Oura Health

Oura Health

Oura Health is a Finnish health technology company known for its innovative wearable device, the Oura Ring. The company focuses on providing users with insights into their sleep patterns, activity levels, and overall health through advanced biometric data collection and analysis.

History

Oura Health was founded in 2013 by Petteri Lahtela, Kari Kivelä, and Markku Koskela in Oulu, Finland. The company launched its first product, the Oura Ring, in 2015 after a successful Kickstarter campaign. The initial version of the ring was designed to track sleep and activity, providing users with detailed insights into their health.

In 2018, Oura Health released the second generation of the Oura Ring, which featured a more compact design and improved sensors. This version gained significant attention and was adopted by various high-profile individuals and organizations, including professional athletes and research institutions.

Technology

The Oura Ring is a smart ring that uses advanced sensors to monitor various physiological parameters. It is equipped with infrared LEDs, a 3D accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a body temperature sensor. These components work together to collect data on heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, and movement.

Sleep Tracking

One of the primary features of the Oura Ring is its ability to track sleep. The ring provides detailed insights into sleep stages, including light, deep, and REM sleep. It also measures sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and total sleep time. Users receive a nightly Sleep Score, which summarizes the quality of their sleep.

Activity Tracking

In addition to sleep tracking, the Oura Ring monitors daily physical activity. It tracks steps, calories burned, and active time. The ring provides an Activity Score, which helps users understand their activity levels and encourages them to meet daily goals.

Readiness Score

The Oura Ring calculates a Readiness Score, which is a holistic measure of the user's overall health and recovery status. This score is based on various factors, including sleep quality, activity balance, and physiological responses such as heart rate variability and body temperature.

Applications

Oura Health's technology is used by individuals seeking to improve their health and wellness, as well as by researchers and healthcare professionals. The data collected by the Oura Ring can be used for personal health optimization, athletic performance enhancement, and clinical research.

Research and Partnerships

Oura Health has partnered with several research institutions to study the relationship between biometric data and health outcomes. The Oura Ring has been used in studies related to sleep disorders, mental health, and chronic disease management.

Criticism and Challenges

While the Oura Ring has been praised for its accuracy and design, it faces challenges common to wearable technology, such as battery life limitations and data privacy concerns. The company continues to address these issues through ongoing research and development.

Also see

• Wearable technology
• Sleep tracking
• Biometric data
• Health informatics