Scroll through the data collected by the typical smart wearable — including fitness trackers, smartwatches and smart rings — and you’ll see much more than your number of steps or calories burned. Many devices also estimate heart rate variability, time spent in deep sleep and other data.
However, not all this information is accurate. Nor is it all helpful, says Thom Rieck, an exercise specialist at Mayo Clinic who has collaborated on several studies about smart wearable technology. According to Rieck, the most useful and trustworthy smart features tend to be the easiest ones to understand and use.
Nearly all smart wearables do a decent job tracking daily steps, says Rieck. This includes a smartphone as well as an average $15 pedometer. These trackers also can motivate you to move more.
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