This week’s Smart Health roundup features new data regarding smart health device adoption, a new smartwatch that incorporates the health perks of a fitness band, and a tech giant’s entrance in the health industry.

 .

Broadband users more likely to connect health devices

Parks Associates, Inc. conducted a study regarding the adoption of connected health devices in the U.S., revealing that nearly one-third of homes with broadband access own and use at least one connected health device such as a treadmill, electric bike, or elliptical that syncs data to a mobile app.

Parks predicts that by 2016, more than 32 percent of consumers will be using wearable health devices to track their fitness and health. One of the biggest drivers for wearable tech is its design and form factor, and Parks predicts that consumers will be looking for devices that fit their lifestyle while still being able to serve their purpose.

“Irrespective of actual form factor, today’s consumers, be they tech-savvy youth or aging boomers, would prefer their health and wellness devices project lifestyle statements about who they are, instead of serving as evidence of being sick or needing help,” Harry Wang, Parks Associates’ director of health and mobile product, said.

Garmin launches the Vivosmart

Garmin Inc. has released its new fitness band called Vivosmart. The device looks similar to the company’s first smartband called the Vivofit, but with a sleeker design. The Vivosmart doubles as a smartwatch and fitness tracker, displaying steps, calories, distance and time of day. It also delivers vibration alerts for calls, texts and emails from your smartphone.

The smartwatch/fitness band combo is easy enough to operate. Tap on the face of the band to wake it up, and navigate it with touch and swiping gestures. What’s different about Vivosmart and other fitness trackers is that it looks to motivate the wearer to move by giving inactivity alerts. Another unique feature of the Vivosmart band is its auto goals to continuously challenge the wearer.

The Vivosmart is available for $170 by itself, but bundle it with a heart rate monitor, and the package deal costs just $199.99.

Apple’s Health App

Apple Inc. unveiled two new iPhones and a smartwatch yesterday, as the Cupertino giant finally jumps on the health and fitness bandwagon with its own Health app.

The Health app was co-developed with the Mayo Clinic and it makes sense of all the health and fitness data gathered by other apps and devices. All the data will be easily accessible in a single app, and if a wearer has some serious food or medication allergies, or life threatening conditions that people should know about in case of emergencies, that information can be made available on the iDevices’ lock screens.

Image via Apple, Inc.