That perfect storm may be just on the horizon.
Wearable devices are rapidly advancing in terms of technology, functionality and size, with more real-time applications. The disruption has already begun in health monitoring.
21 June 2016, SPIE Newsroom (Mark Crawford)
Wearable sensors make up one of the fastest-growing technology markets. According to market research firm International Data Corporation, total global shipment volumes of wearables reached 19.7 million units in 1Q16, an increase of 67.2 percent from the 11.8 million units shipped in 1Q15. Wearable devices are rapidly advancing in terms of technology, functionality and size, with more real-time applications, especially for health monitoring.
Photonics is an important component in these devices, especially for flexible displays and wearable biosensors. Considerable research interest is developing around wearable optical devices.
Wearable optical sensors can track multiple vital signs such as heart rate; optical chemical sensors can now measure chemical compositions of body fluids noninvasively (for example, determining blood glucose levels by analyzing human sweat). The functionality and sophistication of heart-rate monitors will continue to increase -- for example, monitoring oxygen levels and blood pressure. Other health applications for wearables include UV detection and measuring pollutant levels, both indoors and outdoors.
All of these measurements depend on networks of sensors that detect and measure a multitude of physiological and electrophysiological signals.
Full article available here http://spie.org/newsroom/wearable-photonics?WT.mc_id=KNRSENSEMEAE
