2013 Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year Finalists: Samsung2013 Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year Finalists: Samsung

This year ramped up the entry of non-traditional entities, such as Google, into the health and wellness space. From a device perspective, chief among these new entrants is Samsung.

In March, the Korean electronics company unveiled its newest smartphone— the Galaxy S4—which underscored its belief that smartphones will play an even greater role in our health. Along with the phone, Samsung launched the S band, which allows people to track their sleep, caloric intake, and how many steps they take, and added other hardware accessories that work with the company’s newly upgraded S Health app.

Not content with simply a smartphone with health tracking capabilities built in, Samsung launched the Galaxy Gear Smartwatch in September. The wearable device works like a second smartphone that also boasts next-generation technology and opens the door for even more health and medical apps to be built by developers.