Wearable tech enables users to access and interact with data, information, and notifications, and can be integrated into various devices and systems. They are typically connected to the Internet via Bluetooth for short-range communication, Wi-Fi or cellular networks for wide-area connectivity, or other wireless protocols like RF (radio frequency), and can utilize a variety of sensor technologies including accelerometers, photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors, temperature sensors, and GPS trackers. The interface for user interaction can be via touchscreens, physical buttons, voice commands, or gesture control.
The popularity of wearable devices reflects a growing emphasis on proactive health and wellness management. Fitness and smartwatches are examples of popular consumer wearables that enable monitoring of basic physiological signals such as heart rate and activity levels, sleep patterns, and even advanced metrics such as ECG or blood oxygen level measurements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these wearables offered a practical means of remotely tracking patient health status, helping to minimize hospital visits and healthcare provider exposure to pathogens.
In the workplace, wearables are also transforming the way we work. Supportive wearables can physically assist workers with tasks such as lifting using powered gloves and exoskeletons; monitoring devices alert employees of changes in their vital signs or the workplace environment, reducing the need for manual safety checks; training devices improve worker performance through real-time feedback; and tracking devices help monitor the location of workers on a worksite, potentially improving productivity and worker safety.
About the Author
