Another Upcoming Revolution in Healthcare: Is it Wearable Medical Devices

Governments around the world are focusing on reducing healthcare costs and improving the quality of healthcare services. For achieving this, technology plays a crucial role and it is very important to have an in-depth domain knowledge for designing such technology. This is where smart health monitoring system comes into picture as these devices have the capability to remotely monitor the condition of a patient in real-time. One such device is a wearable medical device which keeps track of vital signs in a patient. Analysts say that the market for wearable devices is on the rise. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), the usability of wearable technology is well-demonstrated in the healthcare space.  IoT gathers important data from such sensor devices and offers information just by a few taps on your smartphone app. The demand for wearble medical devices is rising because they motivate people to lead healthier lives. FitBit, AppleWatch, and Garmin have already established a strong brand image in the wearable medical devices sector. Now, Amazon is gradually making its presence felt in the space. It is currently designing a device that can recognize human emotions. The company plans to help agedusers by offering home healthcare services.

How Wearable Technology Has Evolved Transform a Watch into FitBit?

It was in the 1500s when a German inventor called Peter Henlein invented small watches. Earlier, these watches were worn as necklaces and a century later, people carried these watches in pockets which led to the introduction of pocket watches. Over time, researchers attempted to design small wearables that can record activities such as heart rate, steps, or movement. In 1980s, a new wearable technology called calculator watch was adopted and was used widely. Then in 2004, Bluetooth-connected wearable devices were introduced. Finally, products such as FitBit and Apple Watch were introduced which captured a huge attention span among customers. These products were integrated with motion sensors and could give a more vivid experience to its users.

• More than 4 Lakh ALS Patients to Get Treated by a New Proof-of-concept App

Accenture and Philips have entered into a partnership for improving the quality of life of patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. Both the companies have developed a proof-of-concept software integrated with a wearable technology to track the emotional behavior of users. The software is embedded with an Emotiv technology, which can detect thoughts, expressions, and feelings of patients despite losing the eye-tracking ability or muscle control. The adoption of this technology is expected to increase, affecting the lives of around 4,00,000 patients per year.

• Hearing Aids to be at the Forefront of Wearable Device Innovation

What comes in your mind when you think of wearable devices? AppleWatch, FitBit, or Google Glass Smart Lenses? Well, now hearing aids are grabbing  headlines as developers are in the process of creating a new or rather a discreet type of wearables device for people with hearing problems. As per the World Health Organization, around 360 million people in the world suffer from hearing loss. Several start-ups are working hard to address this issue by introducing advance wearable hearing devices. One of the start-ups called Eargo found that it a battle for companies to getting people wear a wearable device. This compelled the company to design an invisible hearing aid called “Eargo Neo”. This device is lighter and sleek than other hearing aids. Spurred by these factors, people prefer these wearable hearing aids as they don’t make them feel insecure and can easily fit in the ear canal.

Health Consciousness Among Consumers Encourages Wearable Medical Device Uptake

The adoption of wearable technology in healthcare is increasing as people around the world are becoming health-conscious. Wearable medical devices have become a necessity and with the advancements in technology, these devices are capable of recording enormous amount of data to help gain accurate information. Therefore, it is important to upgrade your devices as per the latest design to avail advanced features and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases.

As per a study by the Augusta University Medical Center, patients using wearable device registered 89% reduction in respiratory or cardiac arrest. This shows that if users are well-aware of this technology, wearables can enhance patient outcomes and subsequently reduce staff workload. Wearable devices are expected to be on the cusp of transforming healthcare technology.