Analysts expect around 17 million smart bands to ship in 2014

Shipments of smart wearable bands are set to grow by mammoth proportions this year, according to independent analyst Canalys. Its research shows that 1.6 million smart bands, such as those used to monitor fitness, were shipped in the second half of 2013, after just over 200,000 smart wearable bands shipped in the first half of the year. This represented growth of 700 percent. Shipments could reach a total of 8 million in 2014, over 23 million units by 2015, and over 45 million by 2017.