Tag: heart rate

Categories
Connected Objects Health and Wellness

VIP sleeves monitor calves, keep the blood pumping to avoid clots

Between sitting for most of the day and sleeping for upwards of nine hours a night, the heart can have a rough time making sure the circulatory system is in tip top shape. What most people don’t know are that the calves play a crucial role in pumping the blood back up to the heart, which is why more and more articles and news reports reaffirm the danger in leading an inactive lifestyle.

The VIP pneumatic sleeve is engineered to allow wearers to be proactive even when they are forced to be sedentary. Designed to be worn on the calves, the device contracts and expands with air to assist with circulation, softening the impact of long periods of inactivity and ultimately decreasing the likelihood of blood clots. The VIP also uses Bluetooth LE in order to connect with a companion iOS or Android app, allowing users to set goals, set alerts, customize the rate of air flow, and track usage over time.

A backing of $199 will net backers their own sleeve and charger in November of 2015. VSS, the company behind VIP, is looking for $200,000 in funding by May 1. It should appeal to those concerned about conditions such as Deep Vein Thrombosis for situations such as long flights.

Categories
Smartwatches/Bands

After devouring folding keyboards, FlyShark takes on the smartwatch

A common knock against most smartwatches is that their most significant functions, such as making phone calls, can only be used when a paired smartphone is nearby.

Following their successful campaign for a sleek folding keyboard accessory for smartphones, the makers of the FlyShark Smartwatch have set out to remove this codependence from smartwatches. Specifically, the FlyShark Smartwatch can make private calls and send and receive messages all without requiring users to touch their smartphones. Generally, the FlyShark Smartwatch can function independently so long as there is a Micro SIM card installed.

Like other smartwatches, it also functions as an exercise tracker and heart rate monitor. Unlike the soon to be released Apple Watch, FlyCatch also features a built-in camera. Other features include dual Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 support. The campaign, which seeks $10,000, will remain open until April 1, 2014.

FlyShark has some nice features, but the jury’s out on just how much appeal there is for a smartwatch whose main selling point is its independence from the smartphone. Many consumers on the market for a smartwatch, after all, likely already own a smartphone. It’s therefore a little hard to see how FlyShark can compete against popular brands like Samsung, LG, and Apple.

 

Categories
Wearables

FitLinxx device keeps you fit with a thin strip of adhesive

One downside of many wearable fitness devices is that they are too bulky to be comfortable, especially while exercising. Smart watches, rings and other wearable smart jewelry solve that issue, but some people either find them unattractive or don’t want to replace watches and other jewelry they already own.

The AmpStrip from FitLinxx in Westborough, MA eliminates both of those issues. The thin, waterproof device is only 3.5 inches long, 1 inch wide, less than one quarter of an inch thick including its adhesive, and weighs less than 4 ounces. Despite being as discrete and comfortable as a Band-Aid when stuck to the user’s torso, it’s able to track heart rate and activity around the clock with accuracy, the company claims.

The device is compatible with Bluetooth LE mobile devices including smartphones and tablets, and the company’s goal is to make it work in conjunction with smart watches, too, including those from Apple and Samsung. Backers who provide $119 in financing to AmpStrip’s Indiegogo campaign will get an AmpStrip when it ships in June, along with a wireless charging station and 30 adhesives, good for 3-6 months depending on how often the user opts to replace them. FitLinxx is looking to raise $50,000 to make further innovations to the device, which marks its first foray into consumer products.

It is a crowded market, but AmpStrip’s design and comfort level should give it a leg up on rivals. Even the LEO flexible leg band appears to be more bulky than AmpStrip. But the FitLinxx product does come saddled with necessary refills. On top of the initial cost, users will have to fork up $30 each time they need another 3-6 month supply of adhesives.

Categories
Health and Wellness Wearables

ECHO H2 smart patch accurately monitors body with Bluetooth

It’s now a well-known fact that the wrist isn’t the best place for fitness tracking. Between most devices unable to know the difference between walking and typing and the inaccurate relationship between steps taken and calories burned most rely on, this isn’t entirely surprising.

Instead of relying on the limited information supplied by the wrist, Kenzen’s ECHO H2 uses a person’s own sweat to more accurately glean all sorts of information from the body, from heart rate to calorie intake and burn. Since the measurements are based on biochemical processes, the results are way more accurate; it’s like having a lab nearby at all times.

The ECHO H2 is notable because it takes the form of a wireless smart patch that uses medical grade adhesive to comfortably stick to a person’s calf or abdomen for up to a week straight. Over this time, it continuously monitors aspects of the body’s functions, alerting users with buzzes and sounds when they should ease up to avoid overtraining.

Although it uses Bluetooth LE to connect with a smartphone, it fortunately isn’t necessary to bring one along, a death knell to a lot of other fitness trackers. The ECHO H2 itself stores data that later can be synced with the robust mobile app, which offers capabilities like custom notifications, reporting, and team tracking. For $89, backers will receive 20 reusable and disposable patches along with a fully unlocked mobile app, expected to ship on July 2015. The campaign is looking for $75,000.

The ECHO H2 is extremely similar to the LEO in that they both keep an eye on user’s activity through sweat, but the LEO is a lot bigger than the tiny ECHO H2. With the LEO being reusable, though, it bodes much better for the environment when compared to the ECHO H2’s disposable nature. Both are technologically impressive, and gym rats and fitness freaks will be interested.

Categories
Health and Wellness Wearables

V1bes sensor ring diagnoses stress via heart rate, brainwaves

The monkey on our all our backs all the time is the one known as stress, but despite its ubiquity, most people don’t know much about what in their own lives causes it. Stress is a contributing factor in not only the sicknesses we contract but in our general psychological well being as well. Many would agree how incredibly important it is to be kept informed about the stress levels experienced day in and day out.

The V1bes sensor ring is another wearable piece of technology that also tracks heart rate, but for a good reason. Along with heart rate, it tracks brainwaves with its ability to perform an EEG, and the surrounding electro-magnetic pollution to produce personalized reports available through the companion iOS or Android app. These reports clue users in to what’s going on and offer suggestions as to how to reduce the stress currently being experienced.

One time tested approach to reducing stress is a bit of fun. To that effect, V1bes also offers enjoyable little distractions that can be facilitated with the ring. From analyzing electric activity in your muscles to “tell how strong someone is” to creating abstract looking bio-profiles from data gathered, the product can let its hair down as well. The campaign is looking for $25,000 to get the $199 product out to backers by September 2015.

The V1bes’ form factor hurts its versatility as it cannot be worn everywhere like the much more attractive Olive wristband. What it does is admirable, but there are too many moving parts and isn’t as polished something like an Olive. Look out for further iterations if you’re really interested.

Categories
Health and Wellness Sensors/IoT

Darma smart seat cushion reminds you to take a stand

Back pain, poor posture and lots of lazing around are realities for many folks. Each one of these problems feeds into the other, so it’s hard to break the cycle of discomfort. Darma is a smart seat cushion that doubles as your posture coach. It monitors your sitting habits, posture, breath, and heart rate to give you helpful tips. If you’re slouching, Darma tells you to sit up straight through a smartphone alert. When your heart rate is high indicating stress, it suggests taking a walk to calm down. Similarly, if you’ve been sitting too long, Darma advises taking standing breaks.

Best of all, by collecting data about you specifically, it can give you customized stretches that will alleviate the pain present in different parts of your body. Designed with sleek black leather, it’s unobtrusive and will blend in well with your office chair. One will cost backers a $189 donation on Kickstarter.

Darma is an interesting new take on the type smartphone-powered health assistance we’ve seen a lot of recently. Most of these devices are wearables in the form of clip-ons or bracelets. While we’ve seen previous products aimed at improving posture, Darma blends into its surroundings. The constant alerts may prove to be annoying at first, like a nagging mother telling you to sit up straight. However, the long term health benefits will likely be worth the hassle. All in all, Darma is a great solution for the sedentary and actually one of the least obtrusive solutions to too much sitting.

Categories
Fitness Smartwatches/Bands

PulseOn connects to your smartphone, but not a chest strap

PulseOnLately, we’ve seen a trend in using products to maximize one’s fitness. Apps and gadgets make it easier to see one’s performance level as well as progress made over time. The PulseOn closely resembles pulse-monitoring watches from companies such as Polar, but requires no chest strap. With this wristband, the heart rate is monitored and that information is sent wirelessly to an accompanying app that helps track progress. In addition, this Finnish gadget keeps a record of fitness intensity, distance, time, and speed for runners. One of these wristbands will cost backers $169 USD. PulseOn hopes to raise $150,000 USD in a two month-long campaign on Indiegogo.