Wearable technology took a huge step forward over the past year and shipment volumes will exceed 19 million units in 2014, more than tripling last year's sales, according to latest figures from IDC. The research company said the global market will then swell to 111.9 million units in 2018, resulting in a CAGR of 78.4 per cent. The company added that complex accessories (such as Nike+ FuelBand, Jawbone UP, and Fitbit devices) will lead the wearables market through 2018 as users continue to embrace their simplicity and low price points. These devices are designed to operate partially independent of any other device, but fully operate when connected with IP-capable devices such as a smartphone, tablet, or a PC. IDC also noted that the smart accessory market will also continue to mature: these allow users to add third-party applications that boost features and functions for a more robust experience. The third segment of the wearables market is smart wearables, such as Google Glass, which function with full autonomy, independent of any other device except to access the Internet. Samsung has also been identified as the most trusted brand for wearables, ahead of Apple, Sony, and Google. Report