Why wearable tech in healthcare is the best place for a startup right now
Wearable technology is big business, with some of the largest tech and innovation companies in the world focusing on it right now. Its potential impact on the healthcare industry is huge, which makes it one of the most ripe areas for healthcare focused start-ups to enter into.
A quick look at a few of the major crowd funding sites clearly shows this, with startups working hard to offer solutions that improve the fitness, well-being and health of their customers.
Whether concentrating on the creation of new physical solutions or developing apps for mobile platforms, there’s more opportunity than ever before in this space, and the technology is often not as complicated to develop as people think.
The technology's value comes from providing a link between the real and virtual worlds, and there are two very strong customer needs driving the success of the companies creating them.
The first is the ever increasing interest people have in theirs and their families' health and safety. The second relates to convenience, because none of us want to have to carry dozens of heavy devices around with us every day.
Technology, access to crowd funding and the ability to do business globally means that start-ups have more tools available to them than ever before. Even better is that the global distribution of technology platforms on smartphones means that more people have devices that can utilise creative solutions immediately.
In healthcare especially, solutions that offer a way to improve fitness, offer safety or provide relevant personalised health data continue to be of enormous and widespread interest – after all, we all want to be able to live life to its fullest, for as long as possible.
| Three new wearable health tech devices to watch |
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1. The World’s Smartest Motorcycle Helmet Skully is a helmet straight out of the movies, incorporating GPS, rear-view camera and streaming media. Thanks to its streamlined design and multiple safety features, it managed to get strong backing via crowdfunding.
2. Wireless Headphones with Body Sensors and Performance Tracking
Next is Bragi’s set of ear-buds, scheduled to ship around spring this year. Along with the traditional delivery of music via Bluetooth they can also track heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, calories burnt and exercise metrics.
3. Wearable ID to Save Lives and Connect Loved Ones
In June, MiFile launched its wristbands that allow people to store their medical, allergy and care wishes online. In the event of an emergency, anyone can assist by checking the ID and sending an SMS alert to the wearer’s key contacts.
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