Wearable tech offers transformative benefits in healthcare, fitness, business and entertainment. However, it also raises privacy and security concerns.
Consumer wearables are designed to track data that users can access through an app. These devices can be worn directly on the body, attached to clothing, or built into other objects. Examples include smartwatches and fitness trackers, virtual reality (VR) headsets like Google Glass or Microsoft HoloLens, and augmented reality (AR) head-mounted displays such as Snap Inc’s Spectacles or Sony PlayStation VR.
Many of these products work by syncing with the user’s smartphone for display and control. Other models, such as the epidermal electronics developed by Atari and Audiowear, function without a phone and instead connect to wireless sensors in the surrounding environment or in a user’s clothing to collect information.
Some products have specific applications in particular industries, such as professional sports or military operations. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Watch includes a GPS-enabled tracker that can record and relay real-time data to athletes’ coaches, while the XO-1 device, a form of AR, allows service members to view mission maps or simulation exercises through their eyes.
While barriers to use have been identified, they are often specific to the device and may be influenced by perceptions of efficacy. For instance, the inability of some wearables to accurately measure strength exercises has been cited as an obstacle to usage by some individuals. Nonetheless, the ability of wearables to promote behavior change has led to several studies that find that they can empower patients and encourage engagement with their health care providers [85].
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