The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced Thursday that it has created a Health and Fitness Technology Division as a result of the company's devices playing a larger role in improving fitness and health.
The Division started in 2010 as the Fitness Technology Working Group, according to Broadway World.
The Division has made several important contributions to CEA in the past four years.
"Technology innovations now offer unprecedented opportunities for consumers to take control of their health and engage in their personal fitness," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. "Under CEA's leadership, the Health and Fitness Division brings together a group of proven leaders in the space to further raise awareness that these products can help us change our lives for the better."
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, digital health technology was shown to be increasing by 40 percent, and digital fitness presence was shown to have increased by 30 percent, Twice reported.
CEA and Parks Associates released a report at CES called "The Connected Health and Wellness Market." The report estimated that over the next five years, personal health and wellness product sales, along with service revenues and software, would increase by 142 percent.
"We live in extraordinary times, where consumers are taking more responsibility for their health and fitness," said Woody Scal, chief revenue officer at Fitbit and newly named division chairman. "New technologies are playing a key role, transforming health care and empowering people to reach their fitness goals as never before. I'm excited to help establish a truly impressive board to help move that transformation forward."
The Health and Fitness Technology Working Group worked with other companies last year to sponsor the "Mobile Medical Apps (MMA) Roadshow," an educational program series aimed at simplifying FDA requirements for new app developers and finding the best practices among people who are already producing regulated apps, Broadway World reported.
CEA also held a satellite media tour, which was used to promote fitness and health technology products directly to consumers, Twice reported.
The company reached 4.3 million consumers directly and suggested products to use for getting and staying healthy in the New Year.
