Your next Apple Watch or smart ring could have a feature that transforms healthcare
- In the dawn of the 2020s, wearable health tech has evolved lightyears from its humble beginnings.
- As we approach 2027, the twentieth anniversary of the Fitbit, the granddaddy of mass-market wearables, we wonder: what's next for wearable tech?
- Samsung, a leader in the wearable space, offers a peek into the future.
The Future of Healthcare: Where Wearables and Providers Converge
In the dawn of the 2020s, wearable health tech has evolved lightyears from its humble beginnings. What started as a step counter has morphed into devices that monitor sleep, stress, heart health, and more, providing instant insights and recommendations. We’ve seen this decade’s focus shift from accessibility to advanced health metrics and discreet design, exemplified by the rise of smart rings.
As we approach 2027, the twentieth anniversary of the Fitbit, the granddaddy of mass-market wearables, we wonder: what’s next for wearable tech?
A New Take on Health Monitoring
Samsung, a leader in the wearable space, offers a peek into the future. Praveen Raja, Samsung’s head of digital health, envisions a comprehensive system that supports users from current health measurement to personalized insights and coaching, ultimately connecting them with healthcare providers and caregivers.
The tech giant already excels in measurements and insights. Now, Raja hints at a new frontier: integrating wearable data with professional healthcare. This isn’t a distant pipedream. It’s already happening with brands like Withings, which connects users with board-certified cardiologists through its Cardio Check-Up feature.
The Future of Healthcare Tech: Partnerships
Oura, a smart ring brand, recently partnered with Medicare Advantage provider Essence Healthcare. Starting this year, Essence members can receive an Oura Ring and app subscription, with data shared securely with their care team. This could be the future of healthcare: wearable technology aiding primary care, identifying who needs more help, and making care more efficient.
"It’s about putting health data in context and making better decisions," says Jason Oberfest, Oura’s VP of Healthcare. "We’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible."
Stories abound of wearables helping users secure medical diagnoses, like one Reddit user whose Oura Ring helped identify an autoimmune disease. AI-driven health tech can enhance, not replace, medical professionals’ work. Apple’s hearing aid feature and sleep apnea detection on the Apple Watch Series 10 are prime examples.
While there are legitimate privacy concerns, market growth suggests wearable medical devices are here to stay. According to Fortune Business Insights, the market is set to soar from $91.21 billion in 2024 to $324.73 billion by 2032, driven by tech advancements and empowered healthcare consumers.
As wearables continue to grow, the next decade promises a convergence of technology and healthcare, with users at the center of it all. It’s an exciting era in health tech, and we’re just getting started.