Just a few years ago, the world was introduced to wearable technology – bracelets, smartphone apps, and more that all help to keep track of one's physical fitness levels. Since we first started wearing them, in approximately 2006, they've been an easy, accurate way to see how much exercise you've gotten on any given day. Besides, fitness trackers help busy people stay in better health. It's a constant reminder to keep your routine in check vs. letting yourself off of the hook when you don't feel like exercising.

However, before there was wearable tech, the closest thing we had to following our daily movements was a pedometer – a step counter that worked by counting each time it was physically moved. Gym equipment also guestimated the amount of calories burned based on your height and weight, then by how long you worked out on a specific machine.

Then came the age of the FitBit, fitness apps, and more that are still evolving today.

What Can They Do?

Depending on how detailed of a device or program you invest in, these items vary in what they have to offer. Some only track steps and distance, maybe even the time you spent moving. Others will get more in depth and look into your sleep cycle, level of activity (rating it from mild, to cardio, and so on), heart rate, breathing patterns, and more. Or, opt to track your meals and include calorie and nutrition for an even more detailed version of your daily habits.

Essentially, the program can be tailored to your wants and needs. Those who have doctor orders can have an easier way to stay on task. While those who are simply concerned about their activity level can stay updated as desired.

What's more important, however, is how you use the provided information, not necessarily what's learned. By keeping consistent track of your habits, users can learn if they're getting enough activity in, what needs to be adjusted, and so on.

How Fitness Tracking is Changing

With a sudden growth in popularity, brands have been constantly looking for new ways to update and improve their fitness tracking efforts. For instance, there are now watches that have their own tracking software built right in. These even go as far as to record one's pulse and breathing patterns, while similar app versions require one to wear a heart monitor in order to follow the same stats. The overall goal is to offer up more capabilities, while requiring the user to wear fewer pieces of tech.

Apple is even taking that notion further with their latest health-based announcement: the introduction of CareKit. It's an up and coming software program that will help other developers make their very own fitness tracking applications. Including those that follow medications, which has been a growing need among the public.

However, the software will even go a step further by helping out the entire medical community. Its goal is to use various tracking software for medical research. By obtaining more information from more people – of all ages, races, locations, etc. – researchers can have a better selection of data when looking toward cures, helpful medicines, or any other home for bulk data. All found from the apps we already use.

Whether you're heavily into this type of apps/tech or are just branching out, there's no denying that the industry has come a long way. And will continue to do so as software evolves.

Check back in for ongoing updates, or consider branching out with your wearable technology for an even more accurate way to track your daily habits and health.

[ArsTechina.com]