This week’s Smart Health roundup features a report on the future of wearable tech, wire-free smart earphones to help you reach your fitness goal, and biometric company that’s flush with new funding and patents.

Wearable tech data to significantly increase in coming years

Cisco has released its Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast 2013 – 2018 report, showing key predictions as to how much wearable technology will impact mobile networks.  According to the report, there will be 177 million wearable devices by 2018, a significant increase from the 22 million wearable devices in 2013.

Because of this growth, it is expected that traffic from wearable devices will account for 0.4 percent of total mobile data by 2018, an increase of 0.3 percent from the mobile data traffic on 2013.  On average, traffic per wearable device is expected to grow from 78MB in 2013 to 345MB in 2018.  But surprisingly, the report predicts that only 13 percent of wearables will have embedded cellular connectivity by 2018.

The report also predicted that North America will still lead in the wearable market with a 42 percent share in 2013 going to 34 percent by 2018.  Other regions are also expected to see a growth in wearable tech market use with Western Europe seeing an increase from 25 percent share to 26 percent from 2013 to 2018 and Asia Pacific with 21 percent share in 2013 to 25 percent by 2018.

“The wearables category will have a tangible impact on mobile traffic, because even without embedded cellular connectivity, they can connect to mobile networks through smartphones. Globally, traffic from wearables will account for 0.5 percent of smartphone traffic by 2018.Globally, traffic from wearable devices will grow 36-fold from 2013 to 61 petabytes per month by 2018. Globally, traffic from wearable devices will account for 0.4 percent of total mobile data traffic by 2018, compared to 0.1 percent at the end of 2013,” the report stated.

Free Wavz helps people stay mobile and fit

How many times have you had to stop your daily run because your earphones fell out, caught in your swinging arms?

Now there is a new, smart headset called Free Wavz.  Designed by Doctor Eric Hensen, an ear, nose & throat specialist, Free Wavz is completely wireless but snugly fits in your ear so as not to fall out, even during rigorous routines.  Users can choose to immerse themselves in music or still hear their surrounding environment, which is important when you’re doing your routine outside amongst traffic and pedestrians.

Aside from being free of wires, Free Wavz also features a pulse oximeter and a three-axis accelerometer which means it also doubles as a fitness tracker.

What makes Free Wavz stand out from other monitoring devices is that you don’t need a separate device, like your phone, to know your real-time stats.  The wearer just pushes a button on the wireless earphones and their real-time fitness readings will be delivered right in their ear.

Free Wavz is also sweat and water resistant, has independent left and right volume and equalizer control, connects to players or phone via Bluetooth and more.

Free Wavz is currently on Kickstarter with a funding goal of $300,000.

Valencell gets funding and approved patent

Valencell, a company that develops performance biometric data sensors, recently secured a $7 million Series C funding round, which will support the increasing market demand, further technological development, sales and marketing of its PerformTek-powered biometric sensors that measure real-time heart rate and activity continuously on anyone, doing anything.

The funding was led by the WSJ Joshua Fund with the participation of TDF Ventures, True Ventures and Best Buy Capital.  The company also announced that Michael Dering is its new CEO who recently served as the President and CEO of ServiceBench, Inc.

Valencell was also granted two critical patents related to the accuracy for next-generation performance biometric data sensors.

“We say our patents are critical, because without our inventions, accurately measuring biometrics during exercise with audio earbuds and other wearables would not be feasible. Our optomechanical technology enables the most accurate optical measurement of biometric data, in any form factor, in any environment, and during all levels of activity – even strenuous exercise,” said Dr. Steven LeBoeuf, President of Valencell.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,702,607, “Targeted advertising systems and methods,” relates to systems and methods for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors with wearable devices and presenting advertisements based on health assessments. This patented technology enables the ability to provide ads to people who may not even be aware that they are at a health risk.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,700,111, “Light-guiding devices and monitoring devices incorporating same,” relates to monitoring devices comprised of light guides embedded within earbuds. This patented technology enables accurate optical monitoring of biometric information even during intense exercise.

Aside from developing biometric sensors, Valencell also licenses its patents to consumer electronics manufacturers which means the addition of these two critical patents will also be beneficial for manufacturers of wearable devices.  Valencell now owns a total of 14 critical patents with 45 pending patents.

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc