JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

We propose a categorization of smartwatch use in the healthcare sector into three key functional domains: monitoring, nudging, and predicting. Monitoring involves using smartwatches within medical treatments to track health data, nudging pertains to individual use for health purposes outside a particular medical setting, and predicting involves aggregated user data to train machine learning algorithms to predict health outcomes. Each domain offers unique contributions to healthcare, yet there is a lack of nuanced discussion in existing research. Our paper not only provides an overview of recent technological advancements in consumer smartwatches but also explores the three domains in detail, culminating in a comprehensive summary that anticipates the future value and impact of smartwatches in healthcare. By dissecting the interconnected challenges and potentials, we aim to enhance the understanding and effective deployment of smartwatches in value-based healthcare.