Wearable Technology Trends That Will Shape Healthcare In 2022

Wearable technology is the inevitable future of the modern world. Its purpose is to embed a microprocessor chip within worn accessories like watches, rings, glasses, etc., to uplift their roles and input in daily lives.

The recent pandemic has evoked the health consciousness within people to track their routines and thus promoted the wearable tech industry to outstretch expeditiously.

In this article, you will uncover the current and upcoming trends within the wearable industry and how it shapes the health and fitness of an individual.

The Need For Wearable Technology

The market capital for wearable technology is increasing rapidly; Mordor Intelligence valued it at USD 27.91 billion in 2020 and forecasts it to reach USD 74.03 billion by 2026 (Almost 2.3X). However, do you think there is an actual need for this type of technology, or is it simply a game of influence?

There are numerous benefits of using a technology that monitors your regime and provides stats. These wearables’ portable and hand-free nature makes them an appealing and convenient option for most people. Major benefits of wearable technology:

• It helps you build a healthy habit that could minimize common issues such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases due to unhealthy habits.

• Coaches you to plan your meals, count steps, calculate your calorie loss, etc.

• Enables the doctor to thoroughly analyze the patient’s activities and provide accurate advice and supplements.

• The availability and affordability of these devices inspire people to own them.

Furthermore, multiple activities that were only possible on smartphones, like listening to music, texting, location tracking, clicking a picture, etc., are also included.

Why do you think such wearables work? One of the reasons and motivations could be the Hawthorne Effect: It states that people tend to behave better when they know they’re being watched. Therefore, when you buy a new device that tracks your heart rate, steps, and more, you are more likely to act better.

It’s time to discover some popular and upcoming trends that can change the health industry.

Latest Wearable Technology Trends

Major companies such as Apple, Garmin, Withings, Alivecor, Motiv, etc., are trying to capitalize on the wearable market by introducing significant trends—let’s analyze them.

Source: Statista

Trend 1: Smartwatch

People have been wearing watches since the beginning, and now its purpose has been shifted from reminding time to much more. The touchscreen watch comes in various shapes and forms, connects with your phone, and functions similarly.

Fitness tracking is one of the major selling points for a smartwatch as it could record your heartbeat, steps, blood pressure, ECG, etc.

In addition, your smartwatch has the power to locate your phone when lost, use navigation, access notifications, and even make/answer calls. People are buying smartwatches as a fashion and sports statement.

Examples: Apple Watch Series 7, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Garmin Venu 2 Plus, etc.

Trend 2: Smart Clothing

High tech garments are also making their way into the market, not as popular as smartwatches. Adding technology to wearables such as shoes, sleepwear, activewear, etc., improves the function of these items.

Innovative clothing items enable you to supervise your muscle activities, sleep quality, fatigue level, body recovery rate, etc. You can check your performance and health using these clothes and make changes to improve the state of your body.

Examples: jacket by Levi’s Google Jacquard, Smart sock gen 3 by Owlet, Nadi X yoga pants by Wearable X, etc.

Source: Market and Market

Trend 3: Smart Rings

Smart rings are a purposeful wearable gadget that functions brilliantly with daily usage. For instance, you can make payments through electronic credit cards, store identification (driver’s licenses), unlock smart car and house doors, etc.

In order to operate smartphone-based features, gestures are used in smart rings, and it also keeps track of all health aggregates such as calorie intake/loss, steps count, heart rate, etc.

The innovation of intelligent rings was made for security access—eliminating the need to carry and misplace car and home keys.

Examples: CNICK Model 3 & Model Y Tesla, RPH Engineering Gun Safe Access, COLMO Tesla Model 3, etc.

CNICK Model 3 & Model Y Tesla Ring

Trend 4: Fitness Trackers

Fitness trackers are specific wearable devices targeting your health and keeping track of everything. Have you heard of Fitbit? Those are prime examples of fitness trackers.

You can use this tool to track your movements, activities (swimming, running, cycling), sleep, oxygen level, calorie loss, etc.

Examples: Fitbit Charge 5, Fitbit sense, Fitbit Luxe, etc.

Trend 5: Smart Hearables

Hearables are in-ear devices that are more than just a pair of music-listening earphones. They assist people with hearing disorders, track their body fitness level, and monitor their functioning. The result is displayed on your smartphone.

Smart hearables promote hand-free voice recognition, active noise cancellation, etc.

Examples: Nuheara IQbuds2 Max, Olive Smart Ear X, Amazfit Zenbuds, etc.

Trend 6: Wearable Blood-Pressure And ECG Monitor

Hospital visits could be daunting for people who require regular blood pressure and ECG monitor checkups. Smart wearables have impacted by eradicating those extended visits by bringing the technology to people.

Due to these wearables, people suffering from heart diseases and chest pains can conveniently track their blood pressure and ECG—no more long queues and expensive checkups.

Doctors use these biosensors to track patients’ health and provide accurate treatment in time.

Examples: Omron HeartGuide, FitVII Smartwatch, MorePro Activity Tracker, etc.

Takeaways

Wearable technology is rapidly growing and making its way into people’s lives by becoming an essential tool. They have shaped the health industry, and the advancement has been extravagant within the last decade.

This type of technology will be more affordable and accurate with time, and thus the need for regular check-ups may happen in homes and not in hospitals. Doctors can take care of other patients with consequential conditions.

Smartwatches, rings, hearables, fitness trackers, and more are just the beginning of a much more convenient future—there is more coming.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article.