Wearable technology is about to expand into a whole new sub-market via your ear-holes with the advent of “hearables.” And this new category of connected devices for your ears is beginning to make its mark on global markets. Experts predict that the hearables market could surpass $16 billion by 2020. A key component to the rosy prospects for hearables is their potential to steal market share from headphones, medical hearing aids and other wearables that aren’t situated in the ear. Several of the large electronics firms are gearing up to begin production of their own hearables, which could see a flood of the new technology on global markets. Of particular interest is Apple’s expansion into greater ear-based technology is its introduction of wireless Airpods.