Imagine a world where everyone could easily and accurately monitor their health — right down to the daily minutiae — on a wearable gadget. The biggest concern, however, has been the reliability of the information received from these monitors. Usually, these health checkers are expected to be worn by the user most of the time, and any false readings could substantially affect the user's health data. This issue is potentially solved by a new invention patented under the number US20230284980A1.
The problem arises when the device is not placed correctly on the body as it results in improper readings leading to inaccuracies in data such as physical strain or the heart rate. It could be due to anything from the device slipping to the side to it being worn over a tattoo. If the wearable monitor — say for example, a Whoop Strap — isn't placed properly, it often fails to detect the placement issue and continues to provide data, which can prove problematic when tracking a user's health metrics.
The recent patent by Whoop titled "DETECTING POSITION OF A WEARABLE MONITOR" offers a solution to this issue. The innovation is built on the concept of using light from the device to check if the device is positioned properly on the user's body. It gauges the strength of light at two different points. By comparing the light intensity, it can confirm whether the device is properly positioned and ready to perform its function accurately. The specialty about this invention is that it smartly uses existing hardware features of the monitor, without the need to add any new external elements.
This could revolutionize how we use wearable monitors in our daily lives. For instance, a runner could track their health metrics accurately during their intense workout sessions, reducing the fear of reporting false metrics by the wearable. Emergency medical responders could also rely on this technology for immediate and accurate health data from patients. The clearer and more reliable the data, the timelier and more targeted the treatment could be.
As intriguing as this new patent sounds, it's important to remember that patents often take time to go from mere documentation to a fully-realized product in the market. These innovations are always subject to successful prototype testing, feasibility studies, and of course, market demand.
P.S: This article discusses a recent patent, which is a public document. Unlike products in the market, patents are protective rights over an idea or invention. As such, there is no absolute certainty that the referenced invention will be developed into a marketable product. The application of the invention in real-world scenarios is, at this time, speculative.