Google has joined Apple and Samsung in developing wearable smartphone devices, but predicting which company will come out on top remains to be seen.

After messing about with "talking shoes" as part of a publicity stunt, Google's expansion of it's wearable technology portfolio add another dimension of competition to an already crowed market.

With the wearable technology market set to jump into life, the idea of a wearable computer family continues to gather momentum.

Google appear best placed to take advantage, with Google Glass no doubt set to link up with the smart watch in some capacity. Question is - would you need both?

After being awarded a patent in October last year for a smart watch design which includes a processor, flip-up display, a wireless transceiver and a tactile user interface - Google are heavily tapping into the 'Internet of things'.

But while connecting everything possible is one thing, ensuring every product on the shelves are the best available is another.

Google is not alone, after all.

Believed to be called the iWatch, Apple is currently in the early stages of developing a wearable computer for the wrist, allegedly made with curved glass.

The wristwatch-like device is expected to operate on Apple’s iOS platform with rival Samsung no doubt favouring an Android-centred operating system, like Google.

Samsung's executive vice president Lee Young Hee told the South Korean press the company has been developing the device, pictured above, for some time.

“We’ve been preparing the watch product for so long,” he said. “We are working very hard to get ready for it."

Who will gain a market lead in the wearable technology market? And why? Tell us your thoughts below