Assessing User Privacy Concerns in the Wearable Tech Industry

Abstract

Wearable technologies, such as smart watches and fitness trackers, are devices worn on the body that connect to the internet and gather data. They provide valuable real-time insights into an individual’s health and lifestyle, which highlights the importance of data security and ownership. This study examines how much trust users have in the privacy aspects of wearable technology and what data security concerns they have. The study began with a detailed examination of the market for wearables, e-textiles, and smart textiles, explaining their technical specifics and differences. The research findings showed that data security is a significant consideration for at least 25% of wearables users when making a purchase. Furthermore, a comparison of perceptions across countries revealed that Hungarians are at least 10% more likely than the Swiss to believe that data collected by wearables is stored securely.