Is Wearable Tech Making Us Healthier?

Wearable tech is more popular than ever before, and smartwatches, fitness bands or other devices that are worn on the body have been a huge hit globally. According to recent statistics released, a staggering total of about 17 million wearables were sold in the United States. That adds up to being about 1 in every 6 people having a device of some kind.

This is great news for a number of reasons, not in the least because it proves that people are more aware of their personal health than ever before. So, surely this means that Americans are healthier than they’ve ever been? Sadly, the same statistics show that, although more and more people are buying health-focused wearable technology, these same people were abandoning the device shortly after purchasing it. Why?

Much To Be Desired

A survey by Endeavour Partners, a Massachusetts based company, went into the habits of wearable tech users. The results of the survey were interesting, to say the least. It turns out that at least a third of all users gave up using their fitness band more than 6 months after getting it. This seems to suggest that users are simply losing interest, getting fed up, or are no longer focused on their health. But there is far more to these statistics than meets the eye.

It should first be noted that the survey avoided products that were deemed essential, such as hearing aids, or heart rate monitors for those who required it. The survey instead focused on optional items, that a user had bought for their own purposes.

The main reasons that users abandoned the device were questions about the accuracy, and a simple fact of massive inconvenience. More specifically, many simply felt that the device not only failed to accurately detect steps when supposedly counting them, but that it needed charging far more than was acceptable. Many of those who abandoned their wearable did, however, purchase a newer, better version.

Better Options, More Interest

But wearable technology has come a long way since it was originally introduced, about a decade ago. Since the early days of smartwatches, much has changed, and so user interest has grown. Most devices these days have built in GPS systems, heart rate monitors, and much more, drastically improving user experience. For example, many of the products available on the market now grant the option to share results on social media websites, making fitness goals far more inviting to achieve.

Some more recent smartwatch designs even go way beyond simply being focused on fitness, and can be used to play at a site like Jackpot City casino online, surf the web, send text messages, and much more. This improvement is one of the reasons that they are seeing more widespread adoption, and user engagement increasing steadily. Plus, with the technology still undergoing further improvement, adoption rates are set to climb even higher.

Looking at a Future Evolution

It need not be said that wearable tech is continuing to evolve, entering into ever more interesting and intriguing departments. Experimental tech built into clothing is already being showcased, further improving comfort and convenience for users. Trackers built into running shoes are already emerging, giving glimpses as to what the future will look like.

Clothing with so-called “smart threads” has also been hinted at, which provides a more detailed and focused study of exercise than ever before. It seems logical that these items will come together in the near future, providing a precise, personal exercise experience never before seen. Whether it makes us healthier though, is still up for debate, and only time will tell if wearables that measure success are enough to keep getting us off the couch.