Growth in the consumer sector is a reason for us to celebrate and a signal for us to change.

The consumer sector is arguably the most powerful aspect of today’s immense electronics industry, influencing our quality of life and our perception of it. The standards of functionality, appearance and quality are far above the norms of just a few years ago, and many of us own far more of these luxuriant items than previous generations could have dreamed.

The consumer electronics market is worth $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion today and could hit $3 trillion by 2030. That represents 30-50% of the total global electronics market, which is about $4 trillion right now. This is a success worth celebrating, as it indicates rising standards of living worldwide as economies develop and prosperity increases. We all benefit from this.

Technology that keeps us moving naturally is the juice for better living.

Wearable technology and robotics have brought many exciting and helpful innovations to our work and lives. Yet the most exciting developments – adaptive and protective clothes made from smart fabrics, the witty humanoid home concierge – remain more science fiction than science. Bringing the two together, however, offers an exciting way forward that’s ready to explore right now.

Wearable robotics have already been commercialized in industrial exoskeletons, which some companies are introducing to give workers increased strength and endurance when performing physically demanding tasks. There are exciting developments in prosthetics, too, empowering specialists to restore not only the appearance of a limb such as a hand or arm, but also the strength and fine dexterity.