Wired for Wellness: The Power of Wearable Tech in Health Communication.
The Role of Wearable Technology in Health Communication
Wearable technology has become more than just a trend; it is now an essential tool in how we understand and communicate about health. From smartwatches that track heart rate and sleep to devices monitoring stress, fertility, or physical recovery, these innovations offer real-time feedback that empowers users to make informed wellness choices. For civilians and military personnel alike, wearables are becoming essential tools for improving physical performance, tracking well-being, and enhancing digital health literacy. In military contexts, wearable devices have been used to monitor soldier performance and even detect blast exposure or signs of heat illness, saving lives in austere environments (Goldenberg, 2024). In the civilian world, wearables are widely adopted for exercise, wellness, and daily activity tracking, offering users autonomy and motivation to take charge of their health (Harjeevan, S.K., & Exworthy, M., 2022)
History and Evolution of Wearable Technology
The evolution of wearable technology is closely tied to advances in digital communication and health innovation. Early devices like pedometers offered limited data, but modern wearables now integrate with smartphones, apps, and cloud platforms to collect continuous biometric information, support social interaction, and even influence behavior change. College students who wearables report that sharing and receiving fitness data with peers helps them stay motivated and feel part of a health-oriented community (Cho & Tian, 2021). Similarly, wearable fitness trackers have shown effectiveness in tracking users' exercise motives, particularly when goals align with health, fitness, or social incentives (Hewitt et al., 2022). In stroke rehabilitation, wearables and app-based interfaces are being developed to give patients real-time feedback and strengthen cooperation with physiotherapists, highlighting the potential for long-term recovery support (Stock et al., 2024). However, scholars note that not all groups benefit equally; for example, Australian women voiced concerns about how health apps and wearables sometimes fail to reflect their lived experiences, especially when navigating motherhood, chronic illness, or body image norms (Lupton, 2020). These diverse uses and challenges show that wearable tech has not only grown in function but also complexity, making communication about its benefits and limitations more important than ever.
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Communication and Social Wellness
“Fitness trackers allow users to easily share their fitness information with their family and friends… enabling sense-making and behavioral change.” (Cho & Tian, 2021)
Motivation and Behavior Change
“Those striving to facilitate a change in exercise behavior in young adults should leverage activities that align with their motives of interest and consider the use of wearable devices to track physical activity.”
(Hewitt et al., 2022)
Empowerment and Self-Monitoring
“Wearables can empower individuals by assisting with diagnosis, behavior change, and self-monitoring.” (Harjeevan, S. K. & Exworthy, M., 2022)
Wearables and Doctor Visits
Wearing health monitors can encourage patients to engage more actively in their healthcare by sharing data with their providers and initiating conversations. According to Loos and Davidson (2016), 40% of people who track their health with wearable devices have asked their doctors new questions or sought second opinions based on the data gathered. This suggests that wearables can enhance physician-patient communication by empowering patients to take a more informed role in their care.
Loos, J. R., & Davidson, E. J. (2016). Wearable Health Monitors and Physician-Patient Communication: The Physician’s Perspective. 2016 49th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), System Sciences (HICSS), 2016 49th Hawaii International Conference On, 3389–3399. https://doi.org/10.1109/HICSS.2016.422
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