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The future of wearables
By
Leonardo Estevez
Control & Analytics Researcher, TI Kilby Labs
Technology is constantly evolving. The Mobile platform has witnessed tremendous changes in the past few years, presenting a constant evolution of technology. As we read through the post below, we shall get a further insight into various areas where wearables are being put to maximum use nowadays.
Sports
In the very near future, head concussion sensors will go from an obscure technology used in only a handful of schools to standard equipment on every field in the United States, from little leagues to the big leagues.
At the highest levels of sports, teams have begun to use wearables in pursuit of a competitive advantage. They outfit players with jerseys loaded with sensors to measure such things as distance, acceleration and speed – extracting a wealth of information. The data helps coaches better understand how certain players react when running certain plays, and enables them to structure workouts that are more efficient.
But this is just the beginning. The entire world of sports could change forever with the use of wearables as they become more prolific. Right now, wearables serve strictly as a way to gather information. But this breakthrough technology will someday actually amp up games. Imagine exoskeleton legs or arms, giving athletes an added boost as they jump to the basketball rim or hit a baseball. Entire new leagues could be created with these half-human, half-machine hybrids.
Medical
I believe advancements in wearables will save lives, particularly in situations involving first responders. In the most traumatic of medical emergencies today, the goal of first responders is to stabilize patients and quickly and safely get them to a hospital for further treatment. But imagine first responders being able to retrieve biometric sensor data collected before and during an accident. This can be lifesaving information, since it would give first responders enough information about their patient’s health to make an informed decision about the kind and dosage of treatment required. For example, people are sometimes involved in an accident as a result of a heart attack, or they could have a heart attack as a result of an accident. Biometric sensor data could give first responders lifesaving insight into what happened to a patient to ensure proper treatment.
Wearables will also empower more senior adults to live independently. Today, wearables can be used as personal emergency response systems to call somebody if a senior adult is in need. But the technology could also prevent accidents altogether. For example, an elderly person could wear a device to measure their gait (walking pattern). If there is a change in how they swing their legs, it could be a sign of a change in blood pressure or an issue in the brain, and the wearable would signal the wearer to call a healthcare provider. Even something as simple as swaying when rising from a seated position could trigger the wearable to signal the person to sit back down, preventing falls that can cause broken hips and other preventable injuries.
Patients with diabetes and other chronic illness are eager for the day when they can manage their diseases non-invasively. In the very near future, I believe we will see reasonably priced glucometers – similar to a Band-Aid – that people can wear to constantly measure their glucose levels without drawing blood.
Everyday life
In the very near future, we will continue to see wearables expanding in the ‘want’ vs. ‘need’ category. Translation: Wearables will continue to be the very cool ‘technology bling’ or ‘digital jewelry.’ Most people today have a smartphone, but how many have a smart watch? Many people wear glasses, but far fewer wear smart glasses. Yes, these smart, wearable devices provide added value to life, but the motivation for some to have them is simply for social status.
The reasons behind innovation can vary – from trendy to life-saving. Either way, innovation is occurring, and technology we create at TI enables these types of inventions. Because our semiconductors continue to get smaller and more efficient, while using less power, we can pack more technology into tiny devices that last longer on a single battery charge.
As we persist in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, wearables will continue to proliferate, and technology will become more and more ingrained in all aspects of our lives.
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