Any electronic equipment that is intended to be worn on the user’s body is considered wearable technology.
These gadgets can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including jewelry, accessories, medical equipment, and clothing or clothing-related items.
Although the term “wearable computing” suggests communications or processing power, certain wearables can actually be quite sophisticated.
What is wearable technology?
Any electronic equipment that is intended to be worn on the user’s body is considered wearable technology.
These gadgets can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including jewelry, accessories, medical equipment, and clothing or clothing-related items.
Although the term “wearable computing” suggests communications or processing power, certain wearables can actually be quite sophisticated.
A disposable skin patch with sensors that wirelessly send patient data to a control unit in a healthcare institution is an illustration of a less complex type of wearable technology.
How does wearable technology work?
Smartwatches, activity trackers like the Fitbit Charge, VR headsets, smart jewelry, web-enabled eyewear, and Bluetooth headsets are just a few examples of the wide range of usable modern wearable technology.
Depending on the area they fall under—such as health, fitness, or entertainment—wearables function differently.
Wearables have sensors incorporated into them that monitor physical motions, offer biometric identification, or help with location monitoring.
For instance, the most popular types of wearables, activity trackers or smartwatches, have straps that go around the user’s wrist and track their daily activities or vitals.
What are some applications of wearable technology?
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are examples of popular consumer electronics that make use of wearable technology.
However, because of recent developments in the internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), wearable technology is now being used in a wide range of contexts, including professional sports, consumer goods, healthcare, navigation systems, and advanced fabrics.
Applications of wearable technology
There are several applications for wearable technology, including monitoring performance, managing chronic diseases, tracking navigation, and tracking health and fitness.
The following are the most popular current and next-generation applications of wearable technology:
Epidermal skin technology
The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation developed wearable electronic skin for health monitoring, according to ScienceDaily.
This next-generation wearable, an ultra-thin e-skin patch with a small wireless transmitter that can be affixed to the wearer’s chest with water spray, can be worn for up to a week, is the pinnacle of wearable technology.
It can take up and store electrical signals like heartbeats and muscle contractions, which is relayed to healthcare professionals over the cloud so they can check on the user’s vital signs from a distance. This capable wearable is a first step for tracking chronic conditions like diabetes and heart failure.
Health monitoring
Wearable technology is used by people to monitor and receive notifications for their blood pressure and heart rate, to measure their calorie intake, and to manage their workout routines. The COVID-19 pandemic increased consumer awareness of the importance of personal cleanliness and taking preventative measures to stop the spread of illnesses, which in turn increased the use of wearable technology. For instance, Apple recently updated its Cardiogram app and added a new sleeping beats-per-minute feature that tracks heart rate variations in COVID-19 patients.
Entertainment and gaming
The first industries to use VR headgear, smart glasses, and controllers were the gaming and entertainment sectors. Oculus Quest, Meta Quest, and Sony PlayStation VR are popular VR head-mounted displays that are used for a variety of entertainment activities, including gaming, watching movies, and virtual travel.
Military
These wearables include equipment that monitors soldiers’ vital signs, virtual reality simulation exercises, and sustainability gear like boot inserts that calculate how well soldiers are supporting the weight of their gear and how the terrain may affect their performance.
Sports and fitness
Sports use wearable athletic devices that are either woven into the material of the sporting goods or are affixed to sporting goods like bats and balls. Coaches receive real-time data from the GPS and Bluetooth-connected devices for examination via connected electronic devices like laptops. Along with wearable athletic equipment, well-known wearable technologies
