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Wearable Technologies: what is it?
Wearable technologies represent the latest when it comes to personal monitoring, being currently one of the most used devices. At the same time, they incorporate an aesthetic sense by being endowed with designs that complement our day-to-day clothing, for any area.
They are even elements that go beyond being just another item of clothing, but they also know much more about us. Especially in the aspect of health. To understand this technology much better, continue reading.
Wearables: what is it?
Translated into Spanish, it is simply a wearable technology. Therefore, they have extensive versatility and adaptability for any social environment or activity.
Wearable devices are made up of sensors that have the ability to constantly read and record data.
In turn, they can be presented in different forms, where the most common is in smart watches. However, they are not the only ones on the market.
In this sense, wearable technology can be any type of garment that has the ability to interact under its own technological ecosystem. In other words, that allows its link with other devices, such as our smartphone.
What are wearable technologies for?
Its main function is seen in the area of health, because through its sensors, they continuously read the health status of the wearer. Subsequently, through a connection with an external device, it is possible to view the previously recorded data.
In this way, the wearer may be able to learn more about their health status, especially under a specific activity.
Today, smart watches are capable of measuring the wearer's blood pressure, as well as recording their heartbeat. It is for this reason that they are present in the world of exercise and outdoor activities.
However, the capabilities of portable devices are not limited to physical exercise. In principle, due to their definition, they can be any element that incorporates a processor, and has the possibility of being worn.
Such is the case, for example, wearables for dogs, AirTags that allow you to locate lost objects or Google's smart glasses.
Each and every one of them serves to be an element and an extension of the human being, in order to facilitate the performance of different activities.
Wearable device categories
Although they extend under a huge range of models, wearable or portable smart devices fall into different categories.
Health status measurement
They are considered the most common wearable devices, since they are used in physical activity topics with the aim of measuring different health values.
At first, they were only suitable for recording the number of steps that a person took, in a certain route. But, with the constant technological advances, they have undergone an important evolution during the last decade.
And it is that, now, they are capable, by means of sensors, of measuring the wearer's heart rate, during an intense exercise session. They also help quantify calories burned, and in more advanced cases, can define sleep cycles.
Its importance lies in the fact that, based on the information collected, the wearer is able to improve their habits in favor of a healthier life.
Smart Watches
They consist of watches that incorporate intelligent functions, which means that they are no longer only in charge of giving the time.
In that sense, they are now able to connect wirelessly with other devices, especially smartphones. In this way, they can fulfill mobile functions through voice commands or small personalized touches.
These types of watches also incorporate the ability to monitor the health status of the wearer. Within the market, the most requested models are under the Apple and Samsung brand.
Smart clothes
Now even clothes are considered smart. But, in the present case, it is still a growing trend.
Even so, smart garments considered wearables can also be seen in the sports field. For example, athletes often wear sports bras, which have different functions in reading different values of their physical activity.
One of them is clearly the measurement of heart rate. However, it is not the only ability. In turn, they have the ability to control the wearer's emotions, track their location, improve sleep, and measure blood pressure.
All this is thanks to the inclusion of small sensors, which upon contact with the skin, measure all the mentioned values.
Sensors that are implanted
Although we are just getting used to wearable devices that are removed and put on, those that are implanted are already emerging.
In the field of medicine, the inclusion of sensors can represent a long series of benefits for the patient.
One of the most important advances are sensor implants that regulate the levels of glucose present in the blood of a person with diabetes. In this way, when reaching a certain level, an electronic dispenser releases the necessary amount of insulin with total precision.
Likewise, the sensor would incorporate the function of reading and recording the most valuable information regarding the patient's health. Then, it would be able to digitize it to be sent to an external device, and be evaluated by a health professional.
What does the future hold for these devices?
Given their nature, portable removable devices, like implant devices, have enormous potential to be exploited in future generations.
Smart bracelets and watches are just a sample of what this technology can be capable of. And it is that even, we are beginning to talk about smart glasses, incorporated with sensors and small cameras of great utility.
On the other hand, if we add the arrival of smart clothing, in the future the human being will be completely covered with devices with sensors.
Everything, with the aim of making your day-to-day much easier, in addition to incorporating functions that constantly monitor your health status. In short, wearable technology is here to stay and continue to grow.
