Today’s guest post is courtesy Wally De La Rosa of Consumersadvocate.org.
Wearable Technology: What is it?
“Wearable technology” is one of the fastest-advancing sectors of the tech industry; presently, it is outpacing the development of smartphones. Wearables tap into the connected self – they are loaded with smart sensors that track your movements and biometrics, as well as use Bluetooth to sync wirelessly to your smartphone. Wearables use sensors to connect to you as a person, helping you achieve goals such as staying fit and active, losing weight, being more organized or tracking your overall mental and physical health.
Wearables include products such as the Oura Ring, Fitbit, smart watches, such as the Apple Watch or Garmin watches, Ketone monitors, and CGM’s (continuous glucose monitoring) such as the FreeStyle Libre .
Latest Craze
While the not-so-novel coronavirus continues to challenge healthcare systems around the world, many of us have adopted new ways of doing things, including how we go about our workouts, grocery shop, plan meals, and simply take care of ourselves during these tough times. The first few months were rough, but after the initial shock – which lasted about a month and a half – I realized this virus wasn’t going away anytime soon. At that point, I made up my mind to work within my state’s guidelines to build my strength and be as healthy as possible if the ‘rona actually got to me. Enter fitness trackers.
I purchased my fitness tracker a few months before the lockdowns started. As the initial lockdown began to lift, I decided to go for a morning walk every day to help keep my blood flowing and the “covid-15” off my waist. After a while, I took up yoga and, later, jogging. I was happy to find my watch kept track of everything including my sleeping hours.
Studies show 21% of Americans use a smartwatch or fitness tracker. When it comes to features, most fitness trackers have a surprising amount of benefits which can lead to a more productive and healthy lifestyle. These benefits include:
- Helping develop a healthier routine
- Keeping track of daily activity over time
- Monitoring heart rate
- Motivating you with milestones
- Helping you set reminders or tasks
- Letting you organize your day quickly
- Monitoring sleep
I honestly never thought I’d be so involved with this type of technology. It’s not social media and certainly won’t be confused with Facebook or Twitter. But it is all about my health. These trackers make it genuinely easier for me to keep track of my goals and follow up with them as I go through my day while still looking pretty cool.
