Wearables Data - a new age of personalization

Last week I wrote about the challenges of working with human movement data. This week I’ll talk about new opportunities in leveraging data from wearable sensors. First, a quick definition - we define ‘wearables’ as any device that is collecting data while on your person. Your smartwatch, your Fitbit, your Oura, yes, but many headphone brands are also incorporating sensors into their devices now, and, while often overlooked, your phone is also considered a wearable device. In my world of human movement, and for the verticals we are building product towards, I’d rank data quality from devices as headphones (best data), then phone (although often carrying-location dependent), then wrist, then hand (worst data). The quality, durability, and processing power of our wearables has increased exponentially in the last five years, and it’s only the beginning. By wearing laboratory-grade sensors, we’re opening up a new world of being able to pick up on early signs of deteriorating health and pathologies - which often onset with too much subtlety to be noticed in their earliest stages. Here is a great, recent article on using wearables for tracking the progression of Parkinson’s disease with greater accuracy than through clinical observation.  🧠