Last Updated | July 8, 2024
Wearable technology is revolutionizing the healthcare industry, enabling patients to take a more active role in managing their health. Wearable app development has become a crucial aspect of this transformation, allowing for the creation of innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare delivery. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of healthcare wearable app development for healthcare, covering key concepts, best practices, and emerging trends in this rapidly evolving field.
In this ultimate guide, we will explore the fundamentals of wearable app development, including design, development, data security, developing a medical app, and integration with healthcare systems. We will also examine wearable apps like fitness trackers, medical monitoring devices, and telemedicine platforms, discussing their benefits and challenges. By the end of this guide, readers will have a solid understanding of wearable device app development, and wearable app development for healthcare, empowering them to create transformative solutions that shape the future of healthcare.
What Are Wearable Apps and How Do They Differ From Mobile Apps?
Wearable apps are smart applications designed for smartwatches and fitness trackers. Their interface, features, and performance are designed for smaller screens and to leverage limited hardware compared to smartphones or tablets.
This table details the difference between wearable applications and mobile applications:
| Feature | Wearable App | Mobile App |
| Device Specificity | Specific wearable devices (watch, band, etc.) | Various phones and tablets |
| User Interaction | Limited due to small screen | More interaction through the touchscreen |
| Data Dependence | It relies on sensor data from wearable | Functions independently |
| Functionality | Specific (health, fitness) | Wide range (gaming, social media, etc.) |
| Connection | Often needs a smartphone connection | Functions on its own |
Key Wearable Platforms and Devices
The leading platforms for app development for wearable devices include the Apple Watch OS and Google WearOS. Due to their immense market share, a major chunk of wearable devices app development is centered around these platforms.
Apple Watch OS
The Apple Watch OS is exclusively for Apple Watches and supports the three latest watch generations. It is lauded for integrating various Apple devices and health and fitness features. The Watch OS app store has multiple applications and watch faces to improve the form and functionality of your wrist.
Google Wear OS
Google Wear OS is used by various manufacturers and uses the best of Google’s offerings. Users can access Google Assistant and Google Fit and receive wrist notifications. Smartwatches with Google Wear OS are compatible with various Android smartphones and aren’t bound to connect with the brand they’re from.
Top Use Cases for Wearable Apps
Smartwatches have been remarkably successful because they put a lot of functionality onto your wrist in a small form factor. Most of this is thanks to incredibly powerful wearable applications that complement and reduce smartphone usage. Here are different use cases where they do this:
1. Health and Fitness
Health and fitness applications are all the rave with wearable technology. These applications can track steps, distance, calories burned, heart rate, sleep quality, and other essential metrics. Since most smartwatches are worn all day, they track various metrics in various ways. The cost to build a fitness app is offset by the usability that your audience will get from it.
Smartwatches will track your heart rate throughout the day during rest, activity, in the heat and cold, and while eating or sleeping. For example, the Android Wear app displays this information in an easy-to-read and understandable format to map one’s health or share it with your doctor.
2. Healthcare
Wearable healthcare technology has become increasingly important in various healthcare use cases. For example, doctors use remote patient monitoring to monitor patients with diabetes or heart disease. In a medical emergency, the wearable immediately notifies the doctor, who can intervene.
The healthcare field has benefited the most from iOS and Android wearable technology because of the real-time, real-world information it provides. Healthcare professionals use this patient data to find symptoms or identify reasons for an illness.
3. Enterprise and Productivity
Wearable technology is prevalent in workplaces to improve productivity by allowing employees to have various controls on their wrists. For example, doctors can use smartwatches to receive notifications on patient conditions and respond accordingly. Additionally, factory workers can use smartwatches to receive instructions or access manuals.
Recently, wearables are also used for contactless payments to reduce reliance on cash and plastic. This makes it easier and quicker to pay for their goods and services.
4. Entertainment
Wearable technology is not limited to smartwatches and includes smart glasses, VR, and AR devices used to control music playback or workout progress. For example, AR glasses can combine the real and virtual worlds for immersive gaming experiences.
Recently, VR headsets have taken off, immersing users into otherworldly environments for an improved experience. With the Apple Vision Pro release, we will see a surge in wearable app development as more people purchase the device. After fitness, entertainment is the field that has worked the most on wearable apps.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Wearable App
With wearable technology at its peak in 2024, developing a winning wearable application with the right features and functionality. There are various components involved in proper wearable application development, as listed below:
Brainstorming and Market Validation
This stage requires you to brainstorm the application’s purpose and functions, keeping the target audience in mind. Ask yourself what problems you are solving, what needs you are satisfying, and which audience will benefit from your application.
Look at what the competition is talking about and whether similar applications exist. If not, try to fill a key market gap by researching audience needs, requirements, and preferences. Also, look into which wearables they’re using.
Design and User Experience (UX/UI)
App development wearable devices have to consider small screens required to display essential information with an intuitive design and work with limited input. The UI must be visually appealing and user-friendly to complement the smaller form factor. The right mix would be to display relevant information without needing the user to fiddle with the watch too much.
Be clear on wearable platform compatibility when deciding which wearable platform you want the application to run on. The two main platforms (Apple watchOS and Android Wear OS) have their own design and functionality guidelines.
Choosing the Right Tech Stack
The most popular programming languages for wearable app development are Swift for the Apple Watch App, Kotlin for Android wearable app development, and Java for various other platforms. The programming languages are combined with development tools unique to the platform e.g., Xcode for Apple watchOS or Android Studio for Wear OS.
Integrating APIs and SDKs from wearable platforms or third-party services will help improve wearables app development. An application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK) help add payment and fitness features among others.
Testing and Launch
The application needs to be tested in different scenarios on various wearable devices to find any bugs and ensure smooth app functionality. A group of users helps test the application while providing feedback before the launch to iron out any issues in development.
Additionally, the app listing needs to be optimized in the wearable app store to improve its discoverability. Use clear and concise product descriptions paired with screenshots of real-world use cases. Look at what other high-performing applications are doing and try to do the same thing.
Maintenance and Growth
Monitor user’s behavior and application performance with application analytics to gauge it’s performance. Combine this with community feedback, good and bad, to know what users have to say about your wearable application.
What Are the Biggest Challenges in Developing a Wearable App?
Despite powerful features and a large user base, a well-defined plan, and demand, wearable app development comes with its own set of challenges. The biggest wearable app development challenges include:
Limited Screen Real Estate
Wearables have small screens that can only show so much at a time. Designing wearable app interfaces that are informative, intuitive, and easy to navigate requires creativity. Additionally, the display must prioritize essential information.
User Input
Many wearable devices are only operable using buttons, voice, and touchscreen commands. Designing an interface around limited accessibility without compromising usability is essential. It should facilitate simple interactions despite the limited real estate.
Battery Life
Wearable devices are designed to be worn all day, requiring a long battery life (at least from morning to night). Wearable app developers must optimize their application’s code to optimize battery usage.
Platform Fragmentation
Apple watchOS and Google Wear OS each have their development requirements and guidelines, making the tech market fragmented. Picking the right platform will require you to learn and implement these guidelines, binding you to said platform. If you want to offer the app on another platform, it needs to be developed using said platform’s rules and requirements.
Data Privacy and Security
Wearable apps collect user health and location data all the time and developers must ensure data safety during development. Data breaches are the last thing that an application or platform wants because they damage trust and credibility.
The Future of Wearable Apps: Trends and Challenges
Wearable technology feels like the future because you have a small computer on your wrist capable of so much but this isn’t its final form. The future of wearable applications has various key trends to keep watch:
Augmented Reality (AR)
Wearables with AR can create immersive experiences that have never been seen before. Smart glasses can show turn-by-turn navigation over a real-world view, just like you see in the movies. We’ve seen this with virtual reality headsets but those cannot be worn and carried around everywhere.
Artificial Intelligence Integration
Wearable applications can use AI and become more intelligent, proactive, and effective. AI-powered wearable applications can automate various tasks and even offer personalized real-time suggestions. For example, An AI-powered sleep tracker could monitor sleep patterns and advise you on how to improve your sleep routine.
Chronic Disease Management
Healthcare wearable devices monitor patient data in real time, painting a vivid picture of user health in various scenarios. This allows healthcare providers to monitor patients with heart disease or diabetes and immediately stage an intervention in case something goes off-center.
Mental Health Applications
Wearable applications can track user stress and moods, suggest various mindfulness exercises, and help users get help in case of a mental health crisis. With so much importance on mental health nowadays, wearable applications will play a significant role in mental health management.
Smart Home Integration
Homeowners can use smart wearables to control various smart home devices such as smart lights, thermostats, locks, and even appliances. Users can operate or check on smart devices using their watch or giving it a voice command.
Real-World Examples of Thriving Wearable Apps
There are various wearable applications available that are changing their user’s lives. The most successful examples include:
- For health and fitness: Apple Fitness+, Samsung Health, Fitbit
- For payments: Apple Pay, Google Pay
Why Choose Folio3 Digital Health, Your Wearable App Development Partner
Are you looking to create your own fitness application? Or Integrate it with a wearable development platform. Maybe you want to develop an Android watch app from scratch?
At Folio3, we have a team of wearable technology developers with extensive experience in smart watch app development. They can help clients from ideation to deployment to maintenance and updates. Every Folio3 digital health product uses the latest HL7 interoperability standards and is HIPAA-compliant.
Conclusion
Wearable app development for healthcare can revolutionize how patients manage their health and interact with healthcare providers. By understanding the principles and practices of wearable app development, developers can create innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes, streamline healthcare delivery, and enhance the overall healthcare experience.
As the healthcare industry evolves, wearable technology and mobile applications will play an increasingly important role in shaping its future. This ultimate guide has provided a comprehensive overview of wearable app development for healthcare, equipping readers with the knowledge and skills necessary to create transformative solutions that improve patient care and drive healthcare innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Wearable App?
The development cost of a wearable app varies based on several factors like complexity of the app, the features it includes, the design requirements, and the development time. The average cost of the app with basic features ranges between $10,000 to $100,000. Additional considerations such as ongoing maintenance, updates, and support also influence the overall cost. The cost to develop a wearable app ranges from $10,000 to $100,000.
Do I Need a Separate App for My Wearable Device and Smartphone?
Certain wearable applications are standalone applications but others require a companion application on your phone.
How Long Does It Take to Develop a Wearable App?
The development lifecycle depends on features and complexity. Simple wearable applications take 3 to 6 months while more complex applications take up to a year.
How Can I Ensure My Wearable App Is Secure and Protects User Data?
Using secure coding practices, strong encryption, and data collection transparency, along with compliance with regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and PIPEDA, is essential to ensure your wearable app is secure and protects user data.
About the Author
Ahmed Sufyan Samee
Ahmed Sufyan Samee is a seasoned digital marketer with 3+ years of experience. Specializing in SEO, he excels in optimizing online content and managing display campaigns. His expertise extends to YouTube SEO, enhancing brand visibility and engagement. Ahmed is known for his strategic approach, leveraging PPC and SEO to drive measurable results. Committed to staying ahead in the dynamic digital landscape.
