Wearable tech is no passing fad. Devices are available today that manage time, track health and fitness and help with a range of business needs. As an entrepreneur, open to new business opportunities, you may wonder about tapping into the money possibilities in selling these devices or developing related apps.

Most definitely a game changer like wearable technology has wide range of lucrative potential in the marketplace. But don’t just focus on commercial possibilities. If you do, you are missing one of the most important ways these advanced devices can make you money.

As an entrepreneur, always checking out the next business opportunity, you live a pressure-filled, complex life. Do you need more energy in your day? Wonder where you time went? How is your health? Are you having trouble sticking to a fitness plan? Are you worried about being out of touch with your network?

Time, money, health and communication are the building blocks of your day. Wearable tech can help you make the most of each. Here’s a look at several devices you might want to consider.

What Makes Wearable Tech Work?

Wearables marry the benefits of wireless technology and computing with the ability to carry them as clothing, accessories and even jewelry. The desire for take-along tech isn’t new.

Even back in the 1970s, wristwatches with tiny buttons to make calculations were available. With the continuing miniaturization of technology, the possibilities have increased exponentially.

Even before that, gamblers were explored the use of wearables to help them cheat the house at roulette and blackjack. Making a major impact, digital hearing aids were introduced in the 1980s. Revolutionizing workouts, runners have been using training watches since the early 2000s.

What Can Wearables Do for You?

Here are four ways that wearable technology can streamline your day and keep you feeling in peak condition.

Exercise. The human body needs exercise. Consistent physical activity results in more energy and better health. It evens out mood swings and makes it easier to focus.

Devices like the Fitbit line of fitness trackers can tell you during the day at a glance how you are doing with your training plan. Other popular models include Garmin and Misfit.

These devices have a wide range of features, including:

• Tell you where you’ve walked.
• Tell you how far you’ve walked.
• Tell you your heart rate and level of exertion.
• Tell you approximately how many calories you have burned.
• Tell you how many floors you have climbed at the office.
• Give you a summary of active minutes during the day.
• Tell you how much you toss and turn at night in bed.
• Track deep sleep minutes.
• Tell the time.
• Give you reminders.
• Sync with your computer.

Health. The Fitbit will tell you how your body is responding to activity. But wearables can go far beyond that with health data. Here is a short list of new devices, already on the market, to help with specific health problems.

• Asthma Monitoring and Management, to help sufferers treat their symptoms effectively
• Valedo Back Therapy, which attaches to a person’s back. The smart sensors collects data and suggests proper exercises to fit specific problems.
• Quell Relief, which is both a knee brace and a sensor that keeps track of how your sore knee is doing.
• HealthPatch MD, which tells doctors how a patient is doing by tracking heart rate, temperature, steps, breathing and body position.
• Helius, which perhaps is not a wearable because you swallow it like a pill. It tells doctors if a patient is taking his medicine at the right time and how he is responding to it.
• Smart Stop, a watch-like device that helps smokers stop the unhealthy habit.

Time management. Smart watches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear S2 tells the time and get alarms, but you can do that with almost any watch today. What it also can do includes:

• Get directions.
• Connect you to your phone from a long distance.
• Use voice activation for many processes.
• Let you connect with your online calendar.
• Let you send messages or talk to people.
• Keep you entertained with music and books.
• Lets you shop on the go.
• You can respond immediately to messages.

Stay in touch. Wearable technology means you are always in communication. This has upsides and downsides, but since most entrepreneurs thrive on connections, it is one of the most important functions of the new technology.

Wearables let you talk and message individuals on the go. You can check the internet and your online business data whenever you have the need. It’s like having the internet on your wrist. You can shop, check statistics for your website, find out how your marketing campaign is doing, all as you step through your day.

Using wearables for your own personal use has a multitude of benefits and new opportunties for the entrepreneur, whether it is for health, networking or managing your time. All of this makes an immediate and essential contribution to your profitability.

SOURCES:

Fitbit.com

Garmin.com

MisFit.com

Bankrate.com