In the 19th and 20th centuries, innovations in measurement instruments were the driving force that turned medicine from art to science. When doctors were able to characterize disorders in precise terms of physiological statistics such as body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and compare them among patients, they were able to prescribe effective treatments. Today, the development of wearable sensor and data mining technologies seems to lead towards a similar path, this time enabling a scientific understanding of wellness. As vital signs are pervasively measured by wearable sensor and mobile applications in every-day environments, a new wave of advances in medicine is taking place, causing a paradigm shift from treating sickness to supporting well-being. [read on]
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