Everything we wear is becoming smarter. Smartwatches are slowly replacing analog watches (aka dumb watches) and smart glasses allow us to see more than what’s around us.

Read more: The Best Heart Rate Tracking Watches and Chest Straps for 2021

People now prefer wearing a smartwatch over a dumb watch because of its usefulness in tracking health. Many smartwatches offer heart rate tracking features and there are also chest straps that can monitor your heart. Many people track their heart rate data to estimate their energy expenditure, which is very helpful for body composition.

But how accurate is the data your device is giving you and which ones are better for monitoring your heart – smartwatches or chest straps? Here we compare few types of chest straps and smartwatches.

Both, smartwatches and chest straps, do the same thing but in hugely different ways.

Chest straps

Pros

Before smartwatches, only way to monitor heart rate was a chest strap. Electrodes embedded on these chest straps press against the skin and uses electrocardiography to get the heart’s electrical activity. Chest straps are very accurate. Some brands like Polar claim their straps can measure heart rate to a granular degree of accuracy. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise showed that Polar H7 chest strap was 99.6% accurate when tested against an ECG.

Cons

Many people find chest straps to be uncomfortable. On the other hand, constant exposure to sweat can cause them to corrode, which means interference with the electrodes and delivering inaccurate readings. To pick up electrical impulses coming from your heart, the pads on the chest straps need a bit of moisture, so they may need a few minutes once you get sweating to give you an accurate reading, reports Colin Levitch in CyclingNews.

Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers

Pros

Smartwatches and fitness trackers use a method called photoplethysmography (PPG) to measure heart rate. PPG is a technical term for shining light into the skin and measuring the amount of light that is scattered by blood flow. When you’re wearing your smartwatch or fitness tracker, the heart rate sensors at the bottom of the dial press up against the skin and tracks heart rate. This is very comfortable for the user but there are drawbacks.

Cons

Wrist-based heart rate trackers need to be worn accurately (tight, above the knuckle on your wrist) to get a precise heart rate. Also, skin tone, hair, moles, etc. can affect accuracy. A 2019 study, published in the Journal of Sports Science, found that the point-to-point accuracy in these wearables can vary from +/- 1% to error rates as high as +/-13.5%. Types of LEDs and algorithms also can affect the accuracy of these wearables.

Read more Google Pixel Phones Will Soon Track Heart Rate and Respiratory Rate Using Your Phone’s Camera

Takeaway

When it comes to point-to-point accuracy, chest straps are more accurate than optical heart rate sensors. Chest straps are proved to be the most accurate of the heartrate-measuring devices, with a 99.6% accuracy. The wrist-worn devices, however, are far less accurate. If you want real-time heart rate monitoring and don’t care about point-to-point accuracy, then a smartwatch should be good enough for you.

In the future, wearable sensors like those found in Fitbits and pedometers could be replaced by mushrooms.

Read more: UC Boulder Scientists Develop Self-Healing Device That Can Power Wearables

In a recent study, researchers explored the use of fungi as a potential candidate to produce sustainable textiles that can be used as eco-friendly bio wearables. For example, the processors in tech wearables like Fitbits could be replaced by incorporating oyster mushroom mycelium.

Oyster mushroom mycelium, the fibrous mainframe tissues of fungi that colonize under the soil and from which mushrooms sprout, were able to perceive electrical signals in such a way as to replicate that part for sensors and processors, which are readable by a computer, reports GoodNewsNetwork.

“Smart wearables sense and process information from the user’s body and environment and report results of their analysis as electrical signals. Conventional electronic sensors and controllers are commonly, sometimes augmented by recent advances in soft electronics,” the researchers wrote.

“Organic electronics and bioelectronics, especially with living substrates, offer a great opportunity to incorporate parallel sensing and information processing capabilities of natural systems into future and emerging wearables. Nowadays fungi are emerging as a promising candidate to produce sustainable textiles to be used as eco-friendly biowearables.”

To assess the sensing potential of fungal wearables the team undertook laboratory experiments on the electrical response of a hemp fabric colonized by oyster fungi Pleurotus ostreatus to mechanical stretching and stimulation with attractants and repellents.

“We have shown that it is possible to discern a nature of stimuli from the fungi electrical responses. The results paved a way towards the future design of intelligent sensing patches to be used in reactive fungal wearables,” the team wrote.

Read more: Flexible Thermoelectric Device Harvests Energy from Skin Temperature to Power Wearables

The joint research venture was undertaken by the University of the West of England, Bristol, the U.K. (UWE Bristol) and collaborators from Mogu S.r.l., Italy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Torino, Italy, and the Faculty of Computer Science, Multimedia and Telecommunications of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) has assessed the sensing potential of fungal wearables.

There's no shortage of smartwatches to choose from these days. But it’s hard to find the one that matches your expectations. eBuyNow, a Motorola brand licensee, is all set to introduce not one but three new Moto-branded smartwatches in 2021. According to Twitter user Felipe Berhau, eBuyNow will be soon releasing these Motorola-branded smartwatches: Moto Watch, Moto Watch One and Moto G Smartwatch.

Read more: Motorola Patent Hints At Solution for Foldable Phone Displays

A few images appearing in Twitter shows the design of the watches. The Moto Watch One and the Moto G Smartwatch are likely to come with a circular build, similar to that of the Moto 360 smartwatch. In contrast, the Moto Watch appears to come in a square-shaped design. The watches are expected to run on Google’s Wear OS and powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor.

The image that shows the potential watch was found in an investor presentation alongside three other smartwatches. The image reportedly also shows a wireless charging coil, reports TheVerge.

According to Reddit user TheMacJezza, one of the images used in the presentation just barely shows some hardware details for one of the new Motorola watches (seemingly the Moto Watch One, based on the lug design). The back of one of the watches says 5ATM (water resistance), GPS, NFC, and most importantly, Snapdragon Wear 4100.

If the new Moto watches succeed to take off, they could offer serious competition to larger Wear OS watchmakers like Mobvoi and Fossil. Compared to what Apple and Samsung offer, the Wear OS smartwatch market is still relatively small. This will give any newcomer to thrive in this market.

Read more: Fossil Launches Nextgen Touchscreen Smartwatches with Wear OS and Extended Battery Life

Motorola stopped making Moto-branded smartwatches. The name was licensed to a company called eBuyNow, which released the third-generation Moto 360 in 2019.

For some time, rumor has been going around that Apple could release their own augmented reality glasses. However, it was recently circulating that the tech giant could actually be planning other mixed reality devices as well, such as an AR/VR headset. Now according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will also release AR glasses and AR contact lenses within a decade.

Read more: Apple Watch’s New Health Feature Monitors and Notifies You About Your Cardio Fitness

In the past few years, Apple has increased its focus on health, fitness, and wearable products like the AirPods and Apple Watch. The company also is repeatedly associated with other wearables.

Kuo outlined three predictions for Apple: an AR/VR headset in 2022m, AR glasses in 2025, and finally, AR contact lenses between 2030 and 2040. Kuo doesn’t get any more specific than that in terms of a release timeframe.

According to MacRumors, Kuo said the lenses will bring electronics from the era of "visible computing" to "invisible computing". He predicts that Apple's MR/AR product roadmap includes three phases: Helmet type by 2022, glasses type by 2025, and contact lens type by 2030-2040.

These AR lenses probably won’t have their own computing power and storage, which suggests they’d likely be connected to an iPhone or other device.

AR/VR headset in 2022

We could see Apple AR and VR headsets as soon as next year. According to Kuo, the prototypes show that it weighs between 200 grams and 300 grams, reports 9to5 Mac. “If Apple can successfully solve the significant technical problems, the final product weight will be reduced to 100–200 grams,” Kuo writes.

Augmented Reality glasses in 2025

Kuo believes Apple will release AR glasses by 2025 “at the earliest” and the company has yet to start prototype production.

Read more Apple Watch’s Future Band Design Could Boost Battery Life

Contact lenses after 2030

Kuo’s final prediction is AR contact lenses, which he believes Apple will launch after 2030. But he sees “no visibility for the launch schedule” yet. The main focus for these contact lenses will be invisible computing and they are unlikely to have independent storage and power technology.

The "Global Consumer Wearables Market 2020-2026 - Competitive Intensity Driving Healthcare Focus in the Market" report has been published by ResearchAndMarkets.com.

This study covers the aspects mentioned below and serves as a starting point for companies to design the strategy and framework for their next steps in the healthcare domain.

Read more: Wearable Medical Devices Market Expected to Experience Huge Growth by 2030, Says Market Industry Reports

With several consumer wearable devices now having regulatory clearances for detecting conditions like atrial fibrillation and other cardiac conditions, their role in the healthcare landscape is becoming prominent.

COVID-19 induced lockdowns, quarantines, and the need to avoid healthcare facilities for fear of contracting the virus has brought wearable devices to the forefront for monitoring patients' vital signs remotely. These have also proved key in facilitating 'back to school' and 'return to work' programs.

Effectively, consumer wearables are carving a niche in the healthcare domain by enabling disease prevention and early detection, post-acute care monitoring, as well as chronic disease monitoring and management. The sector is therefore likely to blur out the distinction between consumer-grade and medical-grade wearables, since both may have regulatory clearances for various applications. This also means that the consumer wearable device makers must adapt to the nuances of the healthcare industry and design business models that fit the needs of the industry, says a press release.

As is already clear, the data emanating from these devices is of significant value. However, monetizing this data is no easy feat. Several models have already emerged that support healthcare industry stakeholders in their quest to help populations stay healthier, live longer, and recover quickly from their ailments.

Read more: Fitness App Market Poised To Grow at a CAGR of 12%, Reaching 1.68 Billion During 2020-2024 Period

Partnerships are key, but consumer device companies continue to hesitate to fully commit to this space. Regardless of whether these companies take the plunge, there are ample opportunities for wearable device makers in the healthcare space, given the need for these tools to help manage the burgeoning population of people who need care and support, remotely.

GPS has become so popular that it’s a must-have feature in smartwatches and smartphones. For many of us, getting to a new place without the help of GPS is almost impossible. However, most of us do not know how GPS works and some are unaware of other satellite navigation systems like Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou.

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. This satellite-based navigation system is made up of at least 24 satellites.

Read more: Coros Pace 2 Is the World’s Lightest GPS Watch Especially Designed for Competitive Runners

The GPS does not require the user to transmit any data, and it operates independently of any telephonic or internet reception, though these technologies can enhance the usefulness of the GPS positioning information.

GPS works in any weather condition, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, with no subscription fees or setup charges.

The satellites were put into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense (USDOD). Originally meant for military use, the satellites were made available for civilian use in the 1980s.

Following a precise orbit, the GPS satellites circle the Earth twice a day. A unique signal and orbital parameters are transmitted by the satellites, allowing GPS devices to decode and compute the precise location of the satellite. GPS receivers then use this information and trilateration to calculate a user's exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver measures the distance to each satellite by the amount of time it takes to receive a transmitted signal. With distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine a user's position and display it electronically to measure your running route, map a golf course, or find your way home.

Garmin is a pioneer in building portable GPS systems. The company launched its first GPS device in 1989.

How accurate is GPS?

Thanks to their parallel multi-channel design, today's GPS receivers are extremely accurate. Garmin’s receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first turned on. They maintain a tracking lock in dense tree-cover or in urban settings with tall buildings. Certain atmospheric factors and other error sources can affect the accuracy of GPS receivers. Garmin GPS receivers are typically accurate to within 10 meters. Accuracy is even better on the water.

Read more: Garmin Launches quatix 6 Maritime GPS Smartwatch With Comprehensive Connectivity and Much More

Other Satellite Navigation Systems

GLONASS. GLONASS is a satellite constellation system built by Russia. GLONASS stands for Global Navigation Satellite System and is slightly more precise with roughly 4.5-7.4-meter accuracy. The accuracy it achieves is due to the positioning of the 24+ GLONASS satellites, which are designed for greater coverage at high altitudes. Some smartwatches offer GLONASS in addition to GPS. Aside from being precise, GLONASS can be a useful backup when your device can’t locate GPS.

BeiDou and Others. BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, or BDS, is China’s satellite navigation system. This system was previously known as Compass. BeiDou started offering global services in 1918 and it now has 35 satellites.

Another navigational system is India’s Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). It has 8 satellites, reports Android Authority.

Japanese government offers another navigational system, called Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). With 8 satellites, QZSS is a four-satellite constellation and has 3 satellites visible at all times.

Some of these systems are only available in the respective countries. However, some smartwatches offer multiple navigational systems. Most Garmin running watches, for example, offer GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, which were created by the European Space Agency.

The advancements of technology have affected every aspect of our lives and the sports industry is no exception. Thanks to technology, the modern athlete can enhance their performance, and trainers can evaluate athletes’ performance via wearable devices. For athletes, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and other wearables have become an indispensable part to optimize training sessions.

Read more: Duke Athletes Develop Wearable That Can Predict Injuries Before They Happen and Accelerate Healing

Wearables conquer the market

As the market for wearables is growing, more and more developers from the IT industry are working on intelligent clothing, like Smart T-shirts, which carry data without an additional belt or bracelet attached to the athlete's body. These smart shirts can track the respiratory rate, calorie consumption, and heart rate. This is made possible by sensors sewn into the garment, reports Thomas Wingenfeld in itespresso.

From Smart Shirts to Smart Socks

Smart wearables contain a wide range of features. They can be used to automatically adjust temperatures using carbon nanotubes, for example, or operate smartphones, generate solar-generated electricity during training, measure all possible body functions and thus monitor health. Special chips that are integrated into running shoes provide information about the cadence of the runner, while socks provide information about the way in which the foot is put on when rolling. The number of manufacturers of smart sportswear who are constantly designing new products for the market together with IT learners or start-ups is also growing. According to estimates by market researchers, consumers worldwide will have spent around 52 billion dollars on wearables in 2020.

In Singapore, India, and Hong Kong there are now three out of four sports fans who have used wearables, apps, and other technologies in a stadium. In India, this should apply to 88 percent of stadium visitors. Germany is not that far with 50 percent.

Read more: Nexus Uses Revolutionary Tracking Technology for CrossFit Athletes to Quantify Their Workout

Courses offered in universities

The topic of Wearables for sports has also reached universities. At the German University for Prevention and Health Management, for example, the "Sports and Health Informatics" course has been offered for some time. The contents of the course deal, among other things, with the various digital and technical possibilities for fitness and health and implement them. In addition, students learn how digital training and assistance systems are evaluated in order to analyze their benefits and potential - in a target group-oriented manner. "The sports and health sector in connection with the IT sector have become important markets for growth and employment and their economic importance will continue to increase with regard to digitization," according to the University’s homepage.

Vishay Intertechnology introduced a new high-speed silicon PIN photodiode with enhanced sensitivity to visible and infrared light. Featuring a rectangular 4.8 mm by 2.5 mm top-view, surface-mount package with an industry-low 0.48 mm profile, the Vishay Semiconductors VEMD8081 offers an increased typical reverse light current of 33 µA for improved biosensor performance in wearable devices and medical applications.

Read more: Dialog Semiconductor, Flex Logix Partner Up for Embedded Field-Programmable Gate Array Technology

The VEMD8081 offers 15% greater reverse light current than its predecessor, the VEMD8080 while maintaining the same package dimensions. For designers, this provides a drop-in replacement that can improve performance by increasing signal output or extend battery life by reducing LED current.

For heart rate measurement in wearable devices such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, the VEMD8081 is placed between two pulsing green LEDs. The light reflected off the skin is received by the photodiode and converted to an output current, with the device’s increased sensitivity enabling more accurate measurements. The VEMD8081’s rectangular shape maximizes the area of the photodiode receiving reflected light, eliminating the wasted area typically found in square photodiodes. When combined with red and infrared emitters, the device is ideal for SpO2 measurement in medical monitors, reports GlobeNewsWire.

With its high sensitivity and a radiant-sensitive area measuring 5.4 mm², the VEMD8081 utilizes Vishay’s proven wafer technology to detect visibly and near-infrared radiation over a wide spectral range from 350 nm to 1100 nm. For high sampling rates, the device offers fast switching times and a low capacitance of 50 pF.

The VEMD8081 features a ± 65° angle of half-sensitivity, operating temperature range of -40 °C to +85 °C, and 840 nm wavelength of peak sensitivity. RoHS-compliant, halogen-free, and Vishay Green, the photodiode provides a moisture sensitivity level (MSL) of 3 in accordance with J-STD-020 for a floor life of 168 hours.

Samples and production quantities of the VEMD8081 are available now, with lead times of 10 weeks.

Read more: Nordic Semiconductor Launches Bluetooth 5.1 SoC for Multi-Protocol Applications

Vishay manufactures one of the world’s largest portfolios of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components that are essential to innovative designs in the automotive, industrial, computing, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Serving customers worldwide, Vishay is The DNA of tech.™ Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. is a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH). The DNA of tech is a trademark of Vishay Intertechnology.

As the coronavirus outbreak quickly surged worldwide, many countries started to adopt preventative measures like travel bans, remote work, and contact tracing. We don’t know if contact tracing will become the norm but various industries are using this technology to restart their operations and ensure safe return of employees.

Read more: BlueCats Launches Fully Configurable Wearable Contact Tracing Solution

Cruise Ships

TraceSafe is a Vancouver, Canada-based wearable tech firm. The company is working with cruise lines to develop onboard contact tracing systems that could help the industry reopen their operations. TraceSafe has entered into a partnership with Tritan Software, a Miami-based company that provides health and medical operations to 95% of major cruise lines, as well as the commercial shipping, energy and mining industries, reports TravelPulse. TraceSafe’s small medallion wristbands are a full suite of real-time location management services and contact tracing solutions. They use advanced low-power Bluetooth beacons in a variety of form factors to communicate. TraceSafe’s leading cloud management solution ensures both user privacy and user-friendly comprehensive administrative control.

Basketball players

Student-athletes and staff within Stanford University’s men’s and women’s basketball programs are now required to wear small devices throughout most of the day. The devices, which do not track location, are used specifically for contact-tracing purposes to identify if anyone came in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, according to Stanford Athletics spokesperson Brian Risso. This implementation is part of a Pac-12 program that provides KINEXON SafeTags— small devices that can be worn on any part of the body — to member universities.

Construction workers

The government of Ontario is supporting the use of contact tracing wearables among construction employees. The government made the decision following endorsement by LIUNA (Laborer’s International Union of North America) and successful testing in pilot projects by the union. Many of LIUNA’s 130,000 members at construction sites across Canada will use the device. All workers on a site would wear the app in a wristband and the device would register contacts closer than two meters. An LED light blinks every two seconds when the user is too close to another worker, meaning TraceSCAN both records contact information and also warns of lack of social distancing.

Read more: Singapore To Give Its Citizens Wearable ‘Tokens’ for COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Can Wearables Effectively Contain COVID-19?

To control an infectious disease, you must first interrupt its spread from person to person. This means quarantine, face masks, hygiene measures, and social distancing. Contact tracing can be a valuable tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19. People involved should be aware that the intention isn’t to infringe privacy but to gather data to keep everyone safe.

Chinese tech company Rollme launched its newest smartwatch Rollme Hero. An Android smartwatch/phone, the Rollme Hero is the world’s first smartwatch with full screen display. The device is a standalone smartwatch with 4G SIM card, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Dual Camera, 10ATM Waterproof, and more.

Read more: Huami Amazfit GTR 2 LTE And Amazfit T-Rex Pro to Arrive This Year

The watch is stylish, fashionable, and suitable for both men and women. The Rollme Hero has 4G cellular connection so that you can make and receive phone calls. The built-in camera allows you to take pictures and videos. The front camera is equipped with a flagship new-generation 13MP high-definition camera with a newly upgraded sensor. Face recognition is very fast and it can unlock the watch in 0.1 seconds.

Here are the specs:

• Display: 1.69” IPS Display
• Resolution: 450x450px
• Corning Gorilla glass
• Camera: 13.0 MP autofocus
• Altimeter & Barometer
• Heart rate sensor
• GPS
• 10 ATM Waterproof
• 1600mAh battery
• 4G independent calling
• 3 satellite positioning

In addition to the features mentioned above, the Rollme Hero 4G watch has built-in 20 sport modes that include running, walking outdoors, indoor jogging, cycling, basketball, football, table tennis, badminton, rope skipping, and more. Additional features include a 10ATM waterproof, heart rate monitor, pedometer, Face unlock, and many more.

A 64-gigabyte memory is built-in, which can be used to store music files for playback on a Bluetooth headset, for example. The SoC used is the Helio P22 known from the Lem14, which can access a four-gigabyte working memory. A 13- and 8-megapixel camera is installed, whereby unlocking via Face Unlock should also be possible, reports Notebook Check.

The built-in heart rate sensor, in conjunction with the GPS module, allows precise recording and evaluation of sports units with several sports profiles. According to the manufacturer, the model should be waterproof up to a pressure of 10 ATM, which means that, unlike IP68 wearables, the model should actually be suitable for swimming.

Read more: Huawei Now Allows Third-Party Apps On Its Wearables

The watch, equipped with a 1,600 mAh battery, can now be pre-ordered directly from Asia for around US$200. An alternative available from Germany is the TicWatch Pro 4G.

VivaLNK announced that its wireless ECG monitor can now be used to capture changes in heart rate and electrical activity in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH) or other disorders during the six-minute walk test (6MWT). The 6MWT is a common exercise routine used for patients with pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, pre-lung transplant evaluation, interstitial lung disease, or COPD. It involves monitoring a patient while they walk as far as they can in a six-minute period and assessing cardiopulmonary function.

Related: VivaLNK Launches New Turnkey Service for Healthcare Applications in Remote Patient Monitoring

The VivaLNK solution is used for clinical research in a variety of applications, such as cardiac rehab, digital biomarkers of arrhythmia onset, and pharmaceutical clinical trials, and includes a wearable ECG patch, a specialized mobile app, and cloud data services. In these studies, patients wear the wireless ECG patch while a clinician is able to monitor and control the test using a mobile app. Data collected during the test is then consolidated into a centralized database in the cloud for post-analysis, according to a press release.

In one study, up to 80 subjects across multiple sites are monitored for their ECG and heart rate before, during and after the exercise. A significant part of the technology selection includes device comfort for the patient and stability of the ECG during movement, as well as a mobile app designed for the protocol. At only 7.5 grams, VivaLNK's unique wearable ECG monitor is barely noticeable when worn. In addition, special built-in algorithms reduce motion artifacts to provide a smooth ECG signal during activity. For the study, VivaLNK also customized a mobile app to facilitate data capture even in the event of intermittent network disconnections.

Read more: SPHCC Partners with Cassia and VivaLNK to Use Wearable Tech for Monitoring COVID-19 Patients

“Medical wearables are making it possible to explore new, potentially meaningful outcomes in clinical studies without adding much additional burden to patients or their clinicians,” says Robert F. Roscigno, PhD, Vice President, Clinical Development at Gossamer Bio.

Aside from the 6MWT, VivaLNK's medical data platform and wearable sensors are used in other applications such as mobile cardiac telemetry, oncology RPM, and virtual hospital patient monitoring.

The Nike Run Club App provides you with the guidance, inspiration, and innovation you need to become a better athlete. Similar to the Adidas Runtastic app, the Nike Run Club guides its users through their run, telling them when to speed up, rest, or giving a little pep talk while running.

Read more: Garmin Enduro Is A Solar-Powered Smartwatch Designed For Serious Athletes

Nike Run Club app is available for iPhone and Android smartphones and it's free to download.

Who Might Be Benefitted More From Nike Run Club?

Beginners or intermediate runners will be most benefitted from the Nike Run Club app. The unique mix of training styles provided by the app can help runners build endurance, improve running pace, eliminate stress, and reach distance goals. The app will help the intermediate runners to run faster and longer, helping them become better athletes, reports PositiveFitnessBlog.

Here are more ways Nike Run Club Can help runners:

Tracking Progress

Gives you all the detail you need—pace, location, distance, elevation, heart rate, and mile splits—and greater control over what you see during your run.

Motivation

Nike Run Club will motivate you by delivering NRC’s custom Apple Music playlists, in-run cheers from friends, and encouragement from elite athletes.

Running Together

Easily compare and compete with friends and fellow runners—just hashtag your miles against specific goals or challenges to see where you stand.

Personalized Coaching

Your coaching starts with your goals and fitness level and adapts as you progress. Nike Run Club’s coaches give you key pointers, tell you when to push yourself. They also tell you about the importance of hydration, and so on.

Read more: Coros Pace 2 Is the World’s Lightest GPS Watch Especially Designed for Competitive Runners

Sharing Your Run

Personalize your posts by adding photos, stats, and stickers, then customize who sees it—your entire social network, or just your Nike friends.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more and more sophisticated at imitating humans, but more efficiently, quickly and at a lower cost. Artificial Intelligence is the game-changer in healthcare. AI-enabled wearables offer on-demand self-diagnosis in real-time.

Read more: Innovative Wearables Helping To Change The Healthcare Landscape

What distinguishes AI technology from traditional technologies in healthcare is the ability to gather data, process it, and give a well-defined output to the end-user. AI does this through machine learning algorithms and deep learning. These algorithms can recognize patterns in behavior and create their own logic.

In the healthcare industry, IoT is driving the evolution of wearables. Medical wearables typically collect health data, monitor it, and interact with users. It provides the user and the physician with awareness of various health parameters.

As the market grows for wearables, bigger players like Apple, Fitbit, Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi are developing more advanced AI-enabled wearables and this is pushing the boundaries of the capabilities of wearables.

AI algorithms can diagnose diseases faster and more accurately than conventional methods. They are particularly successful in detecting diseases from image-based test results.

According to an analysis by Accenture, AI applications in healthcare can make annual savings of $150 billion dollars for US healthcare by 2026.

Wearables allow self-diagnosis that makes people aware of their health conditions. Self-diagnosis removes suspicions and skepticisms related to tools used and the facility from peoples’ minds, reports AnalyticsInsight.

Here are some AI-enabled wearables used in healthcare diagnosis:

Smartwatches can now monitor heart rate and blood pressure. Some newer models like Apple Watch Series 4 can even provide ECG reading. There are watches that can monitor blood oxygen levels, sleep, stress, and more.

Wearable biosensors. Philips developed a self-adhesive biosensor that can measure vital signs like heart rate, ECG, Skin temperature, and respiratory rate.

Nirami solutions developed a portable device that can detect breast cancer. This low-cost device uses AI to detect the growth of cancer cells in the breast.

Read more How FDA is Backing the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Telemedicine

Takeaway

Digitally enabled diagnosis tools and Ai-enabled wearables are transforming healthcare diagnostics. One of the most amazing developments in this field are devices connected with IoT and wearables that can detect and diagnose diseases.

When you’re running or cycling, it’s difficult to answer call or change the song you’re listening to. ArcX decided to change all that. The company’s new smart ring works as a remote control for your phone. There’s a small joystick on the end of the ring, which allows you to answer calls, change tracks, or do just about any activity from your phone without it being a distraction.

Read more: Samsonite’s New Smart Backpack Powered By Google’s Jacquard Tag Can Control Your Phone

You can also place the ArcX inside a series of cases, which makes it easier to strap it to a handlebar or oar, as required. The ring can be used with any Bluetooth-controlled equipment, such as action cameras or wireless speakers. The device also comes with an Android and iOS app. This helps you set custom controls for your smartwatch or emergency alarm. The ring can last for up to 20 days on standby and five days on a single, hour-long charge.

The companion app is available free on both Android and iOS. It provides a host of customizable options and additional features such as a stopwatch, emergency SOS call function as well as the ability to connect with other sports-based Apps, reports EndGadget.

Each ArcX ships with four, stretch fit, outer rings, and a strap mount. Find the right size for you and insert the tech module. A charging clip and carry case are also included. ArcX rings are available in three colors: Cobalt, Graphite, and Fire.

Read more: With Tap Strap 2 You Can Control Any Bluetooth-Enabled Device with Gesture

ArcX founder Paul Blair said that he got the idea for the ring while on a skiing holiday with a friend, who was injured on the slopes. Blair is a decorated British Army paratrooper with more than 20 years of service.

ArcX is expected to launch in the US this May, priced at $99, as well as in the European Union for €89.

Smart glasses and head-mounted displays have found their way into corporate operations in recent years. COVID-19 pandemic has forced on-site workplaces to change into mobile or virtual workplaces. Experts believe the next stage of development will be the transition to the distributed and immersive workplace.

Read more: Wearables Make Workplaces Safer, A Long Running Study Confirms

A wearable computer is a computer system that is attached to the user's body during use and supports the user in his work in the real world. Examples of wearable computers are smartwatches, smart glasses, smart gloves, etc. The use of these wearables simplifies interaction with coworkers, devices or machines and changes the qualification requirements for employees. Many companies have also recognized that wearables have the potential to increase work efficiency among employees, improve workers' physical well-being, and reduce work-related injuries.

In Germany, as part of the “GeZu 4.0” project, the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) Fellbach has now examined a study on the consequences of wearables and virtual technologies on the workplace of the future and identified current opportunities and risks. It has been shown that the workplace of the future will be more distributed, networked and more intuitive to use.

1. The distributed workplace

In the last few decades, we’ve seen the development of flexible workspaces. On-site workplaces have changed into mobile or virtual workplaces (where possible) since the COVID-19 pandemic. The next stage of development will be the transition to the distributed and immersive workplace. While an employee perceives himself/herself in the third person in the video conference, immersive workplaces allow the natural first-person perspective to be adopted. Companies that are already working in virtual reality believe that virtual workspaces will replace video conferences in the near future, reports OneToOne.

2. The networked workplace

In contrast to the distributed workplace, the employee is present at the on-site workplace. The digitization and programmability of the workplace will enable intelligent workspaces that connect the employee with the operational infrastructure via wearables, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. Wearables will be networked with workstations, mobile devices, or electronic whiteboards within office buildings, campuses, co-working spaces, offices, conference rooms, break rooms, sales areas, and assembly lines. Here, too, the separation between private and business life will be more difficult to implement. The adoption of smart workspaces will therefore depend on the requirements of flexible work models as well as employee concerns about their privacy. Overall, the networked workplace will collect information about and through the employee and thus facilitate communication within the company, increase security and productivity and simplify documentation processes.

3. The intuitive workplace

The use of wearables will significantly change the way people interact in the workplace. Speech recognition is the technology with the greatest transformative potential today and will revolutionize the way we interact in the workplace. An important contribution to this can be attributed to the progress of artificial intelligence.

Read more: Is Wearable Technology Going To Dominate Workplaces in 2021?

According to the VDC, many companies already believe that wearables have the potential to increase work efficiency among employees, improve workers' physical well-being, and reduce work-related injuries. However, topics such as data protection, user-friendliness, security, guidelines, device costs, and the integration of wearables into the existing system are currently still in the way of mass use in the workplace.

Chinese tech giant Huawei has announced that its smart wearables are now open to third-party apps. The company has created a live proof of concept of a third-party app with a workout app for the Watch GT2 Pro called Fitify.

Read more: Huawei Focuses On Health Care Wearables As It Pushes Into New Growth Areas

In the past, Huawei never allowed its smartwatches to access the third-party application because it affects some of the important aspects of the wearables. However, recently, the company started allowing for third-party apps to be installed on Huawei smartwatches on AppGallery, reports Yash Mishra in Huawei Central.

Following U.S. sanctions, Huawei put more focus on wearables and audio accessories.

The Fitify app has more than 900 exercises and over 200 million complete workouts. These data come from more than 10 million users in 170 countries and 18 languages.

According to the information, the Fitify app integrated five Huawei Mobile Servies (HMS) kits including Account Kit, Push Notification Kit, In-app Kit, Analytics, and Wear Engine.

The app comes in 18 languages – English, Arabic, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, and Turkish.

This a huge jump in strategy for Huawei, as the company is opening its gates for third-party developers, Huawei Watch as well as wearable platforms likely to see a big improvement in the coming future.

“By releasing the Fitify app on Huawei’s wearables, Huawei is signaling its determination to work with developers and brands to accommodate apps in its growing portfolio of wearables. Previously the company’s wearables overseas were typically preloaded with in-house apps, but following the introduction of the Huawei Watch GT2 Pro last September, the company is now open to brands and content providers for third-party app development,” said the company in a press release.

Read more: Huawei’s New Health Lab to Explore Innovation of Sports and Health Technology Via Wearables

“We are already the global market leader for wearables quickly gaining market share for the category across many geographies,” said Derek Yu, Vice President of Huawei CEE & Nordic at Huawei Consumer Business Group. “In Q3 2020, we shipped 10.7 million wrist wearable products globally, growing 88.1% year-on-year to a market share of 19.5%. By making Fitify our debut third-party app for our wearable products we are sending a message to the many other high-quality app developers. Our wearables are becoming incredibly popular, and you can benefit by being part of the Huawei AppGallery and wearables ecosystem.”

Augmented reality (AR) technology has seen unparalleled growth in 2020. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon took AR technology to a new level. The global augmented reality market was valued at USD 1.98 billion in 2020 and is expected to register a CAGR of 151.93% over the forecast period (2021 - 2026).

Read more: Smart AR Glasses, Smart Helmets: Market Analysis and Forecasts

From healthcare to factory floors, augmented reality glasses are aiding people in various professions do their job efficiently. Doctors use them to conduct precise surgery and factory workers use them for productivity, efficiency, and safety. AR glasses have been identified as a vital technology supporting shop-floor operators in the smart factories of the future.

Samsung Glasses Lite

A new leak on Twitter sheds some light on Samsung’s ‘Glasses Lite’ and ‘Next Wearable Computing’ AR vision. The Twitter user "WalkingCat" shows two videos about new augmented reality glasses from Samsung. The glasses are roughly about working with holographic surfaces and models. A similar concept is already known from Microsoft's HoloLens. The "Glasses Lite" are more realistic, which projects a monitor into the user's field of vision. With one click and without a PC, you can simply continue watching or gaming films and series, provided the hardware is compatible. Video calls can also be accepted conveniently anywhere. Control of the AR glasses runs in this case not with futuristic gestures or swiping movements through the air, but with the smartwatch on the wrist. An interesting solution that also seems conceivable for other manufacturers.

Apple AR Glasses

Apple’s rumored AR glasses may come equipped with self-cleaning functionality and radar-like audio, according to the patent application. AppleInsider reports that Apple’s patent application shows the company applied for an "audio-based feedback for [a] head-mountable device,” suggesting the tech giant is working on technology for its AR glasses which could see them capable of detecting far-away sounds and informing the wearer of their location, reports TechRadar. Another patent submitted by Apple indicates the glasses might come with self-cleaning glass.

Read more: Microsoft Files Patent for Eyeglasses That Measure Blood Pressure

Magic Leap 2

American startup Magic Leap is following in the footsteps of Microsoft's Hololens. The company’s AR glasses are used almost exclusively in the commercial sector. Magic Leap has to do a lot to stand up to the competition. According to a media report, the new Magic Leap AR glasses will be 50% smaller and around 20% lighter than its predecessor. The field of vision, on the other hand, will double. Can the price beat Hololens? Compared to the Hololens 2, which costs $3,500, Magic Leap One is a real bargain. Should the new model settle in a similar price range, the air for Microsoft could become thinner, according to ComputerBild.

Blackline Safety, a global connected worker technology leader, has acquired Leister, UK-based Wearable Technologies Ltd (WTL). Under the brand name of Eleksen, WTL is focused on the construction and light industrial safety market. The company has developed a complete platform comprised of smart safety clothing, a cloud-connected safety wearable, personal area networking, sensor partnerships, user portal, software infrastructure and data analytics.

Read more: ProGlove Gets $40M Investment from Summit Partners to Deliver Industrial Wearables Globally

“The Wearable Technologies safety ecosystem targets the construction and light industrial market, complementing the heavier industrial focus of Blackline’s current G7 cloud-connected wearables and area gas monitoring offerings,” said Cody Slater, CEO and Chair of Blackline Safety. “While WTL is pre-revenue, their trajectory includes a strong customer pipeline with several at-scale opportunities that we will pursue as they enter the Blackline family. With our backing, together we will complete their commercialization, delivering a compelling and highly differentiated connected safety offering to businesses in construction, warehousing, transportation, utilities, renewables and the service industry.”

Blackline estimates that the WTL acquisition accelerates its entry into commercial and light industrial markets with a tailored solution by more than two years. Included with the acquisition is a portfolio of over 40 patents that include protection around a line of washable smart safety garments with built-in wiring harness, the foundation for plug-and-play sensors and LED lighting, reports BusinessWire.

The WTL ecosystem is comprised of a smart safety garment that hosts an Eleksen worker-worn hub device with 4G-connectivity. The Eleksen Hub wirelessly supports a range of sensor partnerships, including sound dosimetry, biometrics, ergonomics, vibration and vehicle proximity. Each wearable hub streams sensor data to the Eleksen cloud that powers data storage, alerting, geofencing, dashboards, data visualizations, and trending.

Blackline plans to complete the commercialization of the first Eleksen products and services through FY2021. The cost of the WTL acquisition is not material to Blackline and no purchase price is disclosed. WTL will operate as a wholly-owned Blackline subsidiary.

Read more: The Global Industrial Wearable Market Is Expected To Grow 15% During 2020-2027, Reach US$ 8.63 Bn In 2027

Blackline Safety is a global connected safety leader that helps to ensure every worker gets their job done and returns home safe each day. Blackline provides wearable safety technology, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and increase the productivity of organizations in more than 100 countries. Blackline Safety wearables provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of men and women, having reported over 140 billion data-points and initiated over five million emergency responses.

Garmin is well known for building sports watches that last the distance. The company’s newest, Enduro, is built to last even the toughest conditions, aimed at those who like to take part in intense races and endurance events. The watch features customizable power management modes and a Power Glass™ solar charging lens that harvests the power of the sun to extend battery life up to 65 days.

Read more: Garmin Vivoactive 5: Likely Release Date, Rumors and Features Everybody Want

“Built to last during any training session or ultra-event, Enduro gives ultrarunners and cyclists the confidence that their watch has as much energy as they do, plus the unique insights they need to monitor their performance,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “And with Enduro on their wrist, ultra-performance athletes can focus on the competition instead of their battery life.”

Enduro’s lightweight and durable design feature a new UltraFit nylon strap and optional DLC coated titanium bezel. Designed to endure, runners and cyclists can quickly adjust settings to disable certain features to get the longest battery life on a Garmin wearable to date. A full charge will get an athlete 70 hours in GPS mode which is extended to 80 hours with solar capabilities, reports BusinessWire.

Next-level training

Designed for unremitting race conditions, Enduro has several new training and recovery tools:

• VO2 Max: Track cardiovascular fitness levels with the new trail run VO2 max, which automatically adjusts based on trail conditions. A user’s VO2 Max is also adjusted by the environment through heat and altitude acclimation.
• ClimbPro: Get real-time information on the current and upcoming climbs including gradient, distance and elevation gain by using the ascent planner. For additional safety and awareness, ClimbPro trail enhancements provide information for descents and flats.
• Rest Timer: Select the Ultrarun activity which features a rest timer to log the time spent at aid stations.
• Mountain Biking: Track the details of every MTB ride with mountain biking metrics plus specialized grit and flow measurements that rate trail difficulty and track the time of descent, giving a score to beat on the next ride.
• Recovery: Giving the body time to recover between sessions is crucial. After each workout, the built-in recovery advisor will recommend how long to rest before another big effort and the next workout based on sleep and wellness data.
• Recommended Workouts: For training guidance that takes fitness level into account, get daily run and ride suggestions based on current training load and training status.

Everyday wellness tracking

Enduro offers innovative health and wellness features including wrist-based heart rate and a Pulse Ox sensor for altitude acclimation and advanced sleep tracking. It also includes Garmin’s exclusive Body Battery™ feature that monitors data to gauge energy levels, which can help with scheduling workouts and rest times.

Staying connected, even off-grid

Enduro is packed with navigation and connectivity features including access to multiple global navigation satellite systems to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone, as well as built-in ABC sensors such as an altimeter for elevation data, a barometer to monitor the weather, and a 3-axis electronic compass.

Read more: Garmin Announces Tactix Delta, a Multisport GPS Smartwatch Built to Military Standards

When paired with a Garmin inReach® Mini satellite communicator, users can send and receive messages quickly from the wrist and share their location so friends and family can follow along, even during the longest of races or extended training sessions that go beyond reliable cellular connectivity. The inReach Mini is lightweight and compact and can easily be clipped to a hydration pack or vest. In addition to two-way text messaging and location sharing, inReach Mini includes interactive SOS. When the SOS is activated, a response coordinator will track the device location, notify emergency responders in the area, and stay in communication with preset emergency contacts throughout the incident.

Available now, the Enduro models range in suggested retail price from $799.99 to $899.99. To learn more, visit garmin.com/enduro.

For the ladies who like listening to music on the go but don’t want their earbuds to be conspicuous, German startup Nova Products has found a stylish alternative to earbuds. The company’s Nova H1 is a pair of stylish pearl earrings that double as earbuds. Sold in sets of two, each 7-gram earring has a solid silver body/clip along with a real pearl.

Read more: Innovative Swings Hearables For Fashionable Music Lovers

The Earrings are fully packed with the latest technology embedded in real pearls to provide you with music, phone calls, and digital assistants all day long.

Like conventional earrings, the NOVA H1 are placed on the earlobes and project the sound from inside the pearl straight into your ear canal.

Thanks to their worldwide patented Directional Sound Technology, the sound travels from the earlobe to the ear canal avoiding sound leakage and keeping your conversations and music private and secure.

Two tiny high-end microphones are integrated into each Earring providing the user with crystal clear phone calls and wind-noise cancelation.

The button, located at the back of each earring, allows music control, answers phone calls, plays or skips songs, and activates the voice assistant.

The rechargeable battery inside every Earring is replaceable. The earbuds provide 3+ hours of playtime – and automatically saves batter life with the ultra-sleep mode.

• Streaming music: The earrings allow you to stream music from any audio source like Spotify, Google Play Music or Apple Music, or your music library on your smartphone, computer or tablet.

Read more: Audio Augmented Reality (AuR) enhances our reality by curating or selectively manipulating what we hear

• Phone calls: Make and receive phone calls at home, in the office, or while commuting. Anywhere, any time.
• Privacy: NOVA’s patented Directional Sound Technology helps keep your private conversations private.
• Availability: To order your Nova H1, you need to visit their Kickstarter campaign.