Wearables technology has evolved thanks to IoT, they are easy to use, to set up for collecting information, and to connect with different devices. Let’s see in this article some of its applications, examples of devices in the market, and privacy and security aspects to consider.
What are wearable IoT devices?
Wearables, or IoT wearable devices are pieces of technology that you can attach to your clothes or wear as an accessory. These devices can gather information regarding vital signs, and other metrics related to health conditions. They are a result of product development (what is mass production), sometimes done by companies with their engineering team, or because they get outsourced product development services.
The following may sound weird, but the first watches with calculators, walkmans, Bluetooth headsets, or iPods were wearables; they were really popular in their time. However, they evolved thanks to IoT (Find out here why is IoT important to understand more about it).
Because of the Internet of Things technology, wearables have adopted new names: smart wearables, or IoT wearable devices. Why? Because they collect information such as heart rate, burned calories, blood pressure, time spent exercising, and footsteps, among others.
Why do wearable IoT devices collect the human body’s vitals?
Wearables technology that uses IoT sensors looks forward to giving personal information to the user. The more data the person collects in his smartphone or app, the better he feels about his health; it is a way to keep control of his physical state (and maybe avoid going to the doctor).
We are immersed in an era where information is valuable. People love IoT wearable devices because they provide useful data, and the companies know that too. That’s why there are many companies working on IoT prototyping, to offer wearables with new features.
Wearables IoT devices applications
Wearable devices and IoT combined produce outstanding results. They include sensors, chips (see ESP32 chip), IoT protocols, and great firmware and software that are in charge of processing and displaying the data; a combination of IoT with Python is great for ensuring a good performance of the wearable devices. You could get the best out of IoT wearables with professional hardware consulting.
A wearable without an app wouldn’t be attractive, since users use these devices for monitoring their workout routines and daily activities.
Let’s see some wearable IoT devices examples that are already on the market or in their first stages of product development:
Smartwatches (among most popular wearable IoT devices)
These devices are among the best-selling IoT wearable products in the market. They allow you to send messages, manage your emails, and even make phone calls. You can find brands in the market such as Samsung, Apple, and Huawei.
If you wear a smartwatch, you avoid taking the phone out of your pocket whenever you need to check a message or your schedule. People love smartwatches because they save time; only check your wrist for a few seconds and you can continue working.
Smartbands
These wearable IoT devices monitor your physical activity, pulse, blood pressure, and breathing patterns. Smartbands are considered fitness wearables. There are other models that allow you to measure the sugar levels in the blood, and your body temperature.
Smartbands don’t have the same features as smartwatches. However, because of their smaller size, some people prefer to wear smartbands.
Smartclothes
Wearable clothing focuses mainly on monitoring your physical activity. For example, the muscle performance of the user. This data can be gathered daily, weekly, and monthly.
The product shown above is from a company called Enflux, it brings motion sensors, and Bluetooth features, it is anti-odor, it can measure O2 levels in the body of the person wearing the smart clothing, and it also brings a heart rate monitor.
Smartglasses
These IoT-based wearable devices are really new in the market. Among the uses you can find for this device, imagine having information shown in your lens on burned calories, heart rate, navigation in real time (maps orientation), and how long you have been exercising.
Some developers have added camera lenses to the smart glasses, to give the person the chance to take pictures or record videos. Wearable glasses also may include augmented reality functions, this enhances the experience of the user with the products he interacts with during the day.
What devices could show up in the future? The wearables market continues growing, and with that, the amount of possibilities to launch new and innovative products that can measure more useful information for people. According to Business wire, smart IoT wearables are expected to reach $30.88 billion in 2025.
At DeepSea Developments we offer IoT product development consulting, if you need help with the design and development of an IoT wearable device, you can click below to book a meeting with our engineering experts. We use agile hardware development to deliver the best results possible.
Wearable IoT devices – Privacy and security
Smart wearables provide interesting data to each user, however, it is important to consider these devices are a third-party vendor, which opens the door to possible data breaches (See Pet tracker case study).
IoT wearable devices are great, but you also need to consider how sensitive the information they collect from you is. Consider the following aspects around wearables’ privacy and security:
1. Capturing photos, videos, and audio
Wearable devices are increasingly compact and discreet, making them easy to conceal and operate. This accessibility means that individuals can potentially misuse these gadgets to capture photos or record videos, or audio of confidential meetings without consent. Such violations can lead to the unauthorized distribution of sensitive information, whether for competitive advantage or personal gain.
This concern was evident when Google shifted its focus for Google Glass from consumer markets to enterprise use. Initial reactions from businesses, bars, and public spaces raised alarms about the invasion of privacy. Google ultimately decided to concentrate on creating solutions tailored for internal corporate needs, highlighting the need for stringent privacy considerations in the development of IoT wearable devices.
2. Lack of encryption
One of the vulnerabilities associated with IoT in wearables is the lack of robust encryption. The nature of these devices often necessitates rapid and seamless connections to various platforms, which can lead to security protocols being overlooked. Moreover, the personal data collected by these gadgets is typically stored on cloud servers managed by the device manufacturers. This data must be assigned strong encryption standards to safeguard against potential breaches.
3. Easy access to personal information
Manufacturers of wearable IoT devices must prioritize privacy to build consumer trust. If significant breaches of personal information occur, they could have detrimental effects on the burgeoning wearables market.
For companies developing IoT wearable technology, engaging a reliable firmware development partner is crucial. These firms can enhance the security features and performance of the devices, provided that the startup or company is committed to implementing appropriate IoT protocols and safeguarding user data.
4. Engaging with data while ensuring privacy
Despite the potential risks, IoT wearables are remarkably appealing to consumers eager for real-time data access. Many of these devices play a pivotal role in health monitoring, offering invaluable insights into users’ health metrics. However, as with any technology that manages sensitive data, developers must balance the allure of wearable convenience with the essential need for security.
Both developers and users need to remain aware of the responsibility that comes with utilizing IoT wearable technology. By prioritizing secure practices and transparent data policies, the wearables industry can continue to thrive while protecting users’ rights to privacy.
One final recommendation is to look at all possibilities (Reducing power consumption in smart gadgets). IoT wearables are really attractive for people who are more engaged with having data at any moment. Also, bear in mind that many of these devices can be used for healthcare monitoring (see healthcare development services).
