Being 6th might not seem like something to make a big fuss about, but when it comes to common types of cancer, melanoma of the skin and its 6th place ranking is something worth considering. Skin cancer can occur anywhere on the body, but it is most common in skin that is often exposed to sunlight. Don’t believe us? Check out this video.

It's fairly easy to protect yourself from the warming but potentially lethal rays from the sun. Wearing sunscreen or protective clothing helps block UV radiation, but how do you know how much ultraviolet rays you have been exposed to or when excessive levels are reached? Passive and disposable bracelets and portable measuring devices exist today. Because of their disposable nature and lack of user-friendliness, these temporary solutions are not something you would carry with you all day, every day.

On the other side of the coin, companies like Basis, Fitbit, Garmin, Misfit and lately Apple provide durable fitness trackers and smart wearables and watches. Traditionally, these devices do a great job at tracking steps and heart rate and even blood oxygen levels. However, they have lagged behind when it comes to including UV exposure to the list of metrics they track.  

These manufacturers now have the ability to include tiny sensors that measure UV exposure, and actively warn the user of dangerous levels and too much time spent in the sun. Silicon Labs’ Si1132/4x sensor family is the industry’s first single-chip, digital UV index sensor IC solution designed to track UV sun exposure. In addition it supports heart/pulse rate and blood oximetry, and provides proximity/gesture control for smartphone and wearable computing products.

Silicon Labs’ Si1132/4x UV sensors have won the prestigious EE Times and EDN UBM ACE Award for 2015. We hope to start seeing UV sensing added to the standard measurements of every wearable device, so that no one is ever caught by surprise by their UV exposure again.

So remember, whether you are playing on the beach or in sunny mountains, make sure you protect yourself and your skin, and check out our award-winning UV sensor.