5 Wearable Tech Products To Look Out For
The wearable technology enterprise is an emerging landscape. The wide range of products that are available on the market will surely change the way you communicate, exercise, and even socially connect with others. Products range from smart watches to pedometers to health monitors, and even activity trackers. Nowhere is the growth of wearable technology more evident than in the health care industry. Wearable technology products in this sector are able to monitor your sleep patterns, track your water intake, and even check your activity levels. These types of devices are often referred to as “quantified self” devices because the sensor that track your body data can be worn as clothing, watches, temporary tattoos, implanted, and even ingested. Wearable technology products such as these have only one goal in mind: to enable consumers to take control of their health and well being.
1) Shine by Misfit
This is a great product for tracking your fitness levels. Ask yourself, do you want to lead a healthier lifestyle without carrying around bulky, unattractive sports equipment? Misfit’s Shine is an award winner across many fronts. It is able to measure activity levels across different levels, ranging from sleeping to heavy activity. It is able to discern when a user is awake and when they are cycling. The Shine uses a 3-axis accelerometer which monitors activity levels in relation to a person’s horizontal and vertical movements. Data collected by this product may be an eye opening for some users because this product is able to accurately track fitness levels. This will encourage users to focus on leading an active lifestyle and to break out of sedentary habits.
The Shine is waterproof and beautifully designed. It can be worn on any part of the body and requires nearly zero input from the user. Even though it collects data in a passive manner, the information it provides is robust. Shine currently retails for $120 USD.
2) MC10
The MC10 is considered as the most innovative type of application. Their “temporary tattoos” which act like, will surely change the face of global health care and wearable technology products. Their innovative Biostamp, acts like a sticker by stretching and moving according to the person’s body movements. This device is able to monitor a gamut of physiological functions such as brain waves, heart rate and blood pressure, body temperature, and hydration levels. The sensors are virtually invisible, so no one will know that you are wearing a “health measuring” device. Certain groups of consumers such as expectant moms, professional athletes, and the elderly are most likely to benefit from the MC10. The only drawback is the cost which can range from $150 to $300 dollars, which might seem like too much for sensors which need to be disposed every seven days. But from a health perspective, it is never too expensive to monitor our fitness levels.
3) Jawbone
This is newest and best brand in the market today. Jawbone has several superb devices for the fitness-minded person. Some of their products include the Upfitness band, Jambox speaker, and the ERA blue tooth headset. The fitness monitor can be plugged directly into your phone, enabling low effort syncing. Users can track meals via photo uploads or scanning a food label for nutritional content. The Up is able to track more data than the Shine, but it also requires users to be more involved.
Jambox is a portable speaker with a sleek design. The ERA is a headset, earpieces set that enables Bluetooth connectivity with your phone. Jawbone’s range of products is great for users who are consistently active and are serious about monitoring their fitness levels and nutrition. Even the product quality and craftsmanship is a work of art. All Jawbone products can be easily obtained from Apple’s retail stores.
4) Google Glass
This is one of the best futuristic devices on the market. On a basic level, Glass is able to sync email, Facebook, text messages, record movies, and do a web search. All this information is displaying via a small device, located above the user’s right vision. Its advanced level applications include numerous health care diagnostics as well as reality gaming. Although this device is currently unavailable for consumers, don’t fret the innovation is not too far off.
5) Pebble
The Pebble is being dubbed as the best communication device. It actively monitors all types of communication coming into your phone. Communication such as Facebook notifications, phone calls, emails, and even sms messages. This device will enable you to go about your day without lifting the phone to check for messages. The device works by sending out a vibration to your wrist when there is an incoming message. All you have to do is look at your wrist to see if it needs to be attended. Currently Pebble only works for incoming messages. This device will help you streamline your communication and also save time. It is available for $150 USD.
Wearable technology devices will forever change the face of how we live and interact with one another.