Wearable tech is the way of the future and researchers at UBC are working hard to get in on the trend.
They’ve developed a couple of products that could be sold commercially, including a flexible wrist band that can monitor your pulse and movement.
The sensors collect data that reads out on a computer – information that could help improve a golf swing or shot.
UBC’s Flexible Electronics and Energy Lab, or FEEL, has also developed a shirt that has fiber sensors with a built-in transmitter. It monitors the movement of the body and heartbeat and could be used during exercise or for medical monitoring.
Scientists say the technology can be used for people of all ages, from babies to seniors.
“Wearable technology in future is really going to enable us to get a lot more accurate data from our body in terms of health; in terms of movement that could really help us, for example in sports,” UBC Engineer Dr. Peyman Servati told CTV News. “I think the key is the data should be relevant and useful."
“There is lots of data that is missing right now because, for example, longer term knowledge of blood pressure or our wellbeing in general and it’s monitored just in a snapshot in the doctor’s office,” Servati added.
Wearable tech sales are expected to more than triple in 10 years to $80 Billion, but how many products will last? The highly touted Google Glass and Nike Fuelband are both discontinued and Fitbit sales are dropping.
But the UBC scientists aren’t giving up.
"Getting new technologies that provide more useful data, more relevant data, something that can really change our life, versus something we can have or we don't want it the next day," Servati said.
UBC's products are still in testing and development.
