Will Watch Wearable Use Increase 5 Years From Now?
Many businesses have adopted wearables to encourage healthy lifestyles and boost employee morale. Some even offer health trackers as a way to reward their employees for meeting wellness goals.
Consumer wearables are used to measure heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep patterns in sleek, minimalist devices. They also measure steps, exercise intensity, and weather conditions.
Is Wearable Tech Increasingly Being Discussed by Primary Care Patients, Doctors?
When most people think of wearables, they envision a wristband or pen-sized gadget that records activity. But the technology actually includes a range of medical IoT devices that can collect data like blood pressure, body temperature and heart rate. They may be worn on the skin or embedded in clothing or accessories.
Some of these are referred to as wearable healthcare technology, which is used specifically in the context of monitoring a patient’s health status. The market for consumer-grade wearables is booming, and demand is expected to keep climbing as people of all generations adopt digital technologies and shift toward a wellness lifestyle.
But whether these technologies can be used to help address disparities in healthcare is still unclear. A multi-stakeholder workgroup convened by two of the National Institutes of Health’s Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Centers of Excellence—the Mobilize Center at Stanford University34 and the Mobile-Sensor-to-Knowledge Center35-has identified several potential clinical applications for wearables in healthcare.
What is the Increase in Wearables Over the Last 5 Years?
Several key trends are driving growth within the wearable technology market. One of the biggest is the popularity of smartwatches, with shipments forecast to exceed 400 million units worldwide in 2026. The second big trend is the increasing use of hearables, or ear-worn devices, such as earphones and headphones. Companies such as Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, Polar, Jabra, Bragi, and Sony are all actively contributing to this market growth.
Finally, there is a growing need for non-invasive biosensors that monitor important health metrics, such as temperature, heart rate, and blood sugar, without the need for needles or invasive wires. Products like Philips’ wearable biosensor, an adhesive patch that can be worn on the skin, can help prevent patient deterioration into potentially life-threatening situations by monitoring vital signs and alerting caregivers in real-time.
However, in order for consumer health technologies to make a meaningful impact on healthcare, they must deliver easy, consumable insights powered by pro sensors and continuous monitoring. This will require medtech to invest heavily in clinical validation and AI solutions that can distill vast quantities of data into actionable information.
Can It Be Used to Mitigate Existing Disparities?
Consumers are increasingly discerning about their wearable devices. They are expecting more, especially those who have already been wearing devices for awhile. Many are disappointed when their wearables fail to meet expectations. For example, a recent Ericsson ConsumerLab study found that 74 percent of smartphone users who had worn fitness wearables said they want their device to be able to communicate with the physical objects around them – such as their home or car – without being tethered to their mobile phone.
Moreover, researchers are developing wearables that can be used as point-of-care diagnostic tools in medical settings. For example, a new generation of noninvasive, portable hemoglobin monitors could replace current diagnostic tools in hospitals that are expensive, bulky and often inaccurate.
In addition, 320 million consumer health and wellness wearables were shipped worldwide in 2022, according to Deloitte Global. By 2024, this number will likely surpass 440 million as more devices come to market and existing ones improve.
OnePhenix is the only IPAAS software that connects your wearable data to your healthcare professionals. www.Onephenix.com.au
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