HRS and CTA Release Consumer Guidance for Wearable Devices
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) have released new guidance for wearable health solutions for consumers.
The first part of the guidance document consisted of survey data from consumers who use wearable devices. Some of the survey findings include:
- Consumers want to buy fitness monitors (55%), smartwatches (46%), and wrist sensors (25%).
- Pedometers, activity-tracking bands, and smartwatches were among the most popular wearables.
- Most respondents want to be able to monitor their blood pressure using wearables (55%).
The next part of the document explained how tracking daily activity if beneficial for the consumer, the consumer’s loved ones, and the consumer’s health care team. It also outlined the types of data collection from wearables.
Because data privacy can be a large issue with wearables, the guidance also highlights how wearable technology would be regulated:
“As wearable technology becomes integrated with our personal health, innovation meets regulation. Several federal agencies play a role in regulating wearable technologies. These include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), HHS Office of Civil Rights, Federal Communications Commission, and Federal Trade Commission,” the guidance authors wrote.
The guidance document also included the “Pros and Cons of Wearable Tech” and frequently asked questions about wearable technology and heart health.
—Amanda Balbi
Reference:
- CTA, HRS Unveil Recommendations for Managing Health With Wearables at CES 2020 [press release]. Las Vegas, NV: Heart Rhythm Society; January 9, 2020. https://www.hrsonline.org/CTA-HRS. Accessed January 9, 2020.