The wearable tech industry is booming with devices like smartwatches, hearables and fitness and health trackers. These devices are enabling individuals to monitor their health, wellness and performance on the go without having to take off or interrupt their activities to use handheld technology. Increasingly, wearables are also being used for surveillance and detection, such as monitoring sleep patterns to screen for sleep apnea or tracking heart rate to detect an abnormal pattern that may indicate an impending heart attack.
Wearables are now being used in the workplace to improve accessibility and collaboration. For example, push-to-talk devices and smart glasses allow employees to communicate with coworkers without having to unlock or manipulate their smartphones. Virtual reality (VR) headsets allow students and workers to interact with immersive simulations or augmented reality (AR) content to gain new skills and knowledge.
One of the most important uses of wearables is their ability to relay health and wellness data to medical teams in real time. This information allows doctors to quickly identify potential issues or diagnose a patient’s condition, saving valuable time and resources.
As with all digital technologies, however, there are concerns around the impact that wearables can have on individuals’ lives and wellbeing. Specifically, they can be expensive, uncomfortable and confusing to operate. In addition, the collection and interpretation of data from wearables can be subject to commercial interests, leaving users feeling confused and powerless in their relationship with the technology. For these reasons, it is crucial that the specific use and position of wearables as digital health technology is critically evaluated to ensure that they are not contributing to health inequities.