Vendors and manufacturers vied for attention at this year’s CES but it was health and fitness technology that dominated. In fact, a significant portion of the booths in the expanse of the Las Vegas Convention Center were ones with gadgets and tech dedicated to wellness and health.
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Health and wellness technology has been influenced by the development of two underlying technologies: apps and wearables. With apps, users can keep track of their progress on their journeys to a healthier lifestyle. And the wearables market increased more than 57% from 2014-2015. By 2018, it’s estimated that over 80 million adults will use some sort of wearable for health and wellness.
That’s a sizable market. The innovation in wellness tech was fully front and center at CES. From the latest Fitbit device called Fitbit Blaze, to baby tech that will tell you if baby’s diaper is dry or wet, there was an array of devices all devoted to health and fitness. Take a look through the slideshow for some of the standout wellness technology products on display at CES:
InBody:
No, it’s not a robot. It’s a machine that provides accurate data on body composition. Step on and hold the arms and it will show a person’s body fat percentage; lean muscle mass amount; where the highest areas of fat are concentrated; weight; and more. That data is sent to the cloud, so users can keep track of their body composition. This isn’t a machine you can buy retail. Instead, it’s used in fitness and healthcare facilities (although a company representative said actor Mark Wahlberg has one in his home).
InBody Band:
Made by the same company as the InBody machine, the InBody Band is a fitness tracker that is specifically for consumers. The wearable is stylish and offers many of the same features as the InBody machine, including measuring body fat and muscle mass; tracks activity; monitors your sleep; and notifies of incoming calls and texts from your smartphone.
J-Style Bluetooth Smart Thermometer:
This baby wearable monitors temperature. It also has a high temperature alert. Temperature data can be recorded and transferred via Bluetooth to the device’s app. It’s small and lightweight for comfortable wear and uses a low-power battery.
Neuroon:
Neuroon is an intelligent sleep mask for enhancing sleep quality. It does this through a number of features. The mask’s Light Boost feature uses light spectrum therapy to give you an energy boost if feeling sluggish; the Bright Light Therapy feature helps regulate melatonin. Other features include sleep tracking, Three Stage Awakening–which wakes you up based on your natural biorhythm and when you normally wake up–and even more functionality.
Genworth R70i Aging Experience:
The Genworth R701, in a way, is the opposite of wellness technology. This suit is part of Genworth’s virtual aging experience. It allows you to experience how your body would feel 30 years older. That certainly isn’t tech anyone is going to run out and buy. The R701 is part of Genworth’s (which is a financial services company) strategy for selling long-term care insurance policies.
QardioCore Wearable ECG/EKG:
This wearable is a wireless electrocardiograph machine. It monitors your electrocardiogram, heart and respiratory rates, temperature, stress levels and more. You can record and share this information with your physician or a fitness trainer.
D’or 24k:
OK, it’s not really technology but there is some interesting science behind the product. D’or 24k is part of a line of skincare products at CES, including another product, Vine Vera. They are luxury anti-aging and daily skin care cream and lotions that are made with 24k gold and stem cells. According to the representative at the booth, when gold is absorbed through the skin, the body is forced to create collagen and goes into a skin/cellular renewal process. The products might as well be jewelry: the collagen renewal line ranges from $695.00 for a single jar to $2,785 for the complete set.
Smart Changing Pad:
At CES, even diaper changing stations connect wirelessly. Hatch Baby’s smart changing pad works with an app to track and monitor a baby’s weight, temperature, feedings and diaper changes.
Fitbit Blaze:
- Fitbit Blaze, CES 2016; Image: File
Fitbit unveiled its latest activity tracker, the Fitbit Blaze. Probably the most stylish Fitbit to date, it has new features including Pure Pulse Heart Rate, on-screen workouts, a color touchscreen, and GPS tracking.
Smart Mirror
Smart Human debuted its line of smart mirrors. These are makeup mirrors that light up upon approach. The light is natural lighting, great for applying makeup. Smart mirrors are available as standard makeup stand mirrors with and without magnification or as a tri-mirror.
Swarovski Fitness Tracker
Track activity with bling. The Swarovski fitness tracker is encrusted with crystals and functions as a fitness tracker measuring daily activity and quality of sleep. It also syncs with a smartphone.