The term ‘donning a wearable’ might strike unfamiliar to those yet to be acquainted with it. In essence, the term ‘wearable’ alludes to a device dedicated to health tracking, which maintains uninterrupted connectivity with your mobile device or web access, persistently monitoring your vital signs. Well-known gadgets such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Oura ring fit into this category. Their functionality extends all the way from direct to indirect evaluation of activities like your physical workouts, relaxation time, and alcohol consumption, besides nudging you to provide data on your eating habits and body weight.
In doing so, these gadgets gather a wealth of personal information, which is then transmitted to the internet. However, the implications of this technology stretch far beyond the mere realm of healthcare. The suggestion, for instance, from a high ranking official in the federal set-up that everyone should adopt health-tracking wearables raises the red flags of surveillance and privacy invasion. It draws an eerie parallel with the Orwellian concept of a constant watchful entity.
The proposed unending monitor of our heartbeats, daily steps, sleep patterns, body mass index, and exertion sends a powerful signal about the priorities dictated by society. It also influences, albeit subtly, the way we perceive our own self. It touches upon two widely observed cultural developments: the medicalization of every conceivable thing and the dogged quest for self-improvement.
A constant, personal stream of health data might resonate with advancement for some. But conversely, this continual monitor of one’s vitals mirrors the constant health observations of a long-term medical rehabilitation center.
The post Health Tracking: A Double-Edged Sword appeared first on Real News Now.
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