What Is Wearable Technology?

by Mansoor Ahmed
Posted: Dec 06, 2020

Introduction

The IoT has the potential to be a huge player in the consumer wearables space. With the expected massive growth in adoption rates in the next few years, consumers will increasingly be attached to the IoT with at least one, if not more, devices. However, this increased usage may be tempered by user disappointment with some device performance, and lack of connectivity directly to the Internet in the case of some device types.

Obviously, these devices will generate a lot of data about their users, which naturally leads to concerns about privacy and security. On the positive side, wearables users seem to be comfortable with device manufacturers' attempts to keep their data private. However, there is concern about the approaches that manufacturers use to try and protect that data, and questions about its effectiveness.

Outline

The wearable technologies are smart electronic devices with micro-controllers which are worn near to the surface of the skin. These devices detect, examine, and transmit information about body signals for example vital signs, and ambient data. It allows in certain cases instant biofeedback to the wearer. Activity trackers are another example of the internet of Things. The electronics for instance sensors, software, and connectivity are effectors which enable objects to exchange data via the internet with producer and other connected devices.

Applications and uses

There is a variety of applications of wearable technology that produces as the field itself increases. With the promotion of the smart watch and activity tracker, it seems obviously in consumer electronics. Wearable technology has combined into navigation systems, advanced textiles, and healthcare separately from commercial uses. Sales of smart wristbands started hurrying in 2013 in the consumer space. Wearable technology has applications in monitoring and real-time feedback for athletes in professional sports. Other examples of wearable technology in sport contain accelerometers, pedometers, and GPS's which may be used to measure an athlete's energy expenditure and movement pattern.

Health and wearable technology

Wearable technology is regularly used to monitor a consumer's health. It may simply gather data set that such a device is in close contact with the user. This all began in 1980 when invented the first wireless ECG. Wearable ECG displays are on the cutting edge of user electronics. The Move ECG is capable to measure an electrocardiogram and send the reading to the user's doctor, in addition to detect atrial fibrillation. It's also competent to track pace, distance, and elevation, along with automatic tracking for walking, running, swimming, and biking. The wearable fitness technology has been joined that one into society. For this reason, the Fit Bits and smart watches are seen as mainstream; and the future of wearable devices shows no sign of slowing down. According to Accenture the US consumer use of wearables jumped from 9% in 2014 to 33% in 2018.

Smart Health Watches

Smart watches have now changed into clinically viable healthcare tools. The Apple Company had launched the Apple Heart Study app in 2017 to monitor users' heart rhythms and alert those who are experiencing atrial fibrillation. Smart watches let users to do tasks they normally do on their phones for example, read notifications, send simple messages, make phone calls.

Wearable Blood Pressure Monitors

The first wearable blood pressure monitor was launched by Omron Healthcare in 2019 with the name Heart Guide. This is an oscillometric blood pressure monitor that can measure blood pressure and daily activity such that steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. It can bottleneck to 100 readings in memory and all readings may be transported to a corresponding mobile app, Heart Advisor, for review, comparison, and treatment optimization.

Biosensors

Biosensors are totally different from wrist trackers and smart watches. Augusta University Medical Center research presented that biosensors device registered an 89% reduction in patient deterioration into preventable cardiac or respiratory arrest. This proves the capability wearables have to recover patient consequences and possibly reduce staff workload.

Epidermal Electronics

Epidermal electronics is a fast growing field of wearable technology. These wearables are attached directly onto the skin to continuously monitor physiological and metabolic processes.

Entertainment?

The wearables have prolonged into the entertainment space by generating new traditions to experience digital media. Virtual reality headsets and augmented reality glasses have come to exemplify wearables in entertainment. The effect of these virtual reality headsets and augmented reality glasses are understood typically in the gaming industry during the initial days, nonetheless are now used in the fields of medicine and education.

Gaming?

The gaming industry has continuously merged new technology. Controller for Pong was the first technology used for electronic gaming. The way users game has always changed through each decade. Presently, the two most common forms of gaming are either using a controller for video game consoles or a mouse and keyboard for PC games.

Fashion?

Designed garments and accessories that combine aesthetics and style with functional technology are fashionable wearables. It permits endless possibilities for the dynamic customization of apparel. All clothes have social, psychological and physical functions. Though, these functions can be enlarged with the use of technology. There are some wearables that are called E-textiles. These are the combination of textiles and electronic components to create wearable technology within clothing.

Military

Use of wearable technologies within the military ranges from educational purposes, training exercises and sustainability technology. By tracking a soldier's pulse, vital sign, emotional status, etc. benefits the research and development team best help the soldiers. Matt Coppock has begun to enhance a soldier's lethality by collecting different biorecognition receptors. By doing so it'll eliminate emerging environmental threats to the soldiers

With the emergence of computer game it's only natural to start out creating simulations using VR. This may better prepare the user for whatever situation they're training for. Within the military there are combat simulations that soldiers will train on. the rationale the military will use VR to coach its soldiers is because it's the foremost interactive/immersive experience the user will feels without being put during a real situation. Whenever they're shot the belt will release a particular amount of electricity on to the user's skin. This is often to simulate an attempt wound within the most humane way possible.

There are many sustainability technologies that military personnel wear within the field. One among which may be a boot insert. This insert gauges how soldiers are carrying the load of their equipment and the way daily terrain factors impact their mission panning optimization. These sensors won't only help the military plan the simplest timeline but will help keep the soldiers at the best physical/mental health.