The Sensors in Smartwatches
The rise of smartwatches has sparked a lot of interest since these devices include sensors that monitor your health and encourage you to engage in physical activity. This article will explore the sensors that are being used in smart watches.
Smartwatches are multipurpose devices. People are now using them instead of fitness trackers, which is the most significant development. Smartwatches are on their way to becoming a multipurpose technological marvel. There is no better way to monitor your health and lifestyle than by using a smartwatch.
Sensors included within the smartwatch are used to power these trackers. Many well-known consumer and medical gadgets are now equipped with wearable sensor technologies.
Smartwatches may give an objective alternative to managing and monitoring the development of chronic illness, such as with the elderly, in rehabilitation, and for individuals who suffer from different impairments.
In healthcare, wearable sensors are becoming more popular because of their compact size, high hardware capacity, and low cost compared to medical tools that can monitor the same vital signs.
As an added benefit, ambulatory rehabilitation with wearable technology lowers the price tag on more extensive therapy. According to current projections, wearable technology will thrive over the next 25 years, saving the healthcare business a lot of money by reducing clinician/patient contact time significantly.
Different Sensors in Smartwatches
Smartwatches include multiple sensors, i.e., an accelerometer, magnetometer, oximetry sensor, ambient temperature sensor, skin temperature sensor, gyroscope, pressure sensor, heart rate monitor, GPS, and skin conductance sensor.
Accelerometer
Accelerometer sensors help monitor the body’s motions by counting daily steps. It monitors sleep patterns and suggests different strategies to enhance them. Such a sensor detects skin resistance to a little dosage of current that the wristwatch transmits over your skin to track sleeping pattern, heartbeat, water level, etc.
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a sensor that is used to measure orientation and angular rates of the body. When you move your wrist to check your smartwatch, a gyroscope on your wristwatch will notify you in a split second.
By turning off the display when there has not been any movement for a long period, this sensor also helps your smartwatch save battery life.
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a sensor used to measure magnetic field strength. In smart watches, it also refers to a compass sensor. This sensor is used to keep track of the motion and direction in which the user is pointing.
Temperature Sensors
There are two types of temperature sensors available in smartwatches. The skin or body temperature sensor is used to measure the amount of heat dissipating from a body after some exertion or workout. It helps monitor the activities that increase body temperature.
An ambient temperature sensor is used to measure the temperature of the surrounding environment.
Oximetry Senor
An oximetry sensor is used to monitor the oxygen level in the blood. It also helps monitor the pulse rate.
Hear Rate Monitor
This sensor keeps track of heartbeats. This sensor keeps tabs on the pulse and does periodic checks to see if anything is out of the ordinary. The sensors in high-end watches even notify the emergency contact if the smartwatch user’s heart rate is abnormal.
Skin Conductance Sensor
The galvanic skin response, which refers to any changes that may be detected in perspiration when considering the assertiveness of a person’s emotional state, can be calculated by this sensor and aids in determining how many calories were expended during the day.
The electrodes in these smartwatches are sensitive to changes in sweat gland activity and are able to send that information to the smartwatch, like the galvanic skin response sensor does.
GPS Sensor
In a smartwatch, the global positioning system (GPS) is a sensor that helps track the distance traveled by the wearer when they are jogging, riding, or doing anything else. By synchronizing it with apps on the user’s smartphone, it also helps the user navigate to their location.
Current Challenges
There are currently many challenges and drawbacks associated with the use of smartwatches.
The foremost drawback of using smartwatches is the privacy and security issue for the user. Wearables that monitor health present ethical concerns. First, privacy. The same data that might be beneficial for medical reasons is also lucrative for marketing, and a whole industry of data brokers benefits from selling patients’ patient records obtained via applications and wearables that offer real-time geolocation, activities, and behavioral patterns.
In truth, a healthcare app's or consumer device’s business model generally involves selling user data, and free or cheap applications are often free for that reason.
Another drawback is the accuracy of these smartwatches. Most smartwatches lack accuracy, which can lead to serious health concerns. The wrong information from the sensors can risk the health of the smartwatch user.
Significant research is currently being carried out and is needed to improve the accuracy of the sensors, to ensure the privacy and security of the user, and to improve the health of the individual by tracking different diseases in a timely manner.
Future of Smartwatches
Despite all the drawbacks and challenges, the future of smartwatches is quite bright. These smartwatches can be used to diagnose diseases in real time and save lives. The incorporation of high-end sensors can make a smartwatch a doctor.
References and Further Reading
Kenneth R. Foster, J.T. (2019), ‘The Opportunity and Obstacles for Smartwatches and Wearable Sensors’, IEEE Pulse. Available at: https://www.embs.org/pulse/articles/the-opportunity-and-obstacles-for-smartwatches-and-wearable-sensors/.
O’Donoghue, J. (2021). The science of smartwatches, Royal Society of Chemistry. Available at: https://edu.rsc.org/feature/the-science-of-smartwatches/4013008.article (Accessed: 27 June 2022).
Tomar, S. (2022) Explained: All Kinds of Sensors in Smartwatches, Pros and Cons. Available at: https://www.cashify.in/explained-sensors-in-smartwatch (Accessed: 27 June 2022).