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CA NEWS
By Jaime Calder
When you hear the word
“wearables,” what comes to
mind? Maybe it’s a kid wearing
a virtual reality headset, wildly swinging Rapid advancements in wearable technology means today’s devices can do
a sword only he can see. Or perhaps it’s
a young health nut fastidiously tracking
their every step through a band on
their arm. Whatever kind of device you
envision, odds are you assume the person
using it is very young – and not without
good reason. Of the one in six consumers
currently using wearable technology,
nearly half (48 percent) are under the age company is currently working on a device
of 35. Despite the demographics, however,
older adults are likely to find that they
have much to gain from these new devices,
many of which offer benefits far beyond
mere entertainment.
When gerontologist Andrew Dibner
created one of the first ever wearable
devices back in 1972, seniors were the
first to adopt the technology. In the
decades since, Dibner’s Lifeline emergency of GPS-enabled devices help prevent
response system has been utilized by over
7.5 million adults and saved countless
lives. But as beneficial as Lifeline and
related products have been, it’s hard to
avoid the stigma of walking around with
a large plastic “panic button” hung around making those golden years more enjoyable
your neck.
Fortunately, wearable applications (and
aesthetics) have evolved considerably
since 1972. Devices now offer an array
of features in elegant packages – one
company even offers wearables in the
form of fashion-forward jewelry made
of precious metals and adorned with
gems. Fitness tracking devices – easily
among the most popular wearables on
the market today – provide users with
detailed information about their physical
activity, heart rate, sleep patterns and
more. Such daily record-keeping reveals
health patterns not only to the wearer,
but to the wearer’s doctor as well,
allowing both patients and physicians to
12 | SUNRAYS JUNE 2017
Tech Feature:
Wearable
Technology
more than just count your steps - they may also change your life.
spot problems early on and take a more
proactive approach to healthcare.
Other, more specialized products may
soon help patients better manage
chronic conditions. One London-based
which will use high-frequency radio
waves to measure blood glucose levels,
sparing diabetics the pain and expense
of traditional testing. In California,
developers have created a slim leg band
which restores lost sensation to people
with peripheral neuropathy, enabling
them to walk normally and regain lost
strength. For those caring for a loved one
with dementia or Alzheimer’s, a variety
wandering and can connect users to
emergency services in the event of a crisis. on the Mai Tais.
Wearable devices aren’t just helping to
prolong users’ lives – many are aimed at
as well. If golf holds a special place in
your heart, several companies are now
offering “smart gloves” which promise to
provide personalized coaching based on
swing speed, tempo, backswing and more.
GPS-enabled sportwatches can alert you
to hazards along the fairway, keep score
automatically and calculate distances on
over 40,000 courses worldwide.
Going on a trip? No need to wonder if you
left the lights on when your smartwatch
knows you’re not home. Based on your
proximity, wearable devices can turn out
your lights, activate your security system
and even adjust the thermostat to save
you money while you’re away. Several
cruise lines have begun developing ship-
specific wearables which guests would
receive upon boarding. Devices would
allow passengers to do everything from
unlock their cabin doors, navigate the
ship, schedule personalized services and
order a round for your friends – devices
will not, however, alert members of the
ship’s crew if you fall overboard, so go easy
While the majority of wearable consumers
may be on the younger side, in the years to
come older adults will be the driving force
behind highly personal, highly portable
technology. It’s early in the game, but
already wearables are having a positive
impact on many aspects of life across
generations. Odds are, soon they’ll be
impacting your life, too.
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