Best fitness trackers 2015: Jawbone, Misfit, Fitbit, Garmin and more Picking out the best fitness tracker is a mind-bogglingly difficult prospect. It's not just about Fitbit and Jawbone anymore. Now everyone wants a piece of the action. The right activity tracker for you will be based on your individual needs; whether that's accurate step counting, reliable sleep tracking or 24/7 heart rate tracking. There's definitely something for everyone out there. The new tech and sensors on the latest bands blur the lines even further. Essential reading: Best smartwatch round-up Now that we've had our chance to live with the latest new Fitbits, we've completely reworked our round up of the best fitness trackers and added a new at-a-glance feature list to try and make it easier to spot the right band for you. Got any questions about fitness trackers? Best overall fitness tracker Fitbit Blaze Essential reading: The origins of the fitness tracker Hardcore fitness lovers will be disappointed by the lack of GPS or a heart rate monitor that's built for intensive training.
Exploring the Benefits of Wearable Technology | Huffington Post What do you reckon will happen to the Internet of Things ten years from now? If you think about billions of devices or more wearable tech, around 83 percent of experts believe that the Internet of things will have beneficial effects on the everyday lives of the public by 2025. By that we expect more wearables in the next decade to come. This is likely to happen as 82 percent of wearable technology users in America today said it enhanced their lives one way or another. Image Credit: Flickr, Creative Commons: Retina Boys To foresee the future, let’s take a look at the beautiful history of wearable technology. There are probably hundreds of Kickstarter campaigns aimed at improving the personal safety, one of which is the Wearsafe, a Kickstarter project that’s on a mission to save lives. connect with the press of a wearable button, keeping you safer wherever you are and more secure in whatever you’re doing. Health and fitness tracking
Current and future applications for wearable technology - Information Age One recognizable and notable device currently is Google Glass, a form of wearable technology that is currently being tweaked for optimal use. Google Glass is beginning to promised to offer some amazing possibilities, especially in the field of healthcare, which has many examples of wearable technology already in use by many people. Until just recently, smartwatches had not been deployed all that successfully, having limited functionality and aesthetics that have been less than appealing to wear on a wrist. (Image Source: iconarchive.com) While the impact of wearable technology is evident in education, entertainment, communication and navigating, it may be the healthcare sector where it stands to have the greatest potential. Google Glass was a perfect example of this notion. (Image Source: medicalxpress.com) The augmented reality does have its limitations today, especially in terms of entertainment, often still requiring a smartphone between the viewer and what is being viewed.
Wearable Technology and Wearable Devices: Everything You Need to Know Everything You Need to Know Introduction to Wearable Technology What is Wearable Technology? What are Wearable Devices? The terms “wearable technology“, “wearable devices“, and “wearables” all refer to electronic technologies or computers that are incorporated into items of clothing and accessories which can comfortably be worn on the body. Generally, wearable technology will have some form of communications capability and will allow the wearer access to information in real time. While wearable technology tends to refer to items which can be put on and taken off with ease, there are more invasive versions of the concept as in the case of implanted devices such as micro-chips or even smart tattoos. The implications and uses of wearable technology are far reaching and can influence the fields of health and medicine, fitness, aging, disabilities, education, transportation, enterprise, finance, gaming and music. Updated: March 26, 2014 Cite this article: Tehrani, Kiana, and Andrew Michael.
8 Mind-blowing Uses of Wearable Technology (Seriously...) What would your colleagues say if you asked them what wearable technology was, or what it can do? You’ll quickly hear about smart watches like Samsung’s Galaxy Gear, fitness trackers like those produced by Fitbit and smart glasses projects like Google Glass. As for what these products can be used for, after a bit of thought most people would come up with a few sensible use cases – like taking pictures using voice commands, keeping track of your daily calorie expenditure or receiving inbound messages. Now try asking what wearable technology might be used for in the future – as in 10 years in the future? It’s at this point that you’ll probably start getting blank looks. In this research paper we describe 8 remarkable use cases for wearable technology that we believe will become possible within 10 years. These 8 use cases are several full market cycles ahead of those that Google has envisaged for Google Glass. Use Case 1: Healthcare Use Case 3: Car Insurance Use Case 4: Police and Security
Study hints that wearable fitness trackers do more harm than good If you’ve been wearing a fitness tracker for a while and have been disappointed in the results you’ve received, you’re not alone. A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that fitness trackers could be impeding your ability to meet your weight loss goals. The study, which took place between 2010 and 2014, included 471 randomized participants (74.5% completed the study) which were separated into two main groups. Participants that completed the study participated for a period of two years, initially being put on a low-calorie diet and encouraged by the researchers at the University of Pittsburgh’s Physical Activity and Weight Management Center to maintain an active lifestyle. The results of the study were surprising. From the study’s summary: Among young adults with a BMI between 25 and less than 40, the addition of a wearable technology device to a standard behavioral intervention resulted in less weight loss over 24 months.
Wearable Devices in Healthcare, What to Expect in 2016 - Wearable Devices The changing face of healthcare illustrated one of the most lucrative markets that will be expanding in 2016. Technology is exploding and with the rapid changes to healthcare, devices are being created to track and analyze information about a person’s health. This data can be remotely transmitted and provided to medical personnel who could then be able provide targeted treatment. New wearable devices are being created which can be used to remotely monitor a multitude of data. Local, state, and federal laws have not caught up to the transforming landscape of the digital world. Forbes magazine last month stated that the wearable medical device industry is predicated to grow to a six billion dollar industry. Already companies are trying to reach niche patient populations to gather data and feedback, with hopes of transforming healthcare into an on-demand service. In 2016, data storage and analysis will enable the consumer to manage their own health with real time information.
Wearable technology Wearable technology, fashionable technology, wearable devices, tech togs, or fashion electronics are clothing and accessories incorporating computer and advanced electronic technologies. The designs often incorporate practical functions and features, but may also have a purely critical or aesthetic agenda.[1] History[edit] Wearable technology is related to both the field of ubiquitous computing and the history and development of wearable computers. With ubiquitous computing, wearable technology share the vision of interweaving technology into the everyday life, of making technology pervasive and interaction friction less. The calculator watch, introduced in the 1980s, was one original piece of widespread worn electronics. Ilya Fridman designed a Bluetooth headset into a pair of earrings with a hidden microphone.[3][4] The Spy TIE includes a color video camera and USB Heating Gloves keep hands warm when plugged in.[3] According to Forbes, 71% of 16-to-24 year olds want wearable tech.[9]