The tech we put on our wrists now completes the smart health ecosystem
In 2014, the market was introduced to a new form of technology – smartwatches. The stylish, technologically compact devices plays a huge role in improving the lives of many. Essentially, they are worn for style and to act as an extension of your phone. The watches are able to receive and manage phone calls and messages, control your phone remotely and manage payment.
However, there’s more to just having a small phone on your risk. The vast majority of smartwatches features a wide array of health tracking apps to assist in your daily activities and the duration of your passive and sedentary period of your day. Here are some of the basic functions of a smart watch that you will find useful for your everyday life.
ACTIVITY TRACKER
Utilising the same pedometer present in most phones, the wrist accessory has the capability to measure the amount of steps taken in a day and translate that amount into distance, calorie burnt, and fatigue level.
While the accuracy of the pedometer is still questionable, it does not change the fact that it has the motivational power to get you to walk and see the number increase with every step.
In addition, features such as sedentary reminder that buzzes you if you’re sitting too long are one of the built-in features in even the most basic smartwatch.
A feature that is most useful for those with a sedentary work nature. After staring too long at a computer, your watch will send a reminder for you to get up and move.
HEART RATE MONITOR FOR THE SPORTS BUFFS
Based on a difficult to pronounce technology called photoplethysmography (PPG), smart watches are able to read the wearer’s heartbeat and the amount of blood and oxygen flowing under the skin.
The PPG is a technical term for shining light into the skin and measuring the light scattered in the blood flow according to the user’s heartbeat, oxygen level and blood pressure.
The heart rate is an essential indicating component of the intensity of how much your body works during a workout and its physiological adaptation.
While it may not possess a 100 per cent accuracy, the estimation can help you read the spike of heart beat increment especially when you are working out.
SLEEP MONITORING
The quality of your sleep directly affect your mental and physical state. This include productivity, emotional balance, and the brain and heart functions among other. The smart watch tracks your sleeping pattern, when your sleep is interrupted and the amount of sleep you get for a night.
While the technology is far from substituting professional sleep study, the function can assist in identifying the optimum sleeping pattern and set goals to help you sleep to help your body function better during the day.
SPORT ASSIST
Some watches are designed for sport enthusiast. The interphase and software is programmed to read your body condition in specific activities. With advanced training feedback to improve your exercise routine, one can achieve the optimum workout session with the assistance of these stylish wrist equipment.
In addition, having a smartwatch while you exercise is like having a small trainer to help you with your workout regime.
Not to mention a GPS tracker to help you locate where you are while you are out on the run. Meanwhile, the smartphone connectivity and accessibility of a smartwatch gives you more freedom to move without having your bulky device in your pocket.
DATA SYNCHRONISATION FOR MONITORING AND ANALYSIS
The data received will be stored in your connected phone to help you device and plan your workout regime better. Some features help you track the amount of activities in a week and will notify you in case you happen to slack off.
These are the added value of a smart watch to help you improve your physical and mental health. It also completes a set of health-related ecosystem we can utilise for the good of our wellbeing.
While the reading and data that comes from your smartwatch may not be taken to replace a real professional’s advice, it is good to have an idea to have an estimation on where your limit is and smartwatches are useful for such purposes. — The Health
