Health Technology Fashion
Health technology fashion blends wearable technology with clothing to enhance wellness. Protecting innovations through patents, trademarks, and copyrights is crucial. Companies must manage IP challenges like patent overlaps and data privacy to thrive in this competitive industry.
Understanding IP in Health Tech Fashion
Patents enable competitive advantages in a rapidly evolving market and protect unique technologies like wearable sensors, smart textiles, and integrated systems (How Patents Protect Innovation in the Fashion Industry, 2024).
Copyrights protect artistic and interface designs and secure embedded software from unauthorized use, but are not super prevalent in fashion, since the protection they provide in terms of fashion is limited (Pantaloni, n.d.).
Fashion attorney Anthony Lupo explained the importance of trademarks in fashion.
Aesthetic Interface Design
Aesthetic interface design is crucial in incorporating the unique creative aspects of health technology applications, where innovation combines functionality with visual appeal. This enhances user experience by using cohesive color schemes, balanced layouts, and thoughtful topography that guide the user naturally through the interface.
We asked Professor Watson about the importance of aesthetic interface design.
Key Innovations in Health Tech Fashion
Wearable Sensors
Wearable sensors are revolutionizing athletics and health technology by integrating health tracking capabilities into clothing and accessories. In sports, they provide real-time insights into performance, recovery, and injury risk. In health, they allow continuous monitoring of vital signs, aiding in early detection of potential issues.
Professor Watson shared her take on wearable sensors.
The OURA Ring
The OURA Ring is a more recent development that is a small ring you wear on your finger to monitor over 20 biometrics to give insights into your health. The ring has a heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, a battery life of up to 7 days, and activity monitoring. The OURA Ring is just one example of the new innovations in health tech that are making it easier to monitor your health from the comfort of your home (Oura, 2024).
Smart Textiles
Smart textiles offer significant benefits for athletes by embedding sensors and technology into fabrics that monitor vital signs, muscle activity, and movement. These materials provide real time feedback on performance, fatigue levels, and potential injuries, helping athletes optimize training and recovery.
Professor Pailes-Friedman explained smart textiles and their importance.
RunScribe
RunScribe is a way for athletes to track performance on running, such as stride, contact time, and foot strike type. RunScribe uses nine axis motion sensors and power metrics to analyze a runner’s running performance (11 Smart Shoes That Are Digitally Connected, 2019).
Patent Thickets
In health tech fashion, patent overlaps occur when multiple patents cover similar or overlapping technologies, such as embedded sensors or smart fabrics. These overlaps can lead to “patent thickets”, where navigating the extensive patents involved in developing a product becomes challenging. Companies may find themselves entangled in disputes over patent ownership or the right to use specific technologies, leading to costly legal battles or the need for cross licensing agreements. Such situations can also stifle innovation, as small players might be deterred from entering the market due to the complexity and expense of obtaining patent rights or dealing with potential litigation (Are 'patent thickets' smothering innovation? 2015).
Functional vs Fashion Design Dilemma
The fashion versus functional design dilemma in health tech fashion revolves around balancing style and wearability with the technological requirements needed for functionality. Health tech products, like smart clothing or wearables, need to incorporate sensors, batteries, and other hardware components that can be bulky or uncomfortable. However, fashion conscious consumers expect these items to be aesthetically appealing and comfortable for everyday wear. The challenge lies in designing products that are both functional and stylish, without sacrificing either aspect. This dilemma often leads to design constraints, where the need for technology integration may compromise the desired success in the health tech fashion industry (The Battle of Aesthetics vs Functionality: A Design Dilemma, n.d.).
Professor Watson shared her opinion on function versus fashion
Data and Privacy Considerations
In health tech fashion, data privacy is a critical concern, as wearable devices collect sensitive health data from users. IP laws must work in tandem with data privacy regulations, like GDPR or HIPAA, to ensure that data is handled securely. The ownership and control of user data can lead to disputes, particularly regarding how the data is shared, stored, or used by third parties. Health tech fashion companies must navigate these complexities by embedding strong privacy measures in their designs and aligning their IP protections with privacy laws. Moreover, there can be legal challenges related to user consent, data access, and the use of health information for research or commercial purposes, necessitating careful consideration of both IP rights and privacy regulations (Silva, 2023).
Recent Developments
Interwoven is a product design and development company specializing in wearable technology, smart textile solutions, and innovations in health, medical, and consumer products. It creates solutions that integrate fashion, engineering, material science, and product design, such as wearable exosuits for healthcare or cutting-edge consumer products. (Interwoven Design Studio, 2024).
We asked Professor Pailes-Friedman about Interwoven and some of its exciting developments.
Professor Watson shared some information about a new product she is working on in this field called Lumos, which uses spectroscopy to measure electromagnetic radiation
Who Can Health Tech Wearables Help?
Healthtech wearables empower individuals to monitor their health and wellness, offering benefits for those with chronic conditions, fitness enthusiasts, and elderly individuals. These devices provide real time data, encourage healthier lifestyles, and facilitate remote monitoring by healthcare providers, ultimately enhancing quality of life and health outcomes.
Professor Watson explained how health tech wearables can help people who rely on medical devices and the general population.
Our Experts
Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman is a leading fashion technologist, recognized for her expertise in smart textiles and wearable technology. She focuses on creating functional, stylish, and sustainable solutions that push the boundaries of innovation in the fashion industry. Pailes-Friedman has been a professor of industrial design at Pratt Institute for over 25 years. Some recent projects include collaborations with Shark/Ninja, and HeroWear. In addition, she has authored the book Smart Textiles for Designers: Inventing the Future of Fabrics. Pailes-Friedman has also earned recognition for her contributions to the design field and for her participation in the Mars Centennial Challenge.
Amanda Watson is an expert in fashion technology, specializing in wearable technology for healthcare and athletics. Watson is an assistant professor in both electrical and computer engineering and computer science at University of Virginia. She also has experience as a postdoctoral fellow at the PRECISE Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Watson focuses on creating sustainable, user-centered products that push the boundaries of wearable technology. Known for her contributions to wearable technology, Watson’s work at Lumos highlights her commitment to advancing smart clothing and sustainable fashion.
References
11 Smart Shoes That Are Digitally Connected. (2019, February 17). Nanalyze. https://www.nanalyze.com/2019/02/smart-shoes-digitally-connected/
Are “patent thickets” smothering innovation? Yale Insights. (2015, April 22). https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/are-patent-thickets-smothering-innovation
How Patents Protect Innovation in the Fashion Industry. (2024). Globalpatentfiling.com. https://www.globalpatentfiling.com/blog/Patents-in-Fashion-Protecting-Creativity-and-Innovation
LBodnarchuk. (2024, January 11). The Importance of System Integration in Healthcare. ProspHire. https://www.prosphire.com/blog/the-importance-of-system-integration-in-healthcare/
Interwoven Design Studio. (2024, September 13). https://www.getinterwoven.com/about/
Oura. (2024). How does Oura Ring work: Smart Ring Health Tracking. Oura Ring. https://ouraring.com/how-it-works
Pantaloni, N. (n.d.). Library Research Guides: Copyright: Copyright for Fashion. Guides.libraries.indiana.edu. https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/c.php?g=158548&p=1176293
Silva, J. P. da. (2023, May 4). Privacy Data Ethics of Wearable Digital Health Technology. Center for Digital Health | Medical School | Brown University. https://cdh.brown.edu/news/2023-05-04/ethics-wearables
The Battle of Aesthetics vs Functionality: A Design Dilemma. (n.d.). Www.linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/battle-aesthetics-vs-functionality-design-dilemma-deepak-pachiannan/
What is integration[1] ? - Definition from WhatIs.com. (n.d.). SearchCustomerExperience. https://www.techtarget.com/searchcustomerexperience/definition/integration