Jari Haiston in Blogs on August 28, 2023

About Jari Haiston

Jari Haiston is part of the growing digital marketing team at Symmetry Electronics. Jari comes from a background in technical writing and event coordination. In her current role, she specializes in content creation and social media management. Jari's focus as a writer is to create interesting content that is accessible to any audience.

At this point in technological advancement, most of us are familiar with connected health solutions. Made more popular by a global pandemic, connected health solutions refer to a broad category of healthcare technologies that link patients with more convenient and effective healthcare services. While we're all familiar with connected health monitors like fitness trackers, smartwatches, and their more traditional counterparts, there's a new wave of innovative health monitors that have quietly entered the scene. These lesser-known devices offer unique insights into our well-being to bridge the gap between daily life and healthcare. Here are five health monitors you've probably never heard of but should definitely know about.

1. Smart Clothing with Biosensors

Smart clothing with integrated biosensors is the next frontier in health monitoring. These garments are designed to blend seamlessly into your everyday wardrobe while discreetly collecting a wealth of health data. From monitoring your heart rate, respiratory rate, and even sweat composition, smart clothing goes beyond just counting steps. The sensors are woven into the fabric, making them comfortable and unobtrusive.

Brands like Hexoskin and Owlet® produce smart shirts and socks that are revolutionizing how we track health and wellness at home. Integrated biosensors in Hexoskin solutions monitor key heart rate and breathing metrics for comprehensive biodata analysis for chronic stress sufferers. Owlet, on the other hand, brings parents peace of mind with their smart sock for infants. While an infant is sleeping, the Owlet Dream Sock actively monitors heart rate, oxygen level, movement, and other key metrics. Parents are notified of abnormalities in real-time.

2. Posture Monitors

A posture monitor is a cutting-edge device designed to help you maintain optimal posture and make positive changes to your sitting or standing habits. It's like having a personal posture coach that discreetly accompanies you throughout your day. This innovative gadget usually comes in a compact and lightweight form, easily attachable to your clothing or wearable as an accessory.

Equipped with advanced sensors and smart technology, the posture monitor constantly tracks the alignment of your spine and the positioning of your shoulders. As you go about your daily activities, the monitor uses real-time data to analyze your posture and provides gentle reminders when you start slouching or hunching. These reminders can be in the form of vibrations, audible alerts, or notifications on a connected app.

Some posture monitors even offer a visual representation of your posture habits through the app, helping you visualize your progress over time. By wearing a posture monitor, you develop a heightened awareness of your posture, which gradually helps you make healthier choices in how you sit, stand, and carry yourself.

What sets posture monitors apart is their ability to offer personalized feedback and insights. They take into account factors such as your body type, daily routine, and ergonomic recommendations to tailor their guidance to your specific needs. This way, you're not only reminded to correct your posture but also educated about the why and how behind maintaining good alignment.

3. Ingestible Sensors

Imagine a tiny sensor that you swallow, which then relays valuable health data to your smartphone – that's the concept behind ingestible sensors. These pill-sized devices are designed to be swallowed like medication and are equipped with sensors that can monitor various parameters within your body. They can track temperature, pH levels, and even specific biomarkers. Ingestible sensors are designed to navigate the complex landscape of our digestive system and collect invaluable data that was once accessible only through invasive procedures.

Ingestible sensors have a wide range of potential applications in healthcare. They can provide insights into digestive health, detect gastrointestinal disorders, and track medication adherence. These sensors could be particularly useful for patients with chronic conditions that require consistent monitoring or those undergoing specific treatments that need precise dosage adjustments.

4. Emotion Sensing Wearables

Emotion-sensing wearables represent an innovative intersection of technology and emotional well-being, offering a unique way to understand and manage our feelings on a deeper level. These wearable devices are designed to tap into the intricate signals our bodies emit when we experience different emotions, providing us with valuable insights into our mental states and enabling us to make more informed choices about our emotional health.

At first glance, emotion-sensing wearables might resemble traditional fitness trackers or smartwatches. However, beneath their sleek exteriors lies a sophisticated network of sensors that can detect subtle physiological changes associated with emotions. These changes include variations in heart rate, skin conductance (sweat levels), body temperature, and even voice patterns.

The technology behind these wearables involves advanced algorithms that analyze the data collected by the sensors. By cross-referencing this data with established patterns and baselines, the wearables can gauge the wearer's emotional state with impressive accuracy. For instance, a sudden increase in heart rate and skin conductance might suggest heightened stress or anxiety, while a more stable physiological profile could indicate a state of calmness.

5. Light Therapy Monitors

Our circadian rhythms are intricately linked to our health, influencing everything from sleep patterns to mood. Light therapy monitors take advantage of this connection by analyzing the light you're exposed to throughout the day. By tracking your light exposure and correlating it with your daily routines, these monitors can offer recommendations to optimize your circadian rhythm. This could lead to better sleep quality, improved mood, and enhanced overall health.

As the health tech landscape continues to evolve, these lesser-known health monitors are poised to play a significant role in shaping how we perceive and manage our well-being. From smart clothing that blends fashion with function to ingestible sensors that provide unprecedented insights, these devices are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. While they might not be as mainstream as fitness trackers yet, they certainly have the potential to make a lasting impact on the way we prioritize and maintain our health.

Conclusion

In a world where information is power, these health monitors offer a new level of self-awareness that can empower individuals to take proactive steps towards healthier lives. As these technologies mature and become more accessible, we can anticipate a future where staying healthy is not just a goal, but an integrated part of our daily lives.

Are you a developer looking to design a next-generation connected health solution? Symmetry Electronics is your gateway to the future of connected health devices through cutting-edge sensor solutions. Our team of knowledgeable Applications Engineers has years of experience, understands the intricate demands of health monitoring systems, and can assist you in ensuring your design is accurate and reliable. Consultation is free and available throughout your design cycle. Contact Symmetry Electronics today!