71% consumers to improve wellness through wearables: Report

NEW DELHI: About 71 percent of consumers today believe that a wearable device can improve their wellness and increase their life expectancy, said a report by telecom gear maker Ericsson.

The Ericsson Consumer Lab, ‘Living longer: wellness and the internet’ report said that smartphone owners today believe that quantifying and regulating stress will increase life expectancy by two years and gauging such behaviors starts with wearables.

Seventy one percent of consumers are equally as interested
in quantifying themselves as they are in wearables, quantification of behavior today starts with wearables. But people see a range of cloud-based services giving them the potential to live healthier and longer lives – whether the technology can be worn or not.

However, those who are very satisfied with their wellness need both style and function: 55 percent say product design is important, while 59 percent buy technology devices to fulfil specific needs.

With 62 percent interested in a microclimate monitor, wellness also entails understanding societal health hazards. Interest in wellness on a personal level may therefore inspire transformation on a societal level, the report said.

The report draws together data from several recent consumer surveys covering up to 49 countries.

Michael Björn, Head of Research at Ericsson ConsumerLab, says: “Those already satisfied with their wellness say they are the first to try new health approaches. Rather than typical tech adopters or those with health issues, we therefore see people who are satisfied with their wellness being early adopters of wellness technology. This group has very specific requirements related to cloud, privacy, design and functionality that they want to be fulfilled simultaneously. Fulfilling one or two of these simply won’t be enough.”

The report also shows that hopes for increased life expectancy even go beyond personal devices and services, making individual wellness a societal concern.

Björn says: “Consumers in cities facing bigger environmental challenges show higher interest in society-related health concepts, such as a bracelet that checks for smog, or a wearable that helps with eco-friendly commuting, and could potentially drive a faster pace of change. Interest in wellness on a personal level may therefore inspire transformation on a societal level.”