Every day there are technological breakthroughs that occur behind the closed doors of research labs (and house garages where some startups begin), and then there are the breakthroughs that “go mainstream” with consumers. 2015 saw so many that it is difficult to condense the list to five. The following impressive technologies made the cut because they improve convenience, productivity, and efficiency (in addition to having that barely definable “wow” factor).

1. Wearable Smart Devices

Both the Apple Watch and the Fitbit had great years in 2015. Operating apps, receiving messages and notifications from an iPhone, and reporting health statistics like counting calories, steps, and hours of sleep are just a few of the benefits of these wearable devices. In 2014, sales for fitness devices were only $1 billion. According to Radiant Insights, fitness-related wearables will hit $14.9 billion in sales by the year 2021.

2. 3D Printing