What Is Wearable Technology?

Wearable Technology, also known as Wearable Electronics, refers to devices worn directly on the body that monitor an individual’s activities, health data and more. Such devices provide valuable tracking opportunities.

Apple Watch Series 6 fitness trackers have become incredibly popular wearable devices. This device tracks heart rate and sleep, with impressive battery life.

Fitness Trackers

Fitness trackers are cost-effective wearable devices designed to monitor physical activity. Used daily by individuals trying to increase their daily level of physical activity, fitness trackers are an increasingly popular tool in clinical research studies and among individuals who seek better health.

Trackers range from basic pedometers that only display steps taken, to more sophisticated models which provide more in-depth information such as heart rate monitoring and sleep cycles. Some models even incorporate GPS for easier location finding.

Seth Creasy, PhD, assistant professor of endocrinology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine cautions that while data collected by these devices can be helpful, its accuracy must be prioritized. Calorie burn estimates should only be used as an approximate guide. Therefore, educating patients on how best to utilize these devices by encouraging good compliance and regularly synching data could increase their effectiveness.

Smart Devices

From simple pedometers to sophisticated smartwatches, fitness monitors track your physical fitness. From creating personalized fitness tracks and helping meet health goals to keeping an eye on health conditions such as heart disease or high cholesterol.

Smart devices have many other uses too; for instance, they can help detect and inform users about potential health threats like heart attacks or strokes, or provide tailored advice and assistance.

Smart devices may provide you with a readiness score to assess if your body is ready for an intensive workout session, taking into account metrics like heart rate variability, blood pressure, stress levels and sleep quality. Furthermore, they can help avoid injuries by giving real-time feedback on posture; as well as helping save you trips to stores by enabling voice ordering of anything from food to toilet paper from within a smart device – but integration may prove challenging due to various communication protocols and data formats used across wearable devices.

Intelligent Clothing

Today’s fitness watches, activewear, workwear and sleepwear often incorporate built-in sensors that monitor movement, heart rate, blood pressure or temperature – linking with apps for real-time updates and analysis allowing users to better monitor their fitness levels and maintain overall wellness.

These sensors are usually constructed of smart materials such as shape memory or phase-change fabrics, intelligent color changing fabric, conductive fabric or biomedical materials that make conversion of non-electrical signals into electrical ones easier for processing.

Most often used for sports and activity tracking purposes, wearable technology could also assist workers in hazardous industries like mining and smelting. Non-electronic sensors could detect hazardous gases that pose risks, warning the wearer about potential dangers. It could even be combined with communication modules so garments transmit data wirelessly reducing wire usage while improving wearing comfort.

VR and AR Headsets

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are immersive technologies that use sensors to display digital information over physical environments, making the real world appear digital. VR/AR applications include education, training and business applications – as well as providing a way for distant individuals to share experiences and knowledge over long distances.

AR can assist retailers in providing excellent customer service. AR allows customers to visualize how a product will look in their home before making their decision and increases confidence when purchasing, thus contributing to higher sales figures.

AR headsets have also proven useful in healthcare settings, offering instruction for procedures which would otherwise require extensive training and experience. Unfortunately, hacker attacks could prevent their users from receiving accurate information – an occurrence which poses particular threats to professionals such as surgeons or drivers who depend on AR for crucial tasks.