Samsung develops all-in-one bioprocessor for wearables

Samsung has launched a bioprocessor specifically designed for the fast-growing wearables market. The all-in-one chip is believed to be capable of tracking and monitoring any data transmitted independently, compared to most devices that need to be synced with a smartphone app.

The Korean company said the chip will also be able to analyse "bio-signals" of users such as heart rate, muscle mass, body fat, temperature and even stress levels. Samsung said it designed the chip with various control and sensor units in order to accurately measure and analyse a large volume of data. The chip boasts of a microcontroller, e-flash memory and a digital signal processor, besides analogue displays.

According to Samsung, the bioprocessors are in mass production and should be integrated into Android wearables early next year.

Samsung has big ambitions in the growing market for wearables. Health and fitness wearables have emerged only in recent years and the technology has ways to go. Even Apple Watch offers users limited health monitoring tools. The same is the case with most other Android wearables.

Fitbit is an early leader in the wearables market. Its sales shot up during the Christmas holidays, with its app topping the charts on Apple's app store. The company sells affordable wearables, focusing on health and fitness.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) expects 111.1 million wearables to be shipped in 2016, up 44.4% from an estimated 80 million in 2015. By 2019, this market will be worth 214 million.

Among wearables, smartwatches will form the biggest chunk, with Apple holding an edge over Android. While Apple Watch shipments are estimated at around 45.2 million in 2019, a 51% market share, Android is expected to come a close second with 34.4 million.