Wearable health technology (WHT): Scope & Future directions

Imbalanced erratic lifestyles, excessive fitness consciousness, health complications, & insufficient health-supportive services availability are accelerating the usage of WHT.

What is WHT?

Input processing & application-enabled smartphone tethered or independent computing devices on the body (smart patch) or around the body (wristwatch or headband) or in the body (identification sensor embedded under the skin or a sensor attached to the heart monitoring cardiac aberrations).

Features

● Hands free, integrated, seamless, comfortable, multi-functional, useful & reliable

● Real-time monitoring of health parameters & access to medical training ● Smooth interface influenced data transferring between the wearer & the device

● Hassle less data gathering through sensors, antennae, global positioning-systems receivers, & cameras

● Communication exchange via radio frequencies, wireless systems, infrared, Bluetooth technology & personal area network

User benefits

1. Easy self-monitoring, data synchronization and updating

2. Saves time, boosts health motivation & removes unhealthy habits

3. Inculcates proactive health preventive measures

4. Offers patient condition monitoring, diagnosis & treatment ways to the physicians & patients

Types of healthcare wearables Fitness wearables-

used by healthy enthusiasts to improve their physical fitness

Medical wearables-

handled by unhealthy users with existing disease condition 

Problems with wearable health technology

Private medical information security

High chances of data leak due to inappropriate implementation of security regulations. There is a requirement for critical checkpoints & protection of patient confidentiality.

Overflow of data information

User data management is poorly handled hence there is a crucial need for right administration of user care information.

Insufficiency of connectivity & system interoperability

Inadequate experience in WHT & interoperability, causing inadequate data integration & transfer into electronic health records.

Future possibilities

Elderly care

Development of geriatric home care services to support better continuous health monitoring and best care. Generation & notification of deviation derived automatic signals including patient current situation & location to emergency services. Integration of WHT like wearable insulin injection devices into the patient's body which will inject insulin in case of insulin level drop.

New generation wearable devices

● Right medicine intake through The FDA-approved sensor pill the Ingestion Event Marker (IEM)

● Disease diagnosis by swallowing free-scale KL02 chip to send back bio-readings via Wi-Fi to eradicate the error of forgetting time or type of medication

● Registering patients vital signs with the help of wear wireless sensor woven clothing

● Detecting presence of tyrosinase enzyme biomarkers on skin through wearable bandages and microneedles to provide smooth skin melanoma screening

● Accurate measurement of physical status and physiological parameters to improve prevention, diagnosis and disease management

Conclusion

Chronic disease management can be handled better with the help of critical usage of wearable health technology. This can enhance patient care services and empower patients to manage their health on their own. Dedicated future focus is needed towards analysis of WHT-associated best practices and easy solutions to reduce existing challenges.