Peter Bowen On How We Can Improve Wearable Technology Through Open Source Development

Peter Bowen loves his Apple watch. Like many people, he uses it as a convenient way to stay on top of communication while on the go. He also uses it as an alternate key for his vehicle, reducing how much he has to carry with him. However, one of Peter’s favorite uses is as a fitness tracker.

There are many types of wearable technology with the potential for many applications other than fitness. However, he feels some limitations could be easily resolved to allow the technology to reach its potential. Peter Bowen views technical difficulties such as sync issues with different apps and operating system tethering as some of the obstacles limiting its capabilities. In this post, he’ll discuss how open source development is the key to the future of wearable technology.

Wearable Technology Gives Users More Control of Their Fitness

Wearable technology is 2022’s top fitness trend. It isn’t a new concept, but after living through a pandemic, people want to have more insight into their health and take a more proactive role in their fitness. Devices from Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, and Apple, among many other newcomers to the market, have given consumers insight into their activity, heart rate, body temperature, and heart rate variability. They put the term “getting in my steps” into our everyday vernacular.

Wearable Technology Is Revolutionizing Healthcare

Wearable technology isn’t just for fitness. Peter Bowen is excited to see how we can take a more active role in our healthcare outside of medical practices, rehab facilities, and hospitals. It has a critical role in the future of healthcare. The pandemic highlighted the need for a change in how we administer care to those facing health challenges, particularly those who are immunocompromised or of limited mobility. SMART wearable technology helps medical professionals remotely monitor patients in various settings, which is vital for providing more comprehensive telehealth and “at home” care capabilities.

How Open Source Development for Wearables Can Improve the Technology

Peter Bowen’s vision for wearable technology is to make development easier through open-source code. There are many challenges in this space, such as interoperability with IoT, sensing capabilities, operating capacity in limited space, battery technology, energy harvesting, and data collection and transmission quality. The Open Wearables Initiative or OWEAR promotes the open sharing of algorithms and data sets. Making the code available on a wide scale will help developers refine and expand the sensing capabilities of wearables, ingestibles, and various in-home technologies, allowing clinicians to more accurately and objectively monitor health in real-time.

Peter Bowen Bio

Peter Bowen is the Chief Administrative Officer of Dirks Companies. He formerly served in the pioneering role of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Business & External Services (OBES) for the City of New Orleans. Peter obtained a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Guelph. He leverages his education and background in hospitality business practices in the development of innovative strategies that drive improved efficiency, innovation, and profitability for many large-scale businesses.