What The Tech: Health tech takes center stage at CES
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
Technology is increasingly focused on helping us live longer, healthier lives. And at CES this
year, some of the most interesting innovations weren’t flashy gadgets or futuristic robots. They
were everyday devices designed to quietly watch for health problems long before symptoms
appear.
Instead of relying only on annual checkups, these tools aim to detect early warning signs at
home, while you’re doing things you already do every day.
One example comes from Withings, which introduced a new smart bathroom scale designed to
go far beyond measuring weight. The company says modern lifestyles are pushing people
toward chronic disease earlier in life, thanks to stress, poor sleep, and eating on the go.
Their latest scale scans the veins in your feet and fingers to analyze cardiovascular health.
Using that data, it estimates the age of your heart and vascular system. Withings says the scale
can also identify patterns associated with increased risk for conditions like diabetes, potentially
years before those issues would normally show up during a doctor’s visit.
The goal is early intervention. If warning signs appear soon enough, lifestyle changes such as
diet, exercise, and sleep improvements may help reverse dangerous trends before they become
serious medical problems.
Health monitoring is also showing up in unexpected places, including oral care.
The Y-Brush is a toothbrush designed to clean your teeth in just 20 seconds. But its creators say
the device also analyzes breath near the nasal cavity using built in sensors. They claim it can
detect markers associated with hundreds of conditions, including gum disease, diabetes, and
certain liver disorders.
The idea isn’t to diagnose disease, but to give users a signal that something may be worth
discussing with a doctor.
Medical experts emphasize that none of these devices are meant to replace professional care.
Instead, they act as early warning systems, providing additional data that can help patients and
physicians make better decisions sooner.
As health tech continues to move into the home, the focus is shifting away from treatment and
toward prevention. Catching problems earlier, changing habits, and staying informed could
ultimately add not just years to life, but healthier years.
