Health and Fitness Wearables

Abstract

Health and fitness wearable technology has been around for about 45 years. The most common wearables initially included heart rate monitors, pedometers, and GPS systems. While most of these were initially available as stand-alone devices, many are now available in combination devices such as fitness trackers and smart watches. Health and fitness wearables are used in a wide variety of situations including sports, athletics, personal health, fitness, education, and medical settings. A brief history of each wearable is provided, basic functions are explained, selected research is presented, and potential future developments are discussed. Some information is provided regarding current models and features.