What key technological advancements enabled the shift to small, power-efficient sensors in the early 2000s?
Answer
Advancements in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology.
The explosion of modern wearables starting in the early 2000s was fundamentally dependent on significant progress in hardware miniaturization. Specifically, the advancements achieved in microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, were crucial. MEMS technology allowed core sensing components—such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and strain gauges—to be manufactured to a scale that made them incredibly small and highly power-efficient. This reduction in physical size and energy demand was what made the integration of sophisticated monitoring capabilities into everyday, continuously worn items feasible, paving the way for consumer adoption.
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