ABSTRACT
Whether worn on the wrist, head, foot, or body as a garment, wearable devices are being designed in every conceivable form factor, with convenience and utility in mind. Some of them are even beginning to be devised for use inside the body. Using sensors to measure various aspects of a patient's health, wearable devices now offer richer, actionable data that extend beyond body diagnostics – they now can educate, alert and anticipate health issues. Sensors and data links offer possibilities for monitoring a patient’s behavior and symptoms in real time and at relatively low cost, allowing physicians to better diagnose disease and prescribe tailored treatment regimens. Patients with chronic illnesses, for example, have been outfitted with sensors so that their conditions can be monitored continuously as they go about their daily activities. Sensor enabled patients can now be monitored remotely and continuously, giving practitioners early warning of conditions that would otherwise lead to unplanned hospitalizations and expensive emergency care. The potential for clinical efficiencies and cost savings are enormous - better management of chronic conditions could reduce hospitalization and treatment costs by a billion dollars annually in the United States. Wearable health care technology divides into three separate groups:
• Complex accessories (currently the most popular category) operate semi-independently but need a smartphone, tablet, or computer for full functionality. These include Fitbit, Jawbone UP, Nike+ FuelBand.
