Performance-tracking wearables often function by observing heart rate or body temperature, but new cortisol-tracking wearables may be on the horizon. This new wave of wearables comes from a prototype developed by scientists at Stanford University. The decision to measure cortisol is not an entirely new concept in wearables but this new system offers the distinct advantage of immediate and accurate tracking.
Unlike other performance-tracking wearables, cortisol-tracking wearables have to overcome the obstacle of tracking a chargeless substance. To overcome this, the scientists at Standford created a membrane that binds only to cortisol and lets regularly charged molecules pass through. This allows the sensor to monitor cortisol-carrying molecules, rather than the cortisol itself. To actually track this substance, the sensor is able to pull it through user's sweat.
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What's Driving This Trend
- Cortisol-tracking Wearables
- Opportunity for wearable technology to accurately track cortisol levels in real-time.
- Real-time Performance Tracking
- Opportunity to develop wearables that provide immediate and accurate performance insights.
- Advanced Sensing Technology
- Opportunity to innovate sensors that can detect chargeless substances like cortisol.
Who This Affects Most
- Wearable Technology
- Wearable device manufacturers can explore the development of cortisol-tracking wearables with advanced sensing technology.
- Health and Wellness
- The health and wellness industry can benefit from real-time cortisol-tracking wearables to provide users with actionable insights for stress management.
- Sports and Fitness
- Sports and fitness companies can utilize cortisol-tracking wearables to optimize training programs and enhance performance.
