You may have noticed a movement sweeping across the globe dubbed the “Internet of Things” or “IoT”, a clever title given to the development of everyday objects with network connectivity that can share data between people and services.

How does this trend affect our health? With summer in full stride, many of us are working toward a healthier version of ourselves. Whether you are running, climbing or kayaking, you might be one of many people utilizing technology to help you along the way. Wearables, apps and even everyday appliances have become increasingly popular ways of motivating us on our journey toward a healthier lifestyle. 

Of all the ways you can track your health and wellness efforts, wearable technology has quickly become one of the most popular and convenient trends. Rightfully so, as the technology is designed to make life easier, more efficient and fun. Considered to be part of the quantified-self movement, wearables focus on meshing each aspect of your life with technology. They gather data from you and your environment as they track a variety of statistics like: how many calories you burned, your heart rate and your sleep patterns, just to name a few.

As the technology expands, wearables are becoming more diverse. You are no longer limited to a sport watch or the standard apps on your phone. Innovations in the wearable tech field now give you the option for something more compact. Even clothes are doubling as fitness trackers. The Lumo Run shorts have sensors embedded in the lining that collect your running data.

Because wearables are so versatile, it is easy to forget the technology happening behind the scenes. Although that is the point, we thought you should know what features to look for and what they really do. Here are some features to track:

• 3-axis accelerometer - Tracks your movement in every direction.
• Gyroscope –Measures your orientation and rotation.
• Altimeter -  Measures your altitude.
• Bioimpedance – Measures your heart rate more accurately than other methods.
• Actigraphy - Translates your wrist movements into sleep patterns. (Note: This is not nearly as accurate as the data you would receive in a professional sleep study.)

If you are looking for a fitness tracker, keep in mind that the more sensors it has, the more accurate the data will be.  Combined, these sensors track internal and external data as an activity like distance. The data collected is then run through proprietary algorithms which are used to determine how many calories you burned during your morning jog or your quality of sleep last night. Finally, this information is usually represented to you via a user friendly app full of the colorful charts that we all love.

Wearable Technology Aiding in Healthcare

Aside from tracking our fitness goals, wearable technology is playing an important role in the healthcare arena. These devices are showing promise as we gain the capability of notifying caregivers of medical alerts faster and providing responders with information based on the user’s location. Wearables that monitor the users’ physical state might enable timely response in medical conditions such as a product like CoughAware, that helps caregivers to respond quickly to impeding asthma or COPD respiratory attacks. The development of glucose monitoring devices for diabetics equipped to administer insulin that could help alleviate the symptoms one might experience if left untreated. There is even a study at Northeastern University that monitors the movements and physiological states of individuals with autism to better understand the needs of those who have difficulty communicating. All of these applications are possible using wearable technology.

Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement of any products. This technology should not be used in place of medical professionals and or medical attention.