Wearable Tech and Connected Devices to Monitor Your Health

One of the biggest trends in technology is being able to monitor almost everything with sensors. Doing so with wearable technology is becoming almost commonplace and was all over the 2014 International CES. What interested me most was not the activity trackers, but the devices that let you monitor your health.

Once we reach midlife, we tend to think about our health much more than when we are young and think we are invincible. And being able to monitor our vital signs can be very helpful in knowing whether or not we need to see a doctor. The market for health trackers is growing and companies are responding.

Here are just some of the Wearable Technology and Connected Devices to Monitor your health that I saw at CES 2014:

Tinke – A simple technology to measure your fitness and wellness. First download the free app and register it. Then attach this small device to your iPhone or Android phone and press your thumb against it. You will get readings of your heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen level and respiratory rate. So simple.

LG HRM Earphone Heart Rate Monitor – If you listen to music when you exercise, you  can track you health and fitness at the same time with this LG monitor. When wearing these earphones, a lightweight device is also strapped on your arm which transmits the data to an app in your phone. The LG earphones will continuously monitor not only your heartbeat but distance, calories and more, even in the rain.

JayBird Reign – This looks like a typical fitness sensor and in many ways it is. But what makes it unique is that Reign reads your body and knows when it is ready to be active, how much sleep you need and when you are rested. Available this spring 2014.

iHealth – iHealth has many products for monitoring your health and had a giant display at CES 2014. They have blood pressure monitors, wireless scales, health and fitness devices and a Glucometer.  What I like the most is that there is one iHealth app where all the data. So if you use a few of iHealth’s gadgets, you will have a full picture of your health all in one place.

Withings Aura – While there are some activity trackers that measure sleep, even Withings own activity tracker does, Withings recently launched Aura, a stand-alone system that monitors and improves sleep. With a sensor under your mattress and a very nice looking device beside your bed, you will be given a deep understanding of you sleep experience. If you don’t want an extra gadget, Withings makes the Pulse smart tracker that tracks activity, heart rate and sleep.

Netatmo June – A beautiful bracelet that warns you when you have had to much sun. Simple, elegant and an important reminder.

This market for health and activity trackers is grower quicker than you can imagine. You can even track your dog’s health with wearable technology. I can’t even imagine what I will see next year at the 2015 International CES.