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Stay up to date with WRAL’s Smart watch news and reporting coverage

Smart watch News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

Smart watch Coverage

More than a quarter of the US population wore a smartwatch or other connected device used for health and fitness tacking in 2023, according to Insider Intelligence/eMarketer. 

Should I use a smartwatch to track my health data? A doctor explains

Smartwatch, FitBit, Apple Watch

It sends texts, delivers notifications, and reminds you to get up and move around, but can a smart watch save your life? A local woman says it sure can, after her Apple Watch alerted her to a dire medical situation.

'It saved my life:' Apple Watch alerts UNC student to alarming heart rate

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Once the stuff of science fiction, health tracking now comes in your watch.

<p>This really did save my life, saved by her smart watch in the middle of the night. It could rescue you, too, with the push of a button, I'll show you how five on your side tonight at six.</p>

New smartwatch features can literally save a life

Smart watches and fitness trackers to consider to help get back in shape 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 1 million smartwatches sold across the country.



FitBit recalls 1 million Ionic smart watches sold in the US due to burn hazard

Duke University researchers are recruiting }participants in a study aimed at detecting the earliest signs of COVID-19 infection in different communities. The Duke study is focused on data collection from wearable biometric devices -- like a smart watch -- or smartphones owned by study participants.

GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON SUNDAY FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, KAT. >>> DUKE RESEARCHERS WANT YOU TO HELP THEM DETECT EARLY SIGNS OF COVID-19 INFECTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY. >> THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE FUTURE OUTBREAKS . WRAL'S KEN SMITH EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: MILLIONS OF COVID- 19 CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AROUND THE WORLD . RESEARCHERS HOPE TO GET AHEAD OF THE NEXT VIRAL THREAT BUT HOW?  BUT WE ARE TRYING TO AND WHAT A SIGNAL OF A COVID-19 INFECTION  LOOKS LIKE. >> Reporter: PARTICIPANT DATA IS COLLECTED THROUGH A HEALTH TRACKER . >> THE HOPE WOULD BE IN THE FUTURE IT COULD BE ABLE TO SEND PEOPLE INDICATORS OF ILLNESS. >> Reporter: EARLY WARNINGS MIGHT LIMIT  THE SPREAD OF INFECTION. >> THEY SENT ME THIS THAT I'VE BEEN WEARING. IT TRACKS BLOOD OXYGEN LEVELS AND HEART RATE. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I DO IS I GET AN EMAIL EVERY DAY WITH A SHORT SURVEY. >> Reporter: IT HAS  ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION REMOVED. THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO JOIN. >> IF SEVEN ALREADY OWNS A SMARTWATCH, THAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO PARTICIPATE. >> Reporter: HE THINKS ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN USED TWO YEARS AGO. >> WE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST NOVEL VIRUS

Duke study hopes new research will help show early signs of COVID infection

Duke researchers are recruiting participants in a study aimed at detecting the earliest signs of COVID-19 infection in different communities. The goal of their study is to help reduce the spread of infection in future outbreaks.

Duke researchers using smart watches to detect early signs of COVID-19 infection 

For those wanting to get into shape, Consumer Reports has recommendations for smart watches and fitness trackers that can help.

PADS AND SHIN GUARDS AND A WATCH. >>> 2020 BROUGHT A LOT OF THINGS INCLUDING SOME EXTRA POUNDS FOR MANY OF US. WE ARE LOOKING AT TECH HEALTH IN OUR FIGHT TO GET BACK ON TRACK IN THE NEW YEAR. >> Reporter: IT TURNS OUT MORE THAN A THIRD OF US GAINED WEIGHT WHILE ON LOCKDOWN. I AM ONE OF THE MANY TRYING TO LOSE THAT. CAN A SMART WATCH OR A FITNESS TRACKER HELP? AND, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? RUNNING, WALKING, BIKING, WE JUST NEED TO GET OUT AND MOVE. IT CAN HELP YOUR MOOD AND YOUR WEIGHT. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY IS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP HOUSE AND CHECK. >> Reporter: CONSUMER REPORTS TESTED DOZENS OF SMART WATCHES AND FITNESS TRACKERS. ACCOUNT STEPS, CHECK YOUR HEART RATE CONTRACT YOUR SLEEP AND REMIND YOU TO KEEP MOVING. SMART WATCHES GO A STEP FURTHER, SIMILAR TO A SMART PHONE. DAILY PAPER COFFEE, CHECK SCORES ONLINE AND EVEN READ AN EMAIL. THE APPLE WATCH HAS LONG DOMINATED THE RATINGS. IT IS EASY TO PAIR WITH YOUR iPHONE AND, A HEART RATE MONITOR IS ACCURATE. THE NEW SERIES 6 IS NO DIFFERENT. IT IS EXPENSIVE. FOR A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION, CONSIDER THE APPLE WATCH SE WHICH IS NEAR THE TOP OF THE RATINGS. ARE YOU AN ANDROID PERSON? THE SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 3 IS A GREAT OPTION BUT, ALSO EXPENSIVE. IF YOU DON'T NEED THE EXTRAS, A FITNESS TRACKER MAY BE THE WAY TO GO. THIS ONE IS TOP RATED. SO IS THE FIT BIT CHARGE 3. IT IS EASY TO USE WITH IPHONES AND ANDROID. NO MATTER WHICH YOU PREFER, LIKE A GYM MEMBERSHIP IT ONLY HELPS IF YOU ACTUALLY USE IT. THIS YEAR, APPLE WATCH IS STREAMING A FITNESS SUBSCRIPTION. IT OFFERS ON-DEMAND WORKOUTS AND CAN BE STREAMED ACROSS APPLE DEVICES.

Duke researchers now hope to detect early signs of COVID-19 even before symptoms appear by using smart watches and other wearable fitness devices already used by one in five Americans.

Duke researchers using wearable smart devices to control virus spread

Duke researchers using wearable 'smart' devices to control virus spread

Think about germs on your wristwatch?

If you still wear an analog watch, this may be the year you finally trade in for a smartwatch or fitness tracker.

Smart watch or fitness tracker: 5 On Your Side helps you decide

That New Apple Watch EKG Feature? There Are More Downs Than Ups

A Cary woman has created a smart watch that she believes can help protect young women--especially those heading off to college. It's called the "Guardian Band." It does everything a smart watch does, but it has an added feature that allows you to instantly stream video, audio and your location to a group of people you choose with the touch of a button.