Consumer wearables, Apple Watch and Fitbit chief among, have generated a lot of buzz, but the expectation that these devices will become an integral part in improving people's health may not be met as quickly as hoped.
A Forbes article argues Apple Watch will not garner the widespread adoption that iPhones have achieved. Additionally, the Apple Watch is multifaceted; health tracking is just one function of many. Consumers could easily be more interested in checking their wrists for a text message than the latest data on their health.
On the other hand, the Forbes article gives a nod to Fitbit for being geared entirely toward health. Yet, a significant number of users (39 percent) who bought a Fitbit in 2014 did not use the product within the last three months of the year, according to the report. Considering the drop-off in use after purchasing the device, the article argues the wearables company is overvalued.
Consumer wearables will live up to their hype when the data recorded is used in the larger context of healthcare to drive behavioral changes, according to the report.