From unique wearables to high-tech pillows and a holistic garden, experts say wellness tech that will debut at CES 2021 showcases a broader trend in the industry that is moving towards personalizing our habits through technology. “Wellness tech is so important for this year and beyond because it allows us to more easily engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors that help prolong our lives without disease,” wrote Michael D. Ham, co-founder and COO of Pure365, in an email to Lifewire.
Wellness Wearables
While wearables are nothing new to the tech scene, wellness-centric wearables are becoming more popular, as seen in previews of products in CES 2021 this year. Experts say that wearables are useful in giving us our health data and health progress in real-time. “The other shift that goes along with [wellness technology] is a greater understanding of how individualized ‘wellness’ is,” wrote Sophie Welsman, associate director of research and consulting at The Sound, to Lifewire via email. “Tech that helps people gather and use data to personalize their wellness habits (whether that’s what to eat, how long to sleep, when or how to work out or how successful their meditation was) is going to play an ongoing role.” One of these wearables promises to be the “future of self-care.” Created by Feelmore Labs, Cove aims to decrease stress and anxiety (something many of us have been experiencing within the last year.) The device works by applying gentle vibrations behind the ears, enabling the natural biological path between the skin and brain to activate the part of the brain that regulates anxiety, leading to a profound sense of calm. Then there’s BLADE, created by the company SOUL, which dubs itself as a Fitbit for your ear. The device uses artificial intelligence to analyze your body motion to deliver real-time coaching advice, such as tips on running form, step width, and improving your overall performance while working out.
Back to the Basics
In a new year where we still have a lot of time on our hands, many are taking on new hobbies, such as gardening, to keep themselves busy and to reduce stress by engaging in something they enjoy. Experts say wellness not only encompasses physical health but reconnecting to the basics, such as nature. “I am excited for wellness tech that not only focuses on physical health but also helps us reconnect with our natural world through biophilic design principles (i.e., indoor gardens, art/imagery, soundscapes),” Ham wrote. “When we are able to connect to nature on a daily basis, it allows us to understand better where good health is derived from.” The first-ever fully automated indoor vertical produce growing system will debut at CES 2021. Gardyn uses a new kind of tech called hybriponic technology to provide access to fresh produce in our homes. Complete with an AI-based assistant app, the system can grow up to 30 plants simultaneously using integrated LED lighting and a six-gallon water reservoir that is fully autonomous for weeks without adding any water.
A Good Night’s Sleep
With all that in mind, sleep technology is huge at CES this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need seven or more hours of sleep per night for the best health and well-being. Many of us have probably had sleepless nights this past year, but tech companies featured at this year’s CES are trying to combat our collective lack of sleep. One such smart pillow is looking to solve the problem of restless sleepers by automatically adjusting its height to accommodate a person’s sleeping position as they sleep. The AirCozy Interactive Smart Pillow even has a solution for snorers: it can detect snoring and gently shake the pillow up and down to stop you from snoring while encouraging you to sleep on your side rather than your back. Want more? See all our coverage of CES 2021 right here.
