This year, the Internet of Things has taken on a life of its own. Personal wearable technology is all the rage and is changing the way we live our lives. Not only can wearable technology monitor our vitals, glucose and hormones, it can even send medicine right to where your body needs it most. Check out some of the most popular wearable technology available on the market right now – and a few products that have been approved in Europe but will hopefully receive FDA approval this year.
One of the coolest items on the list, these contacts almost feel like they were ripped out of a James Bond movie. Smart contacts can measure the amount of glucose in your tears. Designed by Google, these contacts are a non-invasive way for diabetes sufferers to monitor their blood sugar levels. The contacts might seem like strange choice, but they are a huge improvement over pricking your finger with a needle several times a day. Not only do the contacts monitor glucose, but they have a chip that can transmit data to a smartphone or other device that can compute the data.
The smart Band-Aid is not really a Band-Aid at all. Instead of a quick fix for a problem, this little gadget makes sure everything is running smoothly in the body. One of the most popular items at the South by Southwest Festival last year to tote the name “The Internet of Things”, the small patch can monitor pain levels and skin temperatures. These patches have advanced in the past year and are being made of a stretchy gel substance that can tell doctors a variety of information about the patient’s needs. They also send the proper treatments to the wounds without the doctor needing to even be in the room.
Women trying to get pregnant have dealt with some pretty hairy situations trying to determine their ovulation cycles. From urine sticks to blood tests, women have been jumping through hoops trying to find out when they’re ovulating. The next wave of wearable technology is the OvulaRing. This small piece of plastic looks a little like a diaphragm or the NuvaRing birth control ring. The ring uses biosensor monitors to get a clear picture of a woman’s cycle and fertility so they can determine when they are ovulating. The OvulaRing has already gotten approval from the CE in Europe, and the company, VivoSensMedical GmbH, hopes to get the same approval from the FDA as early as 2016. The ring starts at $276.
Fitness bands have come a long way since the FitBit hit the market a few years ago. These discreet wristbands can count your steps, monitor your heartrate and even provide better sleep at night. The sleep monitors have become extremely advanced this year. They track the times of your deepest sleep and report your night back to you in a visual graph. You can determine what times of the night are holding you back and consider what outside influences could be negatively affecting your sleep, like caffeine and alcohol.
This is the year that mankind makes its big fight against diabetes. Another smart medical device will be the flash glucose monitoring system. Created by Abbot, the device employs a patch that can be worn on the skin. The patch collects information regarding glucose levels and sends it to a wireless device for monitoring. This product is now sold in Europe and will hopefully get the same right in the United States soon. Sure beats even Google’s glucose monitoring contact lenses.
Another device marketed to diabetes sufferers, the artificial pancreas does exactly what the name suggests. The MiniMed 530G System with Enlite Sensor can be attached to the outside of the body via patches. The device can monitor glucose levels and send data to a wireless device. The device then sends insulin directly to your body when your body needs insulin the most. The best part about the artificial pancreas is that it continues to work even when the user is asleep. This means the device can create an environment for more restful sleep and a better morning.
Smart socks are definitely one of the coolest wearable devices. These socks can collect data as you walk and run and send it to an app that computes the data. You can find out how to improve your form and make your run better and more efficient.
