Fitness trackers, blood pressure monitors and biosensors. - why wearables will be at the heart of a healthcare revolution in 2023.
But in 2023, wearables will move from lifestyle devices to life-changing ones.
Wearables and biomarker sensors will enable you to monitor key aspects of your health in real-time, detect health issues early, and provide personalised health recommendations.
But in 2023, wearables will move from lifestyle devices to life-changing ones.
Wearables and biomarker sensors will enable you to monitor key aspects of your health in real-time, detect health issues early, and provide personalised health recommendations.
Health and fitness technology is big business – the market for fitness tracker devices alone is forecast to come close to $100 billion by the end of 2025.
All of the big mobile device manufacturers are competing for a slice of the pie, and at the same time, a new market has emerged for in-home fitness technology thanks to lockdowns and people seem more aware of keeping tabs on their own physical and mental fitness
Wearables becoming more sophisticated and powerful
Fitness trackers such as the Fitbit wristbands, as well as smartwatches like Apple, Pixel, and Samsung models with inbuilt fitness tracking capabilities, have been with us for a while. Over the next year, we will see them continue to become more sophisticated, with more powerful and flexible sensors capable of monitoring and giving us AI-enhanced feedback on our daily routine.
In recent years, we have seen manufacturers add ECG scanners that can measure electrical signals in the heart in order to provide early warning against potentially life-threatening conditions such as atrial fibrillation.
Another recent development is Sp02 monitoring, which can warn against conditions affecting the functioning of the lungs, including Covid-19.
They can be bought reasonably inexpensively - OR if you have a smart phone then a lot of this information - like steps, sleep etc can be collected within that
It's estimated that 1 in 5 of us now wear a fitness tracker and all this information that is collected anonymously will assist in developing new techniques for spotting health issues and understanding how our bodies are affected by our daily activities and the world around us.
This will lead to the development of new treatments and therapies that ultimately will contribute to better health and fitness for everyone.
App-based home workout classes
The cost-of-living crisis affecting many parts of the world is also likely to be an influencing factor here, as costly gym memberships are frequently one of the first expenses that people look to cut in order to reduce spending.
In recent years, we have seen the development of more powerful and sophisticated features – such as the Artifit AI-powered personal trainer app that uses computer vision via your smartphone camera to give real-time feedback on form and posture.
We are also likely to see more traditional health and fitness-focused organizations jump on board the AI-powered app trend – another example is WW (formerly Weight Watchers) which has created its own app-based ecosystem that uses AI to monitor diet and activity metrics, including movement and sleep patterns.
As lives become busier and more people find themselves working longer hours or taking on multiple jobs in order to make ends meet, apps and home-based workouts make it easier to squeeze workouts into our hectic daily routine where a trip to the gym might not be possible.
Youtube free workouts - and use fitness trackers to compete against one another in walking challenges as well as join like minded communities - ie cyclist, runners, walking etc
Smart home gyms
The internet-of-things (IoT), which essentially means something with a sensor that collects data anonymously means we can now have home gyms packed with smart, connected versions of exercise bikes, treadmills, and other fitness equipment.
Peloton is undoubtedly the best-known name in this game – buying its equipment and subscribing to its services gives users a chance to take part in live classes featuring real-time interactions with other users as well as trainers. You also get the chance to compete for positions on the leaderboard, adding a level of gamification.
Peloton may have paved the way for smart home fitness hardware, but other players are emerging hot on its heels, keen to also become household names during 2023.
JaxJox creates smart kettlebells and dumbbells that allow you to alter their weight with the touch of a button,
while TheTrainer+ from Vitrivian offers a “gym on a platform” that includes a whole set of weight training and resistance exercises using one connected platform, and a subscription service model - menaing you pay a fee per month to access features.
smart home gyms and fitness equipment will continue to be a strong trend throughout 2023.
Don’t forget mental health too!
Often overlooked, but there's one lesson that we need to learn in order to cope with the tough times ahead of us, it’s the importance of looking after our mental health.
Headspace and Calm are two well-known apps that aim to encourage mindfulness and reduce stress as a tech-driven answer to the challenges of the modern world. Both have seen their user numbers increase in recent years, and I predict this will continue into the next year.
Just as we see home workout apps and smart gym equipment dedicated to improving physical fitness, we can also expect a surge in similar products and services focused on yoga, individual therapies, mindfulness, and de-stressing.