Over the past years, technology has made its way into every aspect of our lives. Technology has stepped up with a digitalized alternative for our social needs. From heavy machinery to personal computers, technology went from being an impersonal tool to becoming a personalized gadget that accompanies us everywhere. The pandemic heavily impacted communities and stimulated a collective mental and physical well-being approach. Today, “wearable technology” is a trend that is being integrated into our professional, personal, and daily environments.
For starters, the health and wellness industry is experiencing a noticeable increase in demand for wearable technology. Many people now use fitness technology such as phone apps and wearable gear while exercising. According to a survey by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), 4,500 health and fitness experts believe that wearable tech is the most popular fitness trend. Wearable fitness tech has helped health-conscious individuals better monitor themselves and abide by their fitness goals. Some technology has even replaced traditional hardware like heart-rate monitors and provided consumers with better technology that supports healthcare. Wearable technology has customized equipment suitable for all ages and genders; most importantly, it has made it easier for individuals to monitor their health. Most wearable gadgets have standard healthcare features such as heart rate and stress level trackers. You can also get gadgets with specialized features. For example, individuals concerned about their heart health can get gadgets with features that monitor heart irregularities. Also, some technology has been developed to help those suffering from chronic diseases like Parkinson’s. Wearable technology has also profited those who want to stick with a fitness goal. Most of this tech is multifunctional, meaning it can send and receive data from your phone while you exercise. Gadgets like smartwatches and smart clothing have enabled their owners to strengthen their fitness awareness, define goals and get quality sleep. Indeed, wearable technology has facilitated the means for health-conscious individuals of all ages to sustain a healthy and fit lifestyle.
According to Pete Brown, the joint global leader of people and organization, PwC UK, wearable technology has become “The frontier of wearables is the world of work.” This technology has been proven to promote workplace and employee wellness. In 2019, a group of PWC employees in the UK tried an experiment where they all came to work with wearable technology linked to their work calendars. The results transmitted to management would provide a status regarding employee stress levels and other factors. The pandemic created an environment where the data would become a base for later results regarding the ideal work-life balance. Some of the exciting findings revolved around employees being able to monitor their work performance and its impact on their sleeping cycle. In addition, employees could follow up and change work patterns that negatively influenced their personal lives and increased stress levels. By understanding how specific workflows can create chaotic work environments and stimulate employee burnout, employers can better their approach toward employee wellness. By identifying these gaps, employers can create suitable work environments, tailor effective interventions where needed, and make necessary workload tweaks. In the PWC experiment, employers understood that employees needed to be empowered with more frequent breaks. Brown believes that:
“Organizations who implement this technology correctly and use the data to make informed decisions and investments around employee wellness could see better retention of top talent as well as attracting new talent.”
Technology integration is only in its initial phase, and wearable technology won’t be limited to the wrist. Whether in our personal lives or the workplace, data science is introducing a new digital alternative to enhance overall well-being and employee wellness.
