We already live in a high-tech world, with computers running large parts of society. But with body tech, that trend could go into high gear. Already pioneers are experimenting with the idea of infusing tech into human tissues (or at least keeping it much closer than at present).
But we’re not just talking about connecting the brain to the internet. We’re also discussing more down-to-earth strategies that can improve health, safety, cognitive performance, and exercise training.
Smart Nutrition
Let’s start with some of the simplest: smart nutrition. Many companies are now working on dietary practices for body types and health based on genetic insights. The idea is to evaluate someone’s genetic code and then use that to determine what compounds they should consume.
Something similar is happening in the world of microbiome analysis. Companies are looking at tailoring supplements to individual needs based on the bacteria living in their stomach to optimize health and weight.
The top approach at the moment is to design supplements that offer smart nutrition. These are designed around targeted benefits that proponents believe will help consumers achieve better health outcomes. However, you can also equally imagine it being applied to regular meals (and perhaps meal timing), with results being measured in a lab.
Smart Recovery Tools
Related to this, you can also imagine smart recovery tools. These would be designed for people who do intense physical activity and need something that will help them repair from their training.
Already, we have sleep trackers for this purpose. However, wearable recovery devices could become more sophisticated, delivering specific forms of energy to the body, perhaps through EMS suits, that might vibrate to deliver healing energy.
Cold and hot therapy is already being used. However, there may be less invasive devices that could stimulate the underlying biological mechanisms that confer the beneficial effects of these remedies without the discomfort of hot saunas or cold plunges.
Protective Gear
One of the primary reasons people experience health issues is because they experience tissue damage. Protective gear, including tactical helmet accessories, could potentially mitigate these risks.
Currently, the standard procedure is to wear helmets and seatbelts while traveling, plus, perhaps, shin and knee guards for extreme sports. But you can imagine polymer-based solutions that would allow for even greater whole-body protection that people could wear invisibly every day. These could defend against everything from fall damage to being crushed by an oncoming train.
Genetic Fitness Routines
Lastly, we could see body tech emerging in the form of genetic fitness routines. Again, these would look at a person’s underlying genetic code and then construct a workout program for them based on the findings. Such an approach could be game-changing for individuals who don’t respond much to conventional stimulation.
Of course, it would take a while to flesh out the details of this technology and require mapping from the genome to specific interventions. But once done, AI systems could potentially tailor training routines to match specific requirements and help people bust through their plateaus.