Healthcare wearables have become a key enabler to enhance the overall health and well-being especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. These wearable devices are designed with latest technology to measure heart rate and skin temperature. These results are beneficial to understand if the body is fighting an infection. In a recent report, American fitness brand Fitbit has stated that the breathing rate and heart rate variability can detect the presence of Covid-19 even before the symptoms are reported by the user.
Fitbit co-founder and CEO James Park said, “Over 100,000 Fitbit users signed up for a study to determine if it can build an algorithm to detect potential signs of the disease and the results are incredibly exciting”. He also stated, “COVID-19 has accelerated Fitbit’s critical research on illness detection, with leading institutions like Stanford, Scripps Research, King’s College London and others around the globe to determine if wearables can be used to detect potential signs and COVID-19.”
Growth Of Healthcare Wearables
Over the last few months, we have seen a growing number of start-ups with sports tech, wellbeing and fitness backgrounds, pivoting, and tweaking their products to help fight the progression of Covid-19. Now healthcare wearables are becoming a key enabler to help enhance bedside care and clinical mobility experience especially smart watches.
Fitbit launches Sense, Versa 3 and Inspire 2
Fitbit Sense, the company’s new range of smart wearables, is designed with world’s first electro dermal activity (EDA) sensor to alert users about the increasing stress levels and help to manage it better. Such innovations are developed as a result of the pandemic to help keep people informed of the status of their own health. The new flagship watch by Fitbit also has in-built advanced heart rate tracking technology, a new ECG app, and an on-wrist skin temperature sensor with six days of battery life.
Fitbit Sense will come with a six-month trial pack of Fitbit Premium and is currently priced at Rs 34,999 for Indian users.
The Fitbit Versa 3 offers Sleep Score and smart wake features and also has an on-device microphone ushering in an Amazon Alexa smart watch experience. The smart wearable will be priced at Rs 26,499 and boasts of:
- On-device GPS
- In-app workout intensity map
- Enhanced PurePulse 2.0 technology
- Active Zone Minutes
- Built-in speaker and microphone
- At least six days of battery life
Fitbit Inspire 2 tracker, meanwhile, adorns asleek design and has an improved screen along with 10 days of battery life. The latest smart watch is quite pocket-friendly, will be priced at Rs 10,999, and will offer users:
- 20+ goal-based exercise modes
- Advanced sleep tools
- 24/7 heart rate tracking
- Menstrual health tracking
- Visibility of your food & hydration intake
