Watching the Body Tick - Making Calculated Moves with Wearables

Translating the body's signals into readable measurements or partaking in the enjoyment of gaming are ever-expanding possibilities with streamlined and accessible wearable devices. Ranging from smartwatches and smart glasses to VR headsets, IDTechEx's portfolio of Wearable Technology Research Reports covers a vast array of wearable devices and the latest developments stirring the sector.

 

 

 

Checking for the time can coincide with checking vitals such as heartrate and blood oxygen whilst on a run. As smartwatches become an increasingly popular means of easy time telling and notification monitoring, they are also the perfect way to monitor basic health stats on the go. Step count and sleep quality are some of the other biometrics which smart watches are concerned with measuring. Fertility tracking is an additional benefit attributed to smart rings, that can read biometric data in a similar way to smart watches, but while being less bulky and providing the option of a more minimal aesthetic.

 

The possibility for continuous access to personal data that wearables such as smart watches and rings can provide users with, demonstrates how these devices can stimulate a positive environment around health and encourage people to make better informed choices throughout the day. IDTechEx's report, "Wearable Sensors Market 2025-2035: Technologies, Trends, Players, Forecasts", covers the sensing technologies behind the devices, as well as outlining the variety of form factors wearables can take.

 

 

 

Whilst on the sport field, a more specific performance recount could be obtained with the use of a smart mouthguard. Measuring the vitals of sports players in action, such as heartrate and temperature at various times during a match, could allow these wearable devices to encourage better playing and become a means of tracking fitness improvements. Information collected can be sent to smartphones and be accessed via an app, to be analyzed later during post-game reflections.

 

Digital access to health data also extends itself to diabetes management, where glucose monitoring skin patches can send data it collects from the body's interstitial fluid below the skin, to a smartphone app. From here, users can see how their blood sugar levels react to certain foods and events and be prompted on how much insulin to administer after the app determines the appropriate amount. IDTechEx's report, "Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence 2024-2034: Trends, Opportunities, and Outlook", covers multiple aspects of digitalizing health data collection and access, and the ways AI could be used to identify trends amongst data sets.

 

 

Real-time transcriptions of conversations for those who may be hard of hearing could appear on the lenses of smart glasses, acting as real-time subtitles in everyday interactions. These wearable devices could in this way promote inclusivity and ease of communication where there may otherwise be barriers. Glasses connected to a smartphone could also have map data shared, visible on the lenses in a discreet and easy-to-follow way. Safety can then remain a priority when walking in busy streets or crossing roads, while sociability is also unimpeded when walking with friends - a step up from looking down at a phone in hand while navigating.

 

 

Displays for personal or group enjoyment in the form of virtual reality headsets are another widely discussed phenomenon, with wearable technology having taken video games to the next level. Generating the feeling of being physically immersed within a whole new place is one of the most intriguing capabilities of VR goggles, as users can see and move within new environments while literally staying in the same spot. IDTechEx's report, "Displays for Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality 2024-2034: Forecasts, Technologies, Markets", explores the multifaceted means of incorporating augmented and virtual reality technologies into a wide array of wearable devices, for both accessibility and entertainment.

 

 

Headsets and wearables can be taken to the next level with uses within the medical and healthcare sector in the form of brain scanners. Technology that was once confined to the limits of large and immovable machines can now be seen working within helmets that can be worn while patients move around and complete other tasks. Not only could data and information then be taken from a wider set of contexts and environments and be used to create a more detailed picture, but patients may feel more at ease and willing to participate in studies, as an example. IDTechEx's report, "Brain Computer Interfaces 2025-2045: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", uncovers the technologies allowing for more advanced monitoring and communication between the human brain and computers and the impact these will have on healthcare and medical markets.

 

For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Wearable Technology Research Reports, where the latest developments in the ever-growing wearables sector can be found.