The exciting innovations technology has achieved in recent decades have played an integral part in our daily lives, whether it be personal or professional. The use of Artificial Intelligence, big data, and other modern digital technology has catapulted us into a new frontier of ingenuity, offering us a plethora of solutions to traditional problems. In doing so, technology, in various forms and sizes, is now found in nearly every industry, but the most noticeable being the advancements we have accomplished in healthcare and clinical research. From surgical bots to remote monitoring systems and wearable tech – groundbreaking inventions have led us to a new scope of the healthcare profession.
Table of Contents
What is wearable technology?
There is a lot of debate regarding what wearable technology really is. Modern understanding has brought us to the awareness that these devices and apparatus include a wide range of mobile devices. In some instances, these can include smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical alert systems. Academic literature states that the positioning of the device is important, as it raises the question of whether smartphone devices can be classified as wearable tech or not?
How will wearable technology improve our lives?
Immediate Healthcare Assistance Devices
EverydayHealth.com places focus on the importance of advanced medical alert systems that can assist aging individuals and those suffering from long-term health conditions. These devices, which are placed on a fixed position on the body and can effortlessly communicate with healthcare services in the event of an emergency.
Advancement in tech and software has made it easier for the most vulnerable communities to have constant access to emergency medical assistance. When connected to the internet, these devices can monitor pulse, heart rate, and come standard with an emergency response button.
Personal Health Development
Modern medicine is ever-changing, and as our technology improves, so does our need for medicine. Course completion of medicine is vital to those undergoing recovery or who are constantly making use of antibiotic medication. These devices can track and monitor progress, keeping healthcare professionals informed.
Daily Productivity
Some devices such as smartwatches and smartphones track our daily productivity, not just as our use for the device itself increases, but also our physical productivity throughout the day. Active working hours, minutes and distances spent walking or running, and even the amount of time we are asleep.
Health Monitoring
Crucial to helping succumb to severe medical emergencies, Fitbit and other smartwatch devices monitor the pace of heart rate – both during active and inactive hours of the day. This can help alleviate stress, high blood pressure, and set reminders on when certain activities need to be completed to ensure a healthy and productive day. This creates a sense of self-discipline for the wearer and how they can improve on the intake of certain liquids, foods and achieve better exercise goals.
Diversified Market Options
There are a plethora of wearable tech devices available on the market, and some of the most popular include:
- Fitbit Flex – Used for daily exercise and sleep tracking.
- Bellabeat Leaf Urban – The device can monitor and track physical activity and menstrual cycle.
- Omate Ungaro – More popular for the notification of calls and text messages.
- Mira Wellness and Activity Bracelet – Optional use of physical activity and sleep tracking.
- Joule Earring Backing – Wearable earrings to track heart measurement, and activities.
- Moodmetric – Monitors electrodermal activity and alleviates stress patterns.
How does wearable technology impact our lives?
Monitoring Physical Movement
Fitness tracking devices such as Fitbits and smartwatches are some of the primary examples of wearable tech that can physically track and monitor our daily activities and movements. This offers us detailed information and analysis on various levels of daily health tracking.
Improves Healthcare Accuracy
With more transparent and accessible awareness of our personal health information, healthcare providers can now use captured data to observe our daily physical activity, and how improvement can be successfully implemented.
Real-Time Tracking
Closely comparable to monitoring our physical movement, real-time tracking allows the wearable tech to track our movements, and estimate certain routes, keep us informed, and in the event of an emergency gives the user quicker and more convenient access to healthcare services if needed.
Using Big Data for Clinical Observations
Big data and analytics are profound in our ongoing efforts to better understand ourselves, and the world around us. Using these devices, and storing necessary information on servers and clouds – healthcare providers and national healthcare systems can access desired information to create more accurate statistical research on a broader spectrum – making it easier to monitor the overall health conditions of individuals.
Why should individuals consider wearable technology?
Clinical benefits of wearable technology include the following attributes but are not limited to its capacity as we seek to constantly improve on the basis of technology.
Improved Health
Wearers can now be more aware of their physical health and well-being as they complete daily activities, whether it be for exercise or other recreational activities.
Assess Clinical Data
Healthcare professionals have a better understanding based on how individuals function and react to certain events i.e. monitoring heart rates in stressful environments, and how medication can impact the body.
Improved Well-being
Users who have better access to their daily activity readings, or perhaps on-demand access to emergency health services will feel eased as a sense of technological assistance or consoling is constantly available to them.
Final Considerations
Generally, wearable technology can’t be identified as one singular device, as a variety of these devices are currently available on the market offering a wide range of uses. Popular devices such as Fitbits, Joules, and smartwatches are among the most commonly found, yielding better insight into the wearers physical movement and tracking how new goals can easily be achieved by adjusting diet, and exercise routines accordingly. It reassures those who need active medical attention that assistance is constantly available at any given moment for improved convenience. The capabilities of technology are endless, so are that of wearable technology as we step into the next generation of digital mechanization.
