The world of wearables has changed dramatically since the first wearables were introduced in the early 1980s.
Polar Electro, a pioneer of sports wearables, began proving wearable heart rate solutions for customers as far back in 1983.
Dr. Jyrki Schroderus, director of research & technology for Polar Electro, noted that in 1983, the first wearable looked like a wristwatch, and also in the 1980s, there were chest straps for swimming. By the 2000s, Polar started making apparel and web services, and in the 2010s, mobile connectivity was included.
“In the past, sports testing was done with huge equipment,” Dr. Schroderus said. “We found that we could get freedom with wearables – biosensors, wireless connectivity, and wearable user interface.”
Dr. Schroderus observed that there have been huge changes in the technology through the decades, adding that flexible and printed electronics can take wearable technology further than anyone imagined three decades ago.
One of the key advantages o
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