Today's wearables shaping tomorrow's healthcare

Consumer devices are pointing the way for clinical wearable tech devices. (Alexey Boldin/shutterstock.com)

The current popularity of consumer-focused connected health devices, whether fitness-tracking wristbands, smart bathroom scales or simply dedicated apps that run on an existing smartphone, is poised to make more consumers proactive about their well-being but is also set to play a huge role in the future of healthcare.

Research by Parks Associates suggests that 30per cent of US broadband homes already own some form of connected health device and that by 2016, over 32 million US consumers will be actively tracking their personal health and fitness -- either online or via a mobile device of some description.

At the same time, the use of wearable devices in the health and medical field, for monitoring vital signs such as insulin levels and blood pressure, is also growing and, according to Harry Wang, Parks Associates director of health and mobile product research, a converge is coming. Writing in the May edition of the research firm's Digital Health News, he states: "the design trends for wearables in the medical field follow what is happening in the fitness area -- they are becoming more discreet, with more user-centric designs and highly integrated functions."

Just as consumers approached the iPad with confidence rather than trepidation -- they already knew how to use it because it was so similar to their iPhones -- the growing familiarity with consumer-focused wearables and supporting apps will make it simple for individuals to transition to and take control of their clinical equivalents.

Wang speculates that this could also lead to companies that make clinical devices bringing ‘over the counter' consumer devices to market too. However, in either eventuality, one hurdle still needs to be overcome: engagement.

Back in July, a major survey from research firm IDC found that one in three consumers who own fitness trackers stopped using them within the first 12 months and that the biggest reason for abandoning the devices was a lack of engagement.

Wang believes the solution is to take a holistic apporach that addresses everything from design to perfomance and ease of use in order to keep consumers engaged.

"Health consumers want to see results, they need feedback, and they believe they deserve encouragement and rewards for their efforts. ...These elements cannot be dealt with by hardware alone but by hardware and software/services offered together."