Directions : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Founded in Oulu, Finland, in 2013 by Petteri Lahtela, Kari Kivelä, and Markku Koskela, Oura Health sought to revolutionize personal well-being by ____X____ precision, comfort, and actionable sleep insights into a wearable device. The company launched its first-generation ring through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and formally debuted the product at the Slush tech conference in 2017. Early recognition followed with awards including Time magazine's 100 Best Inventions of 2020 and Best Consumer Wellness Company from the UCSF Digital Health Awards, especially noting Oura's role in NBA COVID-19 monitoring.
The Oura Ring uses advanced infrared LEDs, combined with sensitive accelerometers and temperature sensors, to track biometric data from the finger. It measures heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, body temperature, and more, offering continuous monitoring with minimal disruption to daily life. Equipped with a 3D accelerometer, the ring is capable of identifying user movement in all directions and uses machine learning to improve recognition of different activities.
Oura Health's funding journey began with a $2.3 million seed round in 2015, followed by additional funding rounds through 2022. By then, its valuation had crossed the $2 billion mark, backed by investors including Temasek, MSD Capital, and Elysian Park Ventures.
Beloved by celebrities such as Prince Harry, Jennifer Aniston, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Oura gained a strong cultural profile as a wellness accessory and not just a health gadget. Its precise monitoring of sleep, heart rate, and body temperature helped individuals, from athletes to patients with conditions like Parkinson's disease, make informed health decisions. As one reviewer noted, Oura captures nuanced changes in motion that may be overlooked by other wearables, making it a discreet yet powerful tool for daily well-being.
In addition to personal use, researchers and medical institutions also explored the Oura Ring's potential in clinical studies before 2023. The device was tested in areas such as illness detection, menstrual cycle prediction, and mental health monitoring, reflecting its promise as more than just a lifestyle product. These research applications positioned Oura as a bridge between consumer wellness technology and formal healthcare systems.
Which aspect most clearly highlighted the Oura Ring's potential as a bridge between consumer wellness and formal healthcare systems before 2023?
1.Its role in lifestyle coaching and integration with fitness influencers
2.Its ability to provide notifications for social media and mobile applications
3.Its testing in clinical studies for menstrual cycle prediction
4.Its exclusive focus on improving sleep comfort without medical applications
5.Its replacement of biometric sensors with simpler step-counting technology
Correct Answer : 3
Solution :
(a) Incorrect - The passage makes no mention of lifestyle coaching or fitness influencers; it emphasizes clinical and medical contexts.
(b) Incorrect - Social media notifications are unrelated to healthcare or research applications, and the passage does not mention them.
(c) Correct - The passage clearly states that before 2023, the Oura Ring was tested in clinical studies for illness detection, menstrual cycle prediction, and mental health monitoring, underscoring its role as a link between consumer wellness tech and formal healthcare.
(d) Incorrect - While sleep comfort is part of Oura's consumer focus, the healthcare bridge was demonstrated specifically through clinical research, not exclusive comfort use.
(e) Incorrect - The device relied on advanced biometric sensors, not simpler pedometer-style step counters.
Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
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