Emerging Technology for Better Health

Many of the newest products at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas were geared toward improving health and fitness. In fact, there was a conference within the conference:  The Digital Health Summit which covered how “health care companies are using services, devices, and communication technologies to put consumers in the driver’s seat,” and the Sports and Fitness Tech Summit, which showcased “devices that monitor fitness output and other gadgets that help keep people connected and safer in the outdoors.”

I thought this product was simply elegant!  It will be on sale later this month for about $150.





Then there's EASports Active offering an interactive fitness product with a heart rate monitor for Kinect for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Wii.  From the Consumer Electronics Association:  

As the electronics we use everyday become more entrenched in our daily routines, it is natural to expect that these technologies will work together to provide us a more complete view of our activities and ultimately produce better health and fitness outcomes. The “magic” of miniaturization of wearable electronics and the data harnessing power of the Internet combine to give consumers an unprecedented level of insight into just how healthy and fit we are (or aren’t!).

Take a look at the number and variety of fitness and health related apps available right now for iOS devices! 

Many colleges are now offering degrees in health & fitness technology.  So what do you think?  Can technology make us healthier?

photo credits: Will Lion via photopin cc and Derek K. Miller via photopin cc