3 myths about the growth of wearable tech for healthcare

Myth 1 – Only younger audiences use wearable tech

Technology innovations are often (and rightly one might add) driven by younger, savvier audiences. However, when it comes to wearables, the distribution is spread out. Younger audiences use wearable tech as an aid for fitness tracking. They primarily make use of these tools for a) Personal health surveillance and b) social connections with other using similar devices. However, older audiences too use wearable technology for a) improvement in overall health and b) As an alert aid in chronic conditions.

Myth 2 – Wearable use ensures successful weight loss

Numerically, wearable technology might have become main-stream. However, the way people use them still hasn’t reached optimal levels. Case in point is the novelty factor associated with initial use of wearable tech. The most popular consumer-focused brands like Jawbone and FitBit primarily measure movement through pedometers or accelometers. Through the use of proprietary algorithms, they are able to estimate activity levels. During initial usage, consumers are gung-ho about the activity levels and stick to it. This results in instant and noticeable weight loss. However studies have revealed that these results are not sustained over extended periods of use.

Myth 3 – The data provided by wearable tech is extremely useful for physicians

It is undeniable that wearable activity trackers provide a great deal of data about how active patients are and how much exercise they are getting. However, most physicians are still stuck with legacy systems which don’t allow them to harness this data effectively. Getting hold of relevant data is one thing, but unless physicians and health care providers are able to mine this data in an efficient manner to derive insights, outcomes and engagement from them, they are next to useless.

Wearable healthcare tech is still a sunrise industry. People have started using them and are beginning to get fitter and more active. Some physicians and healthcare providers have adapted their systems to incorporate data provided by such technology. However, there is still a long way to go. There is no denying that when patients are involved in their own care and maintenance, the clinical outcomes get better. However, this space needs a lot more observation before any ‘trends’ can be realized.