The wearable technology industry is steadily growing and adapting to cover the ever-changing needs of the world. Most of the fitness and health-related technologies are user-friendly as well as unobtrusive and enhance the simplicity of interpreting statistical feedback. Wearable technology applications are endless. They can encourage wearers to be more focused in their fitness, assist in modifying behavior via reminders on when to take medicine or exercise and also avail a platform for both physicians and patients to share information and collaborate on health approaches (Krohn, Metcalf, & Salber, 2017, p. 45).
How Wearable Technology Will Affect Healthcare
In the recent years, various wearable technologies have emerged with the purpose of revolutionizing the healthcare industry. Adapting wearable technology in the health industry will:
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Train and encourage patients to be in control of their health.
Wearable technology will put a patient’s real-time personal health information at their disposal. Patients have been relying solely on the opinion of the doctor for treatment feedback and health progress. Wearable technology will enable patients to monitor their health from home. They can train themselves and be able to make the right decisions on problems that affect their bodies (Information Resources Management Association, 2018, p.63)
Assist both patients and doctors monitor and diagnose diseases.
Some of these wearable technologies send data concerning disease markers and organ functionality right to the health professionals. This enables them to have access to in-depth information in the monitoring of chronic diseases and in making a diagnosis. Patients who are diabetic can benefit from various new technologies that track food intake, monitor blood sugar levels, transmit data to the doctor and deliver insulin.
Aid in medical procedures
Wearable health technology possibilities are infinite. For instance, a surgeon wearing Google Glass can provide other colleagues and students a good view of medical procedures and surgical process.
Allow patients to control and manage their pain.
The wearable technology industry today is working on making portable pain relief equipment that eradicates the need for pain medication on a daily basis.
Wearable Technologies that can be used for health needs:
Ingestion Event Markers (IEMs)
They are taken together with medicine to assist in gathering and transmitting information from the body of the patient. This enhances a patient's adherence to medical treatment. Intel made an announcement of launching its Edison which is an SD card sized computer. The company created Nursery 2.0 to show Edison's power. They demonstrated this using a baby wearing a onesie that is sensor-enhanced. The onesie could be traced using a mug. This baby monitor could be used for other potential health needs beyond nurseries. The image below is an example ("Ingestion Event Markers (IEMs) image - Google Search," n.d.).
Freescale KL02 chip
It can either be embedded directly into an organ or taken together with medicine. The chip transmits biometric readings via Wi-Fi back to the doctor or the patient. It allows for monitoring and diagnosing diseases based on the gathered information ("Freescale KL02 chip - Google Search," n.d.).
VIPAAR
This wearable technology can be used together with Google Glass for surgery. Merging these technologies can allow surgeons to interact and see both hands in the surgical field. This kind of technology improves health care by providing veteran surgeons the chance to avail significant expertise remotely to surgeons who are less experienced. Below is the image ("VIPAAR - Google Search," n.d.).
Jawbone’s UP fitness band and Misfit Shine
These devices can be used to monitor and track sleep patterns, bodily functions, fitness levels as well as calorie intake. They can be very helpful in the healthcare industry. They can encourage patients to take responsibility to improve their overall health through the provision of challenges and goals ("Jawbone’s UP fitness band and Misfit Shine - Google Search," n.d.).
In summary, these wearable technology gadgets can bring incredible positive changes in the healthcare industry if used.
References
Freescale KL02 chip - Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?q=Freescale+KL02+chip&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH0_v1ncLdAhUvz4UKHVKCBMIQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=628#imgrc=Akh3-m8f7VH2_M :
Information Resources Management Association. (2018). Wearable technologies: Concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications .
Ingestion Event Markers (IEMs) image - Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?q=Ingestion+Event+Markers+%28IEMs%29+image&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj34tX1nMLdAhVC6RoKHZ6cDqcQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=628#imgrc=QUK0X_cb697o2M :
Jawbone’s UP fitness band and Misfit Shine - Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?q=Jawbone’s+UP+fitness+band+and+Misfit+Shine&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiUmZnrnsLdAhXQxoUKHfQCAU0Q_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=628#imgrc=JWDv74Ls0yuaSM
Krohn, R., Metcalf, D., & Salber, P. R. (2017). Connected health: Improving care, safety, and efficiency with wearables and IoT solution .
VIPAAR - Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?q=VIPAAR&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB84OznsLdAhUL2xoKHQJxCAUQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=628#imgrc=WAwanIMnwOQAUM
