There are limiting factors one must consider with wearable technologies, especially for any product that is adapted early in its life cycle. Here, we will highlight five that one must keep in mind if you plan on integrating them within a sports educational space.
Prohibitive Cost Most technologies require a financial investment to begin. With wearable technologies being at the early stages, the costs are currently higher. This may be difficult for education spaces since there are other costs other than the purchase of the devices, as outlined by Jovanovic & Kay (2020), who state "the primary costs associated with implementing wearable technologies for learning include the device themselves, teaching educators to use the devices, maintenance, and purchasing up-to-date software" (p.37). Obsolescence Technology With wearable technologies rapidly evolving, how fast does the technology developed stay relevant? If one makes a purchase, they must have a clear idea of the longevity of the product and the costs associated with saying up-to-date. Implementation Training Sports Educators will not only need to be trained on how to use the wearables but how to interpret the data. Sazonov & Daoud (2021) describe how the “challenge lies in the interpretation of such data streams and connection with health outcomes, using sensor data to guide behavioral interventions and health education” (p.2). Usability How long is the battery life? Is there a good place to store and charge the particular wearable technologies? These are questions that are important to consider since they could be unanticipated limiting factors after making a purchase. Privacy and Data Storage According to Sazonov & Daoud (2021), data from wearable technologies could need a lot of storage space (p.1). Also, when considering the storage of data, what are the ethics surrounding data collected on youth, how is it stored, and who owns the data? |