations for the wearable technology industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including background on the pandemic, case studies of it's impact, and a discussion around changes to quantitative forecasts across IDTechEx's wearable portfolio as a result.

In an effort to create first-of-kind microelectronic devices that connect with biological systems, researchers are utilizing CRISPR technology in a novel way to electronically turn "on" and "off" several genes simultaneously. Their technique has the potential to further bridge the gap between the electronic and biological worlds, paving the way for new wearable and "smart" devices.

Recently the versatility of mixed and augmented reality products has come to the forefront of the news, with an Imperial led project at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Doctors have been wearing the Microsoft Hololens headsets whilst working on the front lines of the COVID pandemic, to aid them in their care for their patients.

An important new trend is buying electrics and electronics you customise to function not just shape. See the new IDTechEx report, "Complete Electronics as Smart Material, User-Customized 2020-2040". Builders, textile manufacturers, those doing home improvement and others are starting to buy electrically-smart materials direct from materials companies, bypassing the electronics industry.

An international team of scientists has developed colour-changing, flexible photonic crystals that could be used to develop sensors that warn when an earthquake might strike next. The wearable, robust and low-cost sensors can respond sensitively to light, temperature, strain or other physical and chemical stimuli making them an extremely promising option for cost-effective smart visual sensing applications in a range of sectors including healthcare and food safety.

Researchers have developed ultra-light tattoo electrodes that are hardly noticeable on the skin and make long-term measurements of brain activity cheaper and easier.

Expect more healthcare wearables that power themselves, many even managing with no battery. The IDTechEx report, "Energy Harvesting for Electronic Devices 2020-2040" covers this and more.

A wearable that supports companies in remaining active or safely restarting in-person activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The wearable warns employees through an audible or haptic alarm, when they are violating the social distancing guidelines while approaching each other.

In the age of social distancing, training and maintenance of many complicated tasks and services has come to a standstill. However, there are technological solutions to this problem.

Aktiia has developed a wrist-worn optical blood pressure monitor that can automatically take measurements around the clock without requiring a specific arm position.

Particularly for healthcare, there is a growing demand for skin patches and other forms of smart skin for monitoring and even drug delivery and other active functions.

The e-skin, made from soft, flexible rubber, can be embedded with sensors that monitor information like heart rate, body temperature, levels of blood sugar and metabolic byproducts that are indicators of health, and even the nerve signals that control our muscles. It does so without the need for a battery, as it runs solely on biofuel cells powered by one of the body's own waste products.

This webinar shares some of the research for the new IDTechEx report, "Energy Harvesting for Electronic Devices 2020-2040". It comes at just the right time. The world's first self-powered smart watches have just arrived. They are not full-function but we are getting there. That billion a year harvester potential will be followed by similar numbers of Internet of Things nodes. Learn other big prizes making several of the world's largest companies research energy harvesting.

VARTA is intensively involved in a large number of research projects, including in the field of printed electronics. The goal is to optimize existing application options and to add new ones.

The microscale reentrant-honeycomb shaped, graphene-based electrode is characterized by an accordion-like structural stretchability. A stretchable gel electrolyte and stretchable separator are also developed for all-component stretchable full cells, with applications for future stretchable devices.

Food plays a big role in our health, and for that reason many people trying to improve their diet often track what they eat. A new wearable helps wearers track their food habits with high fidelity.

Powercast Corporation and Liquid X have announced a printed electronics venture to enable garment manufacturers to easily integrate wireless power functionality into durable, flexible, high performance and washable e-textiles.

When some full-function, always-on smartwatches are able to self-charge, the others will look like the horse-drawn cart. When Internet of Things nodes are self-charging at the right size and price, the market for them will increase one thousand times.

Ground-breaking research has found that gelatin could be used to power devices in the future, using only the heat generated from the human body.