Health Tech Wonders: How Devices Monitor Our Lives Today
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Chapter 1: A New Era of Health Monitoring
In the realm of personal health monitoring, I find myself accompanied by a Bodyguardian Mini Plus, graciously provided by Boston Scientific’s Preventice Services and my cardiologist from Kaiser. This compact device, attached to my chest, tirelessly tracks and transmits every minute detail of my heart's activity. It’s truly remarkable how far we've come; the traditional stethoscope feels outdated in comparison.
With the rise of fitness trackers and smartwatches, many of us have a better understanding of our heart rates. A quick online search reveals that over 40 million individuals are now using heart-tracking devices, showcasing the significant impact of technology on personal health.
While I can easily check my heartbeat through my Apple Watch—an impressive gadget that even alerts emergency services if I fall—my cardiologist believes that the Bodyguardian may provide more comprehensive insights.
Section 1.1: The Pervasiveness of Medical Devices
It’s astonishing to consider the wide array of functions that modern medical technology can perform with small, often inconspicuous devices. For instance, consider the prevalence of pacemakers; approximately three million Americans live with these devices. When I inquired with two friends who have pacemakers about their thoughts on these devices, one simply shrugged, “Not really, except when I see news about climate change and feel thankful I have the option to disconnect myself before everything goes haywire.”
Section 1.2: Living with the Mini Plus
Personally, I often forget about my Mini Plus. It withstands hot baths, and since San Francisco's cool climate keeps me bundled up in turtlenecks, I rarely remember that it's diligently working on my behalf. I even reached out to Boston Scientific for permission to use a photo of a young woman enjoying the surf with her Mini Plus, but I’m not risking copyright issues while waiting for a response.
However, this device does require regular charging. The other morning, I was perplexed by a persistent high-pitched sound echoing throughout my building's seventh floor. After unsuccessfully trying to locate the source, I enlisted the help of Leo, our maintenance man. He patiently scoured the area while I stood by the elevators, insisting I had no earbuds or anything similar.
Despite being quite capable and incredibly polite—much to my admiration—Leo couldn’t identify the source of the annoying sound. Eventually, I decided to grab a coffee and a croissant, hoping to ignore the noise. To my surprise, when I returned, Leo motioned for me to come over quietly, revealing the unexpected truth: the sound was coming from my Mini Plus.
As I approach the end of the four-week monitoring period, I'm doing my best to keep its battery charged.
Chapter 2: The Evolution of Health Technology
In this first video titled "Things That Go Beep in the Night," we explore the fascinating world of health monitoring devices and their impact on our daily lives.
The second video, "Things that go 'Beep' in the Night In-Person and Virtual Worship with Rev. Jon Coffee," delves into how these technologies are integrated into various aspects of society, including spiritual gatherings.