Type of Article: MacTech Blog

The global advertising market surpassed a half-trillion USD in 2014 totaling $525 billion with the top 10 countries accounting for nearly three-quarters of global advertising spend, according to new data from Strategy Analytics (www.strategyanalytics.com).

Device portability and reading convenience have had a positive impact on the global digital education publishing market, according to TechNavio (www.technavio.com).

With digitally published material, students, especially in the post-secondary segments, don’t have to carry bulky textbooks, notes the research firm. E-readers, tablets and other devices provide easy access to the same content as a print book.

“Overall the convenience of e-textbooks will cement their place in the education sector over the forecast period,” says Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of TechNavio.

The healthcare sector is ill-prepared for the new cyberage, according to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com). Hospitals, clinics, trusts, and insurers are constantly under attack from malicious online agents, says the research group.

The augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) markets are seeing much action, from new devices and new content, to existing content adapting to make use of the new medium, according to ABI Research (www.abirsearch.com). Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) will be the prevailing form-factor for both AR and VR devices, but AR will see varied form-factors as the technology progresses into more applications, notes the research group.

New data from Parks Associates (www.parksassociates.com) reveals that approximately 10% of U.S. broadband households have a smart device with energy-related functions-including 8% with a smart thermostat and 6% with smart lighting. A smart energy device includes a programmable thermostat, light bulb, power strip, outlet, or plug adapter capable of connecting to the Internet.