Wearable technology is in the spotlight lately with the coming of the Apple Watch and the proliferation of fitness trackers and the internet of things (IoT). With all this focus on how to track and analyze health and activity data, it seems we forget that these sensors might also track other conditions that can have a direct affect on our health.

With support from the National Science Foundation, electrical engineer Veena Misra of North Carolina State University is developing wearable technology that not only monitors your vital signs and hydration levels, but also keeps tabs on external factors such as pollution levels and other environmental information. These wearables may prove very useful to asthma sufferers and people who need to avoid certain environmental conditions.