Dell has become the latest computing company to indicate a move towards the development of other devices as the PC market continues on a downhill slope.
In an interview with the UK Guardian, Dell's global VP of personal computing, Sam Burd, said the company is exploring possibilities in the wearable tech space.
Burd told the publication that, while it is attractive, it is not necessarily an easy move. "There are challenges in cost, and how to make it a really good experience. But the piece that's interesting is that computers are getting smaller. Having a watch on your wrist - that's pretty interesting, pretty appealing."
Burd added that it has become crucial for computing companies to adapt their game plans if they want to keep up. "Looking ahead five years, we expect devices and form factors to continue to change. There will still be a need for 'static' computing on desktops, but there will be a real need for mobile devices.
"There's a lot of discussion about how that fits into wearable devices like we've seen with Google Glass and watches. We're looking at a world of lots of connected devices," he noted.
Feeling the pressure
The PC market is facing increasing pressure, as the world's focus has shifted towards smart computing. The latest forecast by the International Data Corporation (IDC) suggests smartphone shipments will grow by 32.7% year-on-year in 2013, reaching 958.8 million units, while the tablet market will grow by 58.7% year-on-year to reach 229.3 million units.
According to Gartner, worldwide traditional PC (desktop and notebook) shipments are forecast to total 305 million units in 2013, a 10.6% decline from 2012, while the PC market, including ultra-mobiles, is forecast to decline 7.3% in 2013.
Keeping with the times, Dell has had to start seeking other revenue streams and is looking at going private in a proposed $24 billion buyout.
Burd supported the idea of Dell going private, adding that the company's CE, Michael Dell, believes it was time for transformation. "The view is that we can get ourselves out of the quarterly reporting process where you can't make hard decisions to speed up that transformation."
Smart move
Wearable tech has become an attractive area of exploration, with big companies like Google, Samsung and Apple purportedly working on their own variations.
ABI Research forecasts that, by 2015, 485 million wearable computing devices will be shipped annually.
The most highly anticipated wearable tech device is Google Glass, which is expected to enter the consumer market by 2014, according to Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
The Glass device is currently being tested by developers and has created many concerns about security and privacy, as they delve deeper into the device's capabilities and software. Meanwhile, the search giant also indicated it is working on a smart watch design.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Apple had applied for a trademark for its rumoured iWatch patent in Japan. Its application for the trademark was submitted at the beginning of June with Japan's Patent Office releasing it on its Web site on 27 June.
Apple has, however, been secretive about its smart watch plans, with CEO Tim Cook only mentioning that the market is "ripe for exploration".
Cook has, however, shared his thoughts on Google Glass. He believes Glass is not likely to be a mass-marketed device and that it would appeal only to certain markets.
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