What if you could wear a chair?

Japan has recently shifted its focus to wearable technology, including devices such as a “standing” chair designed for surgeons. This shift in focus is due to a new generation of young entrepreneurs, an increase in international collaborations, and partnerships with university scientists. In 2013, Japan sold 530,000 units of wearable tech devices, and it is predicted that this figure will rise to 13.1 million units in 2017. Tokyo’s first Wearable Expo, which debuted in 2015, was the largest wearable tech fair in the world at the time. Japan’s wearable tech market is booming, with the next Wearable Expo expected to have over 200 exhibitors and 19,000 visitors. Examples of innovative wearable tech from Japan include a dog harness that allows pet owners to communicate with their dogs, and a wearable chair that allows surgeons to rest while working. In addition, there are smaller wearables, such as a device that turns a user’s fingertip into a magic wand, allowing them to interact with surfaces and other smart devices. The developers of these wearables expect them to be embraced by industries such as education and corporate.