Introduction
For many people, the use of wearables is a necessity, but the tendency of wearing these technologies can also be associated with their promotion in media. In the article titled “When Your Health Depends on a Wearable,” Greene (2020) discusses the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing a wearable. Although wearables are usually regarded as an effective method to address the needs of chronically ill patients and improve the health status of the majority of people, there are still many weaknesses in applying them.
Article Summary
In the article, the author develops the argument that the popularity of wearables can be not highly correlated with their efficiency. Greene (2020) claims that not all wearables are equally effective for people although their functions seem to be similar. To be efficient for chronically ill patients, the technologies need to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Furthermore, the experience of using wearables when the health and life can depend on them is not always positive. The problem is that, in many cases, popular wearables are not medical devices to be used efficiently (Greene, 2020). On the one hand, wearable devices are obligatory for some individuals, on the other hand, they feel dependent on these gadgets.
In addition, there are also risks associated with privacy and collecting data used in wearables and related applications. The collected data can be utilized inappropriately by companies who gather and own them because this information is a source for potential profits. According to Greene (2020), in most cases, the collected data are depersonalized, but the fact of gathering this information is rather threatening because of implications for future use. Therefore, the author discusses the experience of applying wearables from several perspectives.
Analysis and Critique
The purpose of the discussed article is to analyze the usefulness of wearables from the perspective of its user concerning examining the advantages and disadvantages of these tools. The intended audience includes patients, who need to use these wearables for controlling their body functioning, and people interested in their health. In her article, Greene (2020) discusses popular types of wearables, such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, Embrace 2, and pedometers, which are both medical and non-medical. The author directly accentuates the difference in functions between medical devices and other wearables referring to experts’ views. This approach allows for emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of tools for people with different conditions and goals of using these gadgets.
However, highlighting potential threats of using wearables, the author does not discuss their contribution to patients’ health in much detail, and it is assumed that readers know about the purpose of wearables. In the article, much attention is paid to analyzing the potential effects of this technology on the future and life experiences of patients. Many businesses can be interested in developing wearables and applications, but not all of them can be regarded as medical devices or beneficial for health (Greene, 2020). Still, despite some weaknesses, the potential benefits for producers and users of wearables are significant because of the possibilities for monitoring body functioning. Therefore, the topic of using wearables is related to discussing the approaches of improving the quality of life in individuals with chronic conditions.
Conclusion
The article on wearables written by Linnie Greene can be regarded as providing an effective argument. The author logically presents her ideas on the strengths and weaknesses of these devices referring to her own experience and the experience of other people. Additionally, she supports her argument concerning the researchers’ and experts’ views and opinions cited in the article. As a result, the provided argumentation can be discussed as complete and convincing, as well as offering important ideas for the sphere of technological innovation in medicine.
Reference
Greene, L. (2020). When your health depends on a wearable. Fast Company. Web.