Category: Gadgets

Bio Processor chip from Samsung leaves current tracking limits behind

| January 4, 2016

This could help to change the expectations that consumers can have from wearable technology.

Among the most popular uses for wearable technology at the moment is health tracking but despite the fact that it currently has its limitations, Samsung is hoping to change those restrictions using its new Bio Processor chip technology.

The current generation of wearables is limited to tracking functions such as heart rate, breathing, steps, and similar.

That said, with technology such as the Bio Processor chip, the plan is the bring the next generation of wearables up to an entirely new level of options for users. This will include a range of new options for health monitoring so that users can keep track of their vital signs in real-time. This will be possible only with new and improved sensors, such as those under development by Samsung, among others.

The Bio Processor chip is meant to have a range of additional benefits over what is currently available.

According to a recent announcement from Samsung, this chip will be able to collect a notably broader spectrum of health sensor data through improved built-in memory, power management, a digital signal processor and its micro-controller. What is considered to be exceptionally appealing about this new technology is that it can use the sensors to measure the data that is collected without having to rely on any other types of processors. This chip provides everything it needs to be self sufficient to that degree.

So far, this tiny little processor has been compared to heart rate monitoring chips that have been previously released. However, Samsung has differentiated itself by integrating sensors to measure additional functions as well. For instance, it is integrated with sensors that will measure skeletal muscle mass, body fat levels, heart rhythm, heart rate, skin temperature and even the individual’s skin temperatures.

Samsung’s Bio Processor chip is already in mass production and it is anticipated that this technology will start to be incorporated into devices as early as the first half of 2016. It will be interesting to see how rival companies respond to this new and advanced range of wearable technology tracking options.

The FDA sees potential in wearable technology use

| December 28, 2015

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking at a new wave of wearables that can monitor serious illnesses.

While fitness trackers such as the popular Fitbit and Jawbone gadgets, there is a new form of wearable technology making its way into the marketplace and in this case, it will be necessary for FDA approval to be issued in order to be able to sell them in the United States.

That said, the FDA is looking forward to the opportunity to find certain wearables that work for medical purposes.

The first waves of these wearable technology devices are going to be heading to market soon, after extensive time in the lab in which they have been developed and extensively tested in order to meet the requirements of the FDA. These gadgets have been created in order to detect, monitor and track serious diseases in their wearers. This could help to enhance and broaden access to high quality health care and could create a new industry worth tens of billions of dollars.

This new wearable technology business opportunity could be very helpful for patients with diabetes, epilepsy and other illnesses.

Wearable Technology - FDAThe FDA is already getting itself ready to handle the anticipated influx of mobile health gadgets that are hoping to be released pending its approval. According to the associate director for digital health with the agency, Bakul Patel, the FDA is already in the process of reviewing three new applications for senior health scientist positions that will have a focus on that specific category.

Despite the fact that the FDA has been called a barrier to innovation by certain entrepreneurs in the tech industry, the agency is hoping to alter that reputation and to become an important partner in the effort to ensure that devices can be developed that will be genuinely helpful in improving the health and quality of life of medical patients. It is also keen to encourage health insurance companies to start covering devices that receive official approval.

After all, patients, doctors, insurance companies and tech developers, alike, want to know that there is actual clinical benefit to a wearable technology device before it is released to market along with a slew of promises.