New data from Parks Associates (www.parksassociates.com) says that the number of connected digital trackers sold worldwide rose from 6.6 million in 2012 to 13.6 million in 2013 and will double again in 2014 to exceed 22 million. Factors driving consumer adoption of these device include the impact of new solutions such as the Fitbit, Google Fit, and Apple's HealthKit.

"Connected trackers will account for 52% of all digital fitness tracker unit sales in 2014 and reach 81% by 2018 (66 million units)," says Harry Wang, director, Health & Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates. "Smart watches are another wearables category poised for tremendous growth, with sales of almost 18 million units worldwide in 2014 and 121 million in 2018. These connected devices open new avenues for new fitness apps, health solutions, and data analytics. Connected Health Summit features multiple sessions with industry leaders, retailers, and solutions providers to discuss the business opportunities enabled by these devices."

David Friedman, CEO and co-founder of Ayla Networks adds: "Healthcare is one of the most promising, and most challenging, markets for the Internet of Things. We can already see how wearables and other devices can help people monitor and improve their health. But we also need to improve security and develop policies for privacy and data sharing. Technology will transform medicine, but we have many issues to resolve."