(Image Credit: Lee Haywood)

A patent has been awarded to Google for solar-powered contact lenses which sit on an individual's eyeball to monitor a variety of conditions and offer a range of detailed insights about the user's current health status. 

Google is known for some crazy ideas, which is what makes them one of the most exciting companies to watch. Some of these ideas reach spectacular heights –...

(c)iStock.com/pixedeli

Wristly, which examines data on the Apple Watch, has released a new report that provides insight on the behavioural changes being witnessed among owners of the Watch.

The Apple Watch is gaining traction among consumers and is transforming the health and fitness of many. An earlier report from the firm had found that 78% of Apple Watch users were more conscious of their health after using the product. Recently, an American high-school student held that the wearable had helped him avoid a...

Picture credit: Cockrell School of Engineering

A research team from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas has published a paper on a new process to make health monitoring patches.

The patent-pending process aims to develop a tattoo-like disposable patch for epidermal electronics mass production. The team was led by Assistant Professor Nanshu Lu, who helped develop epidermal electronics technology in 2011.

The process involves a cut and paste method that reduces manufacturing time to 20...

(c)iStock.com/RyanKing999

If you want to appreciate the promise and the challenge of applying new technology to healthcare, look no further than the UK National Health Service.

In 2013, the Secretary of State for Health Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt challenged the NHS to “go paperless by 2018." The goal of this challenge was “to save billions, improve services and help meet the challenges of an ageing population.”

A paperless healthcare facility would have many benefits. It would enable...

(c)iStock.com/MF3d

A survey of 1,000 UK adults from KPMG has found that though privacy concerns remain, consumers are open to sharing health data with certain entities.

74% of respondents were ready to share health data collected via wearable or fitness band with their GP, and almost half of the respondents were open to the NHS streamlining storage of medical records at a single national database to facilitate access to medical practitioners across the country.

However, only 7% were open to wearable data...

(c)iStock.com/PonyWang

New industry research from ReportsnReports.com has revealed that by 2016, wearable device shipments will surpass 140m globally and will account for almost $30 billion in revenue.

The report, entitled “Wearable Technology Ecosystem 2015-2030: Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, Industry Verticals and Forecasts”, argues the wearable market is anticipated to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% in the next half decade.

The important technologies facilitating...

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/101cats)

After being touted as “the next big thing” for some time, wearable technology has captured the attention of the consumer. The big question is – what should developers and marketers consider from a legal and regulatory perspective if they’re developing or using wearables?

While the ability to summon a taxi or order a pizza at the flick of the wrist may be a...

(c)iStock.com/deepblue4you

The wearable technology market is expected to rise from $20 billion in 2015 to close to $70 billion in 2025 led by the healthcare sector, according to IDTechEx.

Growth and development in the sector is being driven by the likes of Apple, Accenture, Adidas, Fujitsu, Nike, Philips, Reebok, Samsung, SAP and Roche. Advanced informatics is expected to make have a huge impact as new healthcare and informatics devices could be a billion dollar opportunity.

IDTechEx has analysed Google...

(Image Credit: UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering)

Most current wearable devices use Bluetooth to communicate, but this can be wasteful due to a how difficult it is for the signal to pass through a user's body. This causes an effect called "path loss" whereby a signal is weakened on the way to its destination, as well as causing security worries due to the distance the signal travels around the user being susceptible to eavesdropping. 

A team led by Professor...

(c)iStock.com/Sky_Blue

China faces stark disparity in terms of medical resources and, as a result, the online healthcare market and telemedicine industry in the country are set to benefit from opportunities in ensuring that technology covers the gap. Additionally, the accelerated pace of growth in wearables and medical informatisation is set to boost the aforementioned sectors.

The China online healthcare market was valued at CNY 10.88 billion (£1.12bn) in 2014, with transaction revenue providing 90% of...