Application and analysis of sensor technology in smart devices

    There are many kinds of wearable devices on the market, all of which are closely related to sensor technology. Looking back at the development of human information technology, we have gone through the computer age and the communication age, and are now entering the "perception age". Sensor technology is developing rapidly, and the demand for wearable smart devices represented by smartphones is also exploding.

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    1. Introduction  to sensors in wearable smart devices

    1. Motion sensors

    Sports sensors include: gyroscopes, accelerometers, pressure sensors and magnetometers. They are mainly used in devices such as wristbands. Their overall main function is to complete sports monitoring, navigation and human-computer interaction in smart devices. By using sports sensors to record and analyze human activities anytime and anywhere, users can know their running steps, cycling distance, sleep time and energy consumption.

    2. Biosensors

    Biosensors include blood sugar sensors, blood pressure sensors, electrocardiogram sensors, temperature sensors, brain wave sensors, and electromyography sensors. They are mainly used in medical electronic equipment, such as the KangKang blood pressure monitor, etc., which use human body signals collected by biosensors and complete health warning and condition monitoring functions after signal processing. With the help of these medical smart devices, doctors can improve their diagnosis level, and family members can also communicate better with patients.

    3. Environmental Sensors

    Environmental sensors include temperature and humidity sensors, UV sensors, particulate matter sensors, gas sensors, pH sensors, air pressure sensors, etc., which can be used in PM2.5 portable detectors, AirWaves masks, portable personal comprehensive environmental monitoring terminals and other devices to complete environmental monitoring, weather forecasts and health reminders by testing environmental data.

    In fact, we are often in environments that are harmful to our health, such as air pollution, water pollution, light pollution, extreme climate, electromagnetic radiation, etc. What is more frightening is that we are often in such environments without knowing it and have not taken effective defensive measures, which will cause various chronic diseases over time. Therefore, environmental sensors have huge market development potential and application value.

    4. Alternative sensors

    Alternative sensors mainly refer to electronic skin, smart contact lenses and pH capsules. Electronic skin is a sensor embedded in a thin film thinner than the diameter of a human hair, and then placed in a polyester pad. It mainly monitors the patient's heart rate, body temperature, muscle activity, brain waves and other vital signs, and can also release heat to help wounds heal.

    2. Wearable smart devices for animals

    By fitting smart devices to animals, people can better understand the animals' intentions, making communication between humans and animals more convenient and managing animals more convenient.

    A dog pedometer can monitor the dog's exercise volume and manage its health. If the dog takes a lot of steps, it means the dog is in good health. Otherwise, it may indicate that the dog is sick and needs to be treated promptly.

    The avian flu monitor integrates an accelerometer, a thermistor and a wireless transmission module. Currently, the device is still in the promotion stage, but I believe that in the near future, the device will be seen everywhere in poultry farms.

    3. Analysis of the demand for wearable smart devices in the health field

    Health is closely related to genes, living habits and living environment. Genes are hereditary factors that we cannot change, but living habits and living environment can be changed. Wearable smart devices can monitor and remind users to escape from harmful environments or take corresponding defensive measures in harmful environments to improve human health and improve people's quality of life.

    Wearable devices have huge demand in China's healthcare sector:

    (1) China has gradually entered an aging society. The rising labor costs are the basis for the huge demand for wearable devices in China's health care field.

    (2) Due to the accelerated pace of life, people’s unhealthy lifestyles have led to younger people suffering from chronic diseases, resulting in a large demand.

    (3) China has a large population base and faces difficulties in accessing and seeing a doctor. This situation can be alleviated by using wearable devices to conduct personalized health management and reduce the number of visits to the doctor.

    (4) In recent years, China's environmental pollution has been serious, and environmentally friendly smart wearable devices have great development potential and practical significance.

    IV. Market Overview and Prospects

    Visiongain, a well-known international research organization, pointed out that the development of the wearable market in the next five years will lead to a new round of explosive growth for related technology companies, just like the development of smartphones and tablets in recent years, and the revenue prospects of these companies are also very optimistic. In addition to Google, Apple, and Samsung, Acer, Intel, Microsoft, and LG have all tried their hand in this field. By 2017, the annual sales of wearable smart devices will increase from 15 million to 70 million.

    Judging from the current development situation, the market is close to the tipping point. Emerging smart wearable devices provide users with more room for imagination, meet the user's "portability" needs, and are likely to become the next generation of mainstream electronic terminal products.

    V. Problems and Suggestions in Development

    If wearable devices want to enter a fast-developing channel, they need to solve the following three problems: (1) Battery miniaturization technology needs to be upgraded urgently. The process of information interaction is energy-intensive, and it is necessary to ensure that the device can work long enough on a single charge; (2) Application services must be innovative and practical, and provide a good user experience; (3) To meet users' expectations for smart wearable devices, functional applications must be highly consistent with users' general needs.

    VI. Conclusion

    Wearable smart devices include five modules: processor and memory, power supply, wireless communication, sensor, and actuator. Among them, the sensor is the innovative element in the five modules, which is the "core" of communication between people and objects, and opens the door to the "perception era". Thanks to the evolution of sensors, it is conducive to more accurate data monitoring and better use of monitoring equipment. In the future, as long as the innovation of sensor technology continues, I believe that the market capacity of wearable devices is inestimable.