STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and a top-tier supplier of technology for the booming wearable market, will once again be the title sponsor of the Wearable Technologies Innovation World Cup in 2014/2015.
With a broad product portfolio and a hardware and software ecosystem ideally suited to enable the burgeoning market, ST sees the Wearables Technology Innovation World Cup as an opportunity to further encourage creativity and plant the seeds that will bloom to produce the next generation of innovative wearable devices. ST is supporting developers with its STM32Nucleo boards, BlueNRG shields, and BlueNRG-based Bluetooth® Smart USB dongles along with relevant STM32Cube development software, and will provide these tools free, in any combination, to the first 100 contestants. Among these kits is ST's recently launched BlueNRG shield, an affordable Bluetooth Low Energy development kit that works with STM32 Nucleo open microcontroller platform, supports Arduino connectivity, and is the first in a growing ecosystem of specialized shields to facilitate and accelerate development projects.
"Look around at the cool gadgets all of your friends are wearing. As a leading supplier of technology, including sensors, microcontrollers, power management, analog, connectivity, and security, ST is enabling these bracelets, watches, glasses, and other wearables that are augmenting our lives," said Andrea Onetti, General Manager Analog and Audio Systems Division, STMicroelectronics. "Our participation as the Title Sponsor for the second consecutive year is natural and this year we are increasing our efforts by giving away some of our outstanding development tools to the first 100 registrants to ensure they keep the wearables momentum going."
"STMicroelectronics is the world leader in RF and sensor technologies and fits perfectly to the fast growing WT market and so the Wearable Technologies Group is very proud to have ST again on board as the title sponsor of its WT Innovation World Cup," said Christian Stammel, CEO of Wearable Technologies and Navispace. "Our community will use these great development tools to create the next generation of wearables."
With a product portfolio that spans the full range of low-power and high-performance sensors, connectivity ICs, audio amplifiers, op amps, analog switches, and battery gas gauges for the wearables market, along with an industry-leading family of STM32 ARM® Cortex®-M microcontrollers and an outstanding choice of development tools, ST is positioned to continue its success in the wearables market and will continue to grow its ecosystem with specialized shields.
The Innovation World Cup identifies and supports innovative solutions and applications worn close to the body, on the body, or even in the body. From June 1st to November 15th 2014, innovators and developers from all over the world are invited to submit innovative solutions that have the potential to become real marketable products for Wearable Technologies in the fields of Sports & Fitness, Healthcare & Wellness, Safety & Security, and Gaming & Lifestyle. Winners will be announced in February 2015 at the Innovation Cup award ceremony during Wearable Technologies' Conference Europe.