How many connected devices do you have?  According to a report released by market research firm NPD Group, there are now more than 500 million connected devices found in US homes.

Of that number, smartphones and tablets are in the lead, which means that as more people become interested in purchasing the latest smartphone or tablet, the more connected devices we’ll find in the nation’s households.  The report stated that the number of US homes with Internet-connected devices has gone up from an average of 5.3 connected devices three months ago to 5.7 connected devices per household at present.

Cisco backs this report, stating that by the year 2020, there will be 50 billion connected devices, generating $14.4 trillion in value.  Robert Lloyd, president of development and sales at Cisco, broke down the $14.4 trillion figure: $2.5 trillion in improved asset utilization, $2.5 trillion in employee productivity enhancement, $2.7 trillion in supply chain savings, $3.7 trillion in customer experience value and $3 trillion in innovation.

But connected devices don’t stop at smartphones and tablets, and now that just about everyone has a smartphone, the world seems ready for the next big thing.  Let’s look at some of the connected devices that could possibly dominate our households this year.

Smartwatch

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With Apple, Samsung and Google all making a wearable device that are able to perform the functions of a smartphone, smartwatches could possibly trump our handsets in the future.  If you think that’s not possible, think again.  Wearing a wristwatch will minimize the chance of losing your smartphone, sitting on it or even dropping it.  And its smaller size will save you room in your pocket and pocketbook alike.

Smartglasses

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We know that Google Glass is almost ready for commercial release, as the company has been busy fortifying its usability and improving overall design.  But Google isn’t the only one working on smartglasses, and it’s likely that the search giant won’t be the first to release a pair of smartglasses either.  Vuzix showcased the Smart Glasses M100 at CES this year, and the company says it hopes to launch the device by Summer, compatible for use with both iOS and Android devices.  It’s able to make calls, allows users to watch videos, connect to the internet, has integrated GPS and head tracking capabilities for global positioning as well as view orientation, a 720p high definition camera that enables users to capture videos and still images, and more.

Connected pleasure givers

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They say that long distance relationships do not last not because the couples fall out of love, but because they miss the physical contact.  Good thing there’s LovePalz.  These devices connected with each other, so when you and your partner want some sexy time, you can still have a shared experience.  Your device “senses” what you are doing and transmits that data to your partner device, making a “personalized” connection between you and your partner.  LovePalz aims to imitate the actual experience of being intimate with your partner.