Making Wearable Data Trustworthy

Abstract

Jason Fu was a finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Jason presented the research titled “Making Wearable Data Trustworthy.” Wearable devices like smartwatches are increasingly used to track heart rate, sleep, and physical activity. In healthcare, these technologies have the potential to support continuous monitoring and help detect serious conditions such as irregular heart rhythms or dangerous drops in blood oxygen. However, wearable signals collected in real-world settings are often noisy and unreliable. Motion artifacts, poor sensor contact, and environmental changes can distort the data, leading to false alarms, missed events, or uninterpretable results. This research focuses on improving the reliability of wearable health data. Ultimately, this work aims to help clinicians and patients make better use of wearable technology by ensuring that the data they rely on can be trusted. Jason Fu is completing a MASc in Biomedical Engineering in the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of Drs. Calvin Kuo and Mahsa Khalili. #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.