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The development of wearable technology such as eyeglasses, watches and earpieces is expanding as consumers seek new ways to integrate computers into everyday life. The race to gain a foothold in a market that Juniper Research estimates will jump about 14-fold in five years to US$19 billion is luring companies including Sony, Google Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.

“It’s an interesting idea but I think it would be very difficult for Sony to commercialize,” said Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. “Who will want to use this wig will become a problem.”

Shares of Sony rose 1.1% to 1,869 yen in Tokyo trading. The stock has gained 95% this year, compared with a 45% advance for the benchmark Topix index.

“It is an object to provide an improved wearable computing device,” Sony said in the patent application. “At least one sensor, the processing unit and the communication interface are arranged in the wig and at least partly covered by the wig in order to be visually hidden during use.”

IBM, Samsung

The wig could be made from “horse hair, human hair, wool, feathers, yak hair, buffalo hair or any kind of synthetic material,” Sony said.

The device was invented by Hiroaki Tobita, who works at Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc., and the application was made May 10. Saori Takahashi, a Tokyo-based spokeswoman for Sony, confirmed the application.

“Smartwatches are already made by many companies, so this is something new and fun,” Junya Ayada, a Tokyo-based analyst at Daiwa Securities Group Inc., said by phone.