Wearable technologies monitor information from various parts of the body. Most often these devices connect to an app on a smartphone to display and interact with the user’s data.
Users may not understand how a device collects data, or they could be dissatisfied with its lack of accuracy [71], leading to frustration and ultimately leading them to stop using the device altogether.
1. Fitness Trackers
Fitness trackers have evolved beyond being simple step counters; now feature sophisticated biometric sensors that can reveal vital health data like heart rate, blood oxygen saturation levels, and sleep patterns.
Some trackers feature gamification elements to encourage users to achieve goals through badges, challenges, and social sharing – providing constant feedback and motivation towards leading a healthier lifestyle.
Some trackers can even monitor skin conductance to detect excitement, anxiety, or stress levels and provide personalized guidance that can optimize workouts and exercise routines, prevent overexertion or injury, and foster healthy eating habits. Trackers also sync seamlessly with fitness apps and smart scales for a holistic wellness experience.
2. Health Monitoring
Wearable devices make it simple to monitor vital health indicators such as your blood pressure or heart rate, providing insight into the impact of exercise routines and lifestyle habits on your body.
With this data, healthcare providers can detect abnormalities and trigger alerts immediately – which enables timely interventions while decreasing hospital visits and costs. Furthermore, this method provides access for those living in rural or low-income areas who would otherwise not be able to afford healthcare services.
3. Smart Watches
Smartwatches go far beyond simple pedometers by offering access to health and fitness data, including heart problems or high blood pressure conditions. They may even detect warning signs like these in real-time.
Beacons can also help locate lost items. They make finding keys or phones when walking along or in situations when it would not be practical to reach into a bag easier.
The use of wearable technology may help enhance your lifestyle, by encouraging positive behavioral changes and providing motivational reminders to meet them. Unfortunately, barriers to uptake such as poor accuracy or pricing concerns may inhibit its adoption, leading users to lose interest or feel discouraged after failing to achieve their goals.
4. VR Headsets
Virtual reality (VR) headsets allow you to dive deep into digitally created environments, providing new ways of watching videos, playing games, socializing with others, and staying fit.
Fitness apps that incorporate virtual reality can gamify walking distances by tracking steps and rewarding users with virtual rewards, encouraging more physical activity without incurring the additional time and cost associated with traveling to and from gyms or purchasing memberships.
The Valve Index headset is expensive but boasts an exceptional display with high resolution, low latency, and superb image quality. Furthermore, it boasts a wider field of view and higher refresh rate compared to other headsets – plus is compatible with HTC Vive hardware!
5. Smart Clothing
Fashion and wearables go hand in hand as consumers seek devices that fit their lifestyles perfectly. Consumers want something stylish that complements their outfits while simultaneously tracking health functions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unprecedented surge in smart clothing and other sensors designed to detect symptoms of infection – such as changes in heart rate and temperature fluctuations as well as breathing patterns – while smart clothing manufacturers released millions of items designed with these capabilities.
However, data collected by these devices may not be reliable if collected from different locations or using different technology. Therefore wearable technologies must emphasize representativeness in their design.
6. Smart Accessories
Wearable devices have become an integral component of various industries’ services, from entertainment and gaming devices like VR headsets to garments with built-in speakers like Levi’s jackets manufactured with Google Project Jacquard technology that allows users to answer calls or play music through their sleeves.
Insurance providers are turning to wearable devices as an innovative means to track employee wellness and monitor surgical recoveries, manage catastrophe claims, and even enhance key population health metrics. But their success relies heavily on breaking through user adoption barriers; for this to work effectively providers must support those hesitant in adopting rather than criticize.
7. Smart Shoes
All shoes serve multiple social, psychological, and physical functions; smart footwear can further expand these capacities. Google’s Project Jacquard technology transforms ordinary clothing into wearable tech by embedding electrical fibers within fabric panels that enable users to take calls, play music, or take photos without ever leaving the couch!
Other innovations are under development, including energy harvesting that converts body heat, movement, or solar power into wearable power sources. Facebook and Elon Musk’s Neuralink are developing non-invasive brain interfaces to enable hands-free typing with thoughts alone or assist those suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
8. Smart Jewelry
Wearable technology combines fashion and technology, providing discreet solutions to monitor health and wellness. Wearable technology has experienced rapid expansion in China where consumers appreciate stylish devices that seamlessly fit into daily routines; calculator watches were once popular due to this integration into everyday activities.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of smart jewelry as a tool to both decrease workers’ compensation costs and healthcare expenditure and boost employee productivity for those suffering chronic illnesses. HR managers find these devices convenient in monitoring employee health and safety risks and responding quickly if injuries arise; in turn, this streamlines claims processing and speeds settlement times; plus they help create strong workplace cultures focused on employee wellbeing and safety.
