As wearable tech gains popularity, we’ve started to
imagine how it might affect our lives if it reaches mainstream use, and
personal health tracking has taken center stage in the discussion.
Smartwatches are coming out with health-related apps that
utilize your movements and vital signs to help you keep track of — and
accomplish — your health goals. Here are several of the ways you can use
wearable tech to improve your health and fitness.
1. Track your sleep patterns
There’s no doubt about the modern era’s troubled relationship with a
healthy sleep cycle. Whatever the reasons for it may be, it’s hard to
break the cycle of poor sleep habits once you start. Smartwatches are a
genius solution to monitoring your sleep cycle — and figuring out what’s
keeping you from having a healthy one. Many sleep monitoring apps for
smartwatches will give you suggestions on how to improve your sleep over
time based on your unique sleep activity, so you can actually improve
and get the rest you need.
2. Control your calorie intake
Smartwatch apps for tracking your calories are among the most popular
being developed for the devices, making keeping track convenient and
paperless. Even better, some calorie tracking apps are designed to give
you encouragement through your tracking process and praise when you
achieve your intake goals. One app will even connect you with your
friends and family who want to encourage you to stay on track!
3. Go the extra mile
Even the simplest smartwatches are boasting
pedometer tech, so you’re likely to get this feature even if you can’t
shell out $349 for Apple’s new wearable device. Tracking the number of
steps you take each day is a proven way to get you to move more and
reach your optimal activity level. Having this technology in a wearable
is certainly more attractive than stand-alone pedometers, not to mention
the usefulness of a device that does a lot more than just count your
steps. You’ll have less reason to not purchase a smartwatch than you
would with a one-use device.
4. Record and perfect your exercise route
Similar to tracking your steps, tracking the route you take to
run/walk/bike/etc. has been around for a while, but always on a
stand-alone device or in your smartphone and thus requiring you to carry
it whether you were planning to or not. Only now, some smartwatch
route-tracking apps will keep track of your exercise route and
give you suggestions for alternative or better ones. Perfect for those
who need a change of scenery every now and then to keep them motivated.
5. Monitor your blood pressure
Recording heart rate and steps taken are easy capabilities to
imagine, but did you know we can now measure and record our blood
pressure through wearables? Normally a blood pressure measurement
requires a trip to the doctor or a well-equipped pharmacy. Now you can
keep track of your BP on your own, a crucial ability as you get older or
for people with existing high BP-related conditions.
6. Manage your stress
Many stress management apps for smartwatches use your heart rate and
other vital signs to monitor your level of stress throughout the day.
Tracking multiple vital signs, wearables are able to pick up on the ebb
and flow of your stress and help you pin-point where the highest levels
are coming from. Some of these apps will give you tips and suggestions
on how to manage your stress. Plus, having this stress-tracking system
strapped to your wrist eliminates the added stress of remembering to
bring a device wherever you go.
7. Get your own mini personal trainer
Need encouragement when you work out? Personal trainers are expensive and not accessible by everyone, but personal trainer apps
for smartwatches are growing in popularity, offering encouragement and
praise during your work outs or advice on how to move forward with your
routine. Develop your workout schedule, get suggestions on new moves to
try, and receive personalized feedback to keep you motivated. What more
do you need?
Wearable tech so far is all about the wrist. Fitness bands and smartwatches may be the devices of choice at the moment, but this new Kickstarter campaign wants to change all that, and is hoping we’re open to putting our next wearable on a finger instead. It’s called the Oura ring, and it’s described as a “wellness computer,” which means sleep/fitness tracker to you and me.
Primarily designed to monitor sleep, the Oura measures your heart
rate, breathing, body temperature, and movement at night. It’ll
automatically detect that you’re sleeping, then monitor light and deep
stages, plus any time you’re laying there awake. It uses a set of
algorithms to create a personal profile, and build a picture of how well
rested you are.
Collecting and analyzing data is all very well, but it’s useless
without converting it into something useful for the wearer. For Oura,
it’s used to build a Readiness Score — a percentage mark that shows
whether you’re up for a challenge that day, or should be taking it a
little easier. Examining the data inside the accompanying app will help
make better lifestyle choices, and improve your Readiness Score over
time.
During the day the Oura ring uses its movement sensor to count steps,
check if you’re sitting about for too long, and measure calories
burned. Daily targets can be set, and the app will provide graphs on
trends, and further recommendations on how to be more active.
The ring is made from zirconia, is scratch and waterproof, comes in a
variety of sizes, and three different colors. It uses Bluetooth Smart
to connect to your phone, and is compatible with both iOS and Android
— but this isn’t essential to its operation, as the internal memory
will store three weeks worth of data. Battery life isn’t great at just
three days, but it’s recharged in less than an hour inside a custom
charger.
It’s almost at the same price with other wearable tech so far. The Starter Kit is the lowest priced option on
Kickstarter at $230, which is for a glossy white or black version, but
the stealth black model — apparently hand finished, and a limited
edition — is $400. Despite this, the project has already been funded
with time to spare, and the Oura is set for delivery in November. You
can check it out here.
