CES 2012: Health gadgets go high-tech

When you think of technology, chances are you think of a computer, tablet, smartphone, or some other high-tech gizmo. But technology is popping up everywhere, trying to make our lives easier (and sometimes even succeeding). Tech for health and fitness that easily integrates into our daily lives — and fitness routines — seems to be the next big thing. We have all manner of trackers and scales trying to bring health data to your virtual fingertips. But while these high-tech fitness monitors fight for your attention (and a piece of your wallet), there's more to health tech than heart rate and BMI, and we saw some great examples at CES this year.

Telcare cellular-enabled blood glucose meter
If you're diabetic, you know how important it is to regularly test your blood sugar with a glucose meter — but they're usually low-tech affairs. However, Telcare is looking to change that by offering the industry's first cellular-enabled blood glucose meter. With Telcare's meter, as soon as you've tested, your results are sent to Telcare's HIPAA-compliant cloud service, where they can be seen by your family or your doctor, depending on how you've configured the service. You can view your data online via the Telcare website or on your phone using an iPhone app. If you have a child with diabetes, you can even program the monitor to send you a text message with results as soon as your child has tested. And, since the monitor works over the cellular network, it doesn't need to be plugged in or connected to wifi to send data.

The device starts at $150, which is on the expensive side (even though you don't pay extra for the cellular connection) — but if you like to have your information immediately online and accessible from anywhere, it might be worth the price tag.

iHealth Smart GlucoMeter and Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor
iHealth already offers a variety of smart health products, including a scale and a wired blood pressure monitor. But more interesting is their new Smart GlucoMeter and Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor. The GlucoMeter is a small (it weighs just under half an ounce) attachment for your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. It plugs into your device and uses standard testing strips. Once you've tested, your data is stored to the iHealth Cloud Service, and the free iHealth app can show you historical data or let you share test results with family members or your doctor.

The Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor is, as advertised, wireless, communicating with your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad via Bluetooth. It also interacts with the iHealth app and stores data on the iHealth Cloud Service, so you can easily see your historical data or share your most recent results with family or medical personnel.

These new products from iHealth aren't yet FDA approved, but they expect them to be available to consumers in the second half of 2012.

Lifecomm personal emergency response system
If you have elderly family, you've probably grown used to worrying about them — especially if they're living on their own. Lifecomm is addressing this problem by offering cellular-enabled personal emergency response systems and, while it may be a mouthful, it's a handy device that could help a senior stay independent and get necessary medical attention when needed. The Lifecomm is a small device that can be worn as a pendant, wristwatch, or belt clip. And though it's simple to use — seniors just need to remember to recharge it occasionally, which the device will remind them to do — it tracks a lot of data for caregivers. It detects falls, tracks activity levels, and monitors location — the caregiver can check status of any of these things via a web portal and configure custom alerts to be sent by email, text message, or phone call.

With a button press, seniors can get in touch with Lifecomm for medical help. And in case of an emergency, Lifecomm has all of its users' medical information and will contact local emergency services, letting them know the situation and location (down to the floor of a home or office building). All of this adds up to quicker response time in case of a problem, which can be life-saving.

There's no pricing information yet, but Lifecomm expects to be on the market early this year.

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