Microsoft Band finds employment in helping epilepsy sufferers

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Despite rumours of the demise of the Microsoft Band, the original wearable is being employed to aid epilepsy sufferers in predicting upcoming seizures and help to ensure their safety.

A new program called MyCareCentric is being used for the pioneering epilepsy research developed by a range of partners including Microsoft, the Epilepsy Care Alliance, the University of Kent in the U.K., Shearwater...

Takeda launches wearable technology healthcare pilot program

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Takeda Pharmaceuticals has launched a pilot digital technology program named iBData to support patients and physicians with the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), designed to intersect healthcare and digital technologies.

The company is in partnership with Texas Digestive Disease Consultants and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to track symptoms and lifestyle factors of patients with IBD with wearable watch technology. The data will be collected and translated into reports...

By Wearable Tech, 15 September 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

Case study: How wearable tech can help fight heart disease

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According to a 2002 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), hypertension – otherwise known as high blood pressure – will affect nine out of 10 Americans in their lifetime, and is a risk factor for the leading cause of death: heart disease.

New research suggests that high blood pressure is on the rise for millennials, and although hypertension is typically diagnosed in middle-aged adults, a 2011 study by the University of North Carolina found that...

By Sarah Duguay, 12 September 2016, 1 comment. Categories: Case Studies, Devices, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

TomTom launches new line of fitness wearable devices

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TomTom has added three new devices to its North American fitness wearables portfolio: TomTom Touch, TomTom Spark 3 and TomTom Adventurer.

TomTom Touch is claimed to be the first fitness tracker in the world that can measure all-day heart rate and body composition from the wrist. It is priced at $129.99. Users can measure their body composition, which is the ratio of body fat to muscle mass, with a touch of the device's button. The device can alos track sleep and heart rate up to...

By Wearable Tech, 09 September 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Fitness, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

Fitbit is found not guilty after Jawbone's accusations

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Jawbone launched a case against Fitbit last year after concerns the company poached its staff and used their inside knowledge to get an edge over its rival whilst also infringing on several patents, but a judge has ruled against the accusations. 

Jawbone, a company which has seemingly gone into retreat, was said to have wanted to block Fitbit from...

By Ryan Daws, 24 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Fitness, Health & Wellness, Trackers.

Smart pregnancy wearable firm Bloomlife secures $4m funding

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Bloomlife, a San Francisco-based digital health company, has announced the closure of a $4 million seed funding round aimed at commercialising its smart pregnancy wearable product.

The wearable will be able to automatically track and detect contractions in expectant mothers, visualising it on a smartphone. It is currently available via an Early Access Program on their website, until launch. The new funding will also go towards accelerating commercialising of the wearable's next...

By Wearable Tech, 19 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

Global wearable technology market to hit $171bn by 2025

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Insight Partners has published a new report which argues that the global wearable technology market is set to grow from $26.19 billion in 2015 to $170.91 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 20.8%.

The smart watches segment was the largest in 2015 as the hand worn terminals product segment is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 24.4% between 2016 and 2025, the researchers argue.

Among the application segments, healthcare and medical boasted the largest share of the wearable technology market in...

By Wearable Tech, 18 August 2016, 1 comment. Categories: Devices, Ecosystems, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness, Research.

How wearable tech can help children with autism

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Wearable tech has grown in leaps and bounds with new features added all the time to make everyday life easier and more fun. But this new technology isn’t just fun – for children with autism, it can be a game changer. Can a bracelet, glasses, and shoelaces ensure a child is safer and happier?

Wearable tracking devices

GPS tracking is nothing new; we have it...

By Rick Delgado, 17 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Eyewear, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness, Smartwatches.

Sports wearables require a greater focus on improvement advice

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When most people think of wearables, fitness trackers such as Fitbit come to mind. Whilst these devices are great for tracking your current performance to compare it to your past, they often don't offer advice on how to improve your ability in a chosen sport. 

New research from Lux has signaled the need for sports wearables that go beyond...

La Roche-Posay rolls out skin sensor offering real-time monitoring of UV radiation

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In order to raise public awareness on personal sun exposure, La Roche-Posay has rolled out a stretchable skin sensor called My UV Patch formulated to provide real-time tracking of UV radiation.

The patch is water and sweat-resistant and can be used for up to three days during all outdoor activities, including swimming. The transparent adhesive measures approximately one square inch and 50 micrometers thick – half the thickness of an average strand of hair – and unlike the...

By Wearable Tech, 09 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Clothing & Textiles, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness, Implants.

Fitbit reports $587m revenue in Q216, represents a 46% year on year increase

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Fitbit sold 5.7 million devices in the second quarter of 2016 on a 46% year-on-year increase in revenue to $586.5 million during the period.

The US accounted for 76% of revenue on sales growth of 42% year-over-year while EMEA revenue grew 150% year-over-year while accounting for 17% of the company’s revenue during the period. APAC accounted for 2% of the company’s revenue while seeing a 54% decline in sales. Excluding the impact of the progressive shut down of retailer...

By Wearable Tech, 05 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Fitness, Health & Wellness.

This smartwatch app aims to help communication in nursing homes

Picture credit: John Brhel/Binghamton University

A new smartwatch app being developed at Binghamton University in New York aims to improve communication and prevent falls at nursing homes.

The new app is being developed by two researchers – assistant professor of systems science and industrial engineering Huiyang Li and PhD candidate Haneen Ali – at the Binghamton University in New York.

The app aims to help certified nursing assistants (CNAs) respond to alerts more quickly and help prevent...

By Wearable Tech, 04 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Apps, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness, Smartwatches.

Wearable baby monitor MonBaby to feature in 444 Target stores across US

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US retail giant Target will feature the wearable breathing and rollover monitor MonBaby in 444 brick-and-mortar stores across the country, as part of the Connected Home line announced in 2015.

MonBaby is already on sale on Target.com and a number of other online retail channels since early 2016. A certain portion of the brick-and-mortar stores featuring the device will be Target's Baby 360 specialty stores that were launched in...

By Wearable Tech, 03 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Clothing & Textiles, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

Philips rolls out network of connected wearable technologies

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Royal Philips has announced the launch of a series of HIPAA-approved wearable technologies including health watches, blood pressure monitors, and thermometers.

Statistics reveal that more than 66 million Americans above the age of 50 have at least one chronic disease, even as 90% of chronic conditions can be avoided by modifying one’s lifestyle. In order to help patients and people in this area, Royal Philips is launching wearable technologies and the first phase of personal health...

By Wearable Tech, 02 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

Fitbit data has aided scientists in over 200 health studies

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Wearables like those offered by Fitbit can amass tons of valuable data on a scale not previously achievable. Researchers have conducted over 200 health studies based on more than two billion minutes of Fitbit data alone – which is pretty incredible. 

The data was collected over four years and has been revealed during a time when Fitbit's CEO has...

By Ryan Daws, 29 July 2016, 1 comment. Categories: Fitness, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness, Smartwatches, Trackers.

Garmin reports 5% year-on-year rise in revenue to $812m in Q216

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Garmin has announced its results for the second quarter ended June 25, 2016, with revenue growing 5% year-on-year to $812 million.

Gross margin expanded to 57.0% compared to 54.2% in the prior year quarter, and operating margin expanded to 24.7% compared to 21.5% in the prior year quarter. GAAP EPS grew 18% year-on-year to $0.85 while pro forma EPS grew 21% year-on-year to $0.87.

Cliff Pemble, president and chief executive officer of Garmin, said: “We achieved strong results in...

By Wearable Tech, 28 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Fitness, Health & Wellness, Research, Smartwatches.

Two examples of how wearable tech aims to help patients with Parkinson’s disease

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Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies (GLNT) and start-up XEED are working on utilising wearable technology to aid patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

GLNT released findings from a new study, published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, examining how clinicians can use wearable tech to decide when considering advanced therapy for patients. GLNT’s KinesiaOne technology – which uses wearable sensors linked to a web...

By Wearable Tech, 26 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

How the use of wearable neuromuscular devices could cut down cruciate ligament injuries

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New research unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) argues that the utilisation of wearable neuromuscular (WNM) devices among female footballers could cut down the occurrence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The study ascertained functional improvements in athletes who used the devices in combination with a regular training program.

The study made use of 79 elite youth and collegiate female soccer players (age...

By Wearable Tech, 19 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Fitness, Health & Wellness.

Wearables and social care: How you can become your own ‘personal care professional’

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The relationship between health and social care professionals and their patients is changing, as a result of the increasing access we all have to personal data and online information. With a relatively small collection of wearable consumer devices, linked to a smartphone, I can amass details about my general health, a medical condition, the impact of lifestyle habits and effect of prescribed treatments - more than doctors have ever been able to do in the past. The idea of the...

By Jos Creese, 19 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Fitness, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.