by Samsung officially announced the launch of a new ring-shaped smart wearable device, the Galaxy Ring, as part of its Galaxy Unpacked event earlier this year. The ring, which is expected to go on sale at the end of summer 2024, will be able to monitor the user’s health parameters and provide insights based on the observed health metrics, which is very similar to what a smartwatch can do.
The global smart ring market is expected to grow from USD$314.52 billion (£246.3 billion) in 2023 to USD$2,570.30 billion (£2,012 billion) by 2030. So it’s no surprise that Apple is rumored to be entering on its smart ring patents. and the product is expected to be ready in time to compete with Samsung’s release.
But it may come as a surprise to learn that neither Samsung nor Apple are pioneers in this new wearable technology. Oura launched in 2015 with a Kickstarter campaign for the first generation ring.
Now in its third generation, with a fourth expected in 2024, this smart ring can measure respiration rate, heart rate, health rate variability (HRV), blood oxygen levels, and body temperature. The ring also has an accelerometer that logs the user’s activity and movement. However, the main question is: is wearable technology worth it?
What is wearable technology?
Wearable devices come in many shapes and sizes, including smartwatches and sports watches, fitness trackers, head-mounted displays, smart jewelry, smart clothing, and even implantable devices.
Technological advances have enabled manufacturers to access low-cost, low-power sensor technology and develop this variety of devices. At the very least, wearable devices are equipped with sensors, software and connectivity technology.
The sensors collect information from the person wearing the device, and the software collects the data and sends it to a device with processing capabilities via a wireless connection. The ecosystem on which wearable technology operates is called the Internet of Things (IoT). It is the same principle as the smart technology used in the home, on devices such as thermostats that can be operated from a mobile device outside the home, or smart speakers, but applied on a personal level. It is important to note that mobile devices do not process the data; it is usually sent to the “cloud” for processing, and the mobile device displays the data to the user.
What makes an IoT solution even more attractive is the interpretation of the data collected by the sensors. For example, the Oura Ring and Oura Membership enable users to monitor their sleep, manage stress and predict when they might be sick by monitoring body temperature and heart rate. This is all possible due to the analysis of the data collected by the ring.
With advances in artificial intelligence (AI), health tracking is expected to boom in 2024.
Advantages and disadvantages
Smart rings come with sensors similar to those in smart watches. However, due to their proximity to large blood vessels in the fingers, smart rings can provide more accurate readings than smart watches, as they can use the capillaries (small blood vessels) in your finger to read get. Another advantage of smart rings is that they have a longer battery life than smart watches. However, smart rings are unlikely to come with GPS or a screen.
In terms of price, the cheapest version of the Oura ring starts at £299 and users have to pay a membership fee of £5.99 per month, with the first month free. This is required to get all the benefits of data analysis. However, the ring will still work with the Oura mobile app. The most affordable version of the AppleWatch, the SE version, starts at £219, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Bluetooth starts at £239.
Smart rings cannot and will not be able to replicate the functionality offered by a smartwatch. However, they represent an attractive option for users interested in health tracking, who also want a simple device with minimalistic features. Bryan Ma, vice president of device research at International Data Corporation, said: “The idea behind these rings is not to be cheaper than smart watches, but instead to be a much smaller and discrete device to use in cases like sleep tracking. “
The future of wearable technology?
Wearable technology will continue to develop, with a strong focus on health monitoring. For example, Microsoft has been exploring smart tattoos as the next generation of wearable technology since 2016. However, due to the labor-intensive manufacturing technique for gold leaf, used in the tattoos, researchers are now focusing on stronger, advanced, and cheap materials.
Researchers at the University of Washington have also developed the thermal ear. This was able to measure the user’s earlobe temperature but shows promise for other areas of monitoring, including eating and exercise. Although not commercially available, this device shows how engineers are developing new ideas for wearable devices.
Under Armor sells running shoes embedded with Bluetooth and sensors that track running statistics such as distance and speed. The shoes also measure running from metrics like cadence (steps per minute), ground contact time, foot strike angle and stride length.
The app provides real-time audio coaching, but only focuses on shut-ins. In the future, we can expect to see advances in smart contact lenses, smart nails, smart buttons, and more.
Is wearable technology worth it?
The expected increase in the market size of this technology reflects the interest of users to monitor their health and improve their lifestyle. Developments in the Internet of Things, in general, have improved our way of life and supported our well-being.
Connected devices collect, track and store user data, which is the primary purpose of the technology. What users need to be aware of is that many wearable devices share data with third-party apps and services, and it’s often unclear how this data is used. The data can be sold to other companies or used for various purposes without the user’s knowledge or consent. Moreover, wearable devices can be hacked.
With this in mind, and as we have done with all new technologies, users must weigh the benefits of wearable technology and decide whether the risks are worth taking. If data security and privacy are a concern, users are encouraged to follow all security recommendations provided by experts and manufacturers to protect their devices and to further research how their data is used and shared.
This article from The Conversation is republished under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Erika Sanchez-Velazquez does not work for, consult with, share in, or be funded by any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has not she disclosed any relevant connections beyond their academic appointment.
