Tattoos on the arm or wrist can make it difficult to use smartwatches

Detect heart rate, blood oxygen levels and sleep parameters These are some of the functions of smart watches, which have become an essential technology for many users.

The reason that the smartwatches work so well obtaining the information of our physical state is because They have sensors that are activated on contact with the skin. It’s as simple as putting the watch on our wrist for the technology to start showing the conditions of our bodies, except that it’s not so easy for a select group of people: those with tattoos.

What is ChatGPT and how does artificial intelligence affect today’s world?

If you have tattoos on your wrist or arm, it’s likely that your smartwatch will have a hard time turning on the sensors on your skin, because the ink confuses this technology. Why does this happen?

Most smartwatches are based on photoplethysmography sensors (PPG), that is, optical sensors that work by illuminating the skin and determining various biometric data based on the amount of light that is reflected.

Although it may seem like a non-invasive method of obtaining your biometric data, it is not as efficient as it should be. This is because light colors reflect more light, while dark colors are better at absorbing light. Too much ink on the skin covered by the sensor causes light to not reflect well, so the sensors don’t work the same.

Unless you have both wrists covered in tattoos, wearing a smartwatch shouldn’t be too difficult. But if you have ink exactly where the sensor is located, there are alternatives so you can use the technology like the rest of the world.

Alternatives to smartwatches

• Epoxy adhesives: These stickers are very cheap and easy to get. Packs of stickers can be found on Amazon for less than $10, and they work by sticking against the smartwatch’s sensor. This has been the solution for some users, but it is not a guarantee that it will be effective against your tattoo.
• Chest sensors: For people who need to know their heart rate, chest sensors are the best option. They do not use optical sensors, but electrocardiograms and are comfortable to wear, since you only have to adjust the elastic band around your chest.
• smart rings: Although they are not as effective in obtaining biometric data as watches, smart rings are a good option to measure some parameters of the body.

(YO)