Band on the run

By Zhang Ye Source:Global Times Published: 2014-3-21 5:03:02

Fitness trackers exploded onto electronics shows and exhibitions in 2014.

Big shot companies are flocking to the market to take advantage of the potential opportunities in the medical and wellness segment.

China's leading telecommunication equipment manufacturer Huawei, for instance, announced its foray into this sector by unveiling TalkBandB1 at this year's Mobile World Congress. Samsung is said to be launching its GearFit wristband in April.

Sony too is diving into the market and debuted a similar device, Core, at the Consumer Electronic Shows in January. LG's heart rate tracking band Life Band Touch is coming out soon.

Market research firm Canalys forecasts that 8 million smart wristbands are set to ship in 2014, and the number will reach over 23 million units by 2015.

This market is "really about the consumerization of health," said Canalys analyst Daniel Matte. "There will be exciting innovations that disrupt the medical industry this year, and with the increased awareness about personal well-being they will bring to users, having a computer on your wrist will become increasingly common."

The device, equipped with specific sensors, can gauge movements, monitor quality of sleep and collect various kinds of body metric data.

The number will be constantly synced to a PC or smartphone app, where users can check and share.

It can benefit all human beings and may even become a necessity, especially for those who want to monitor their health status every minute, said Wang Jun, an analyst at Beijing-based Analysys International.

The market is still in its infancy and no wristbands are mature enough to accurately track blood glucose for diabetic patients or effectively monitor fetal heart motion for pregnant women, Wang told the Global Times.

Most bands on the market aim to encourage people to exercise, offering functions like step counting, sleep tracking and food logging. It seems this kind of band will only interest fitness enthusiasts.

Chen Nian, a 30-year-old Beijing-based white-collar worker, bought a Jawbone UP out of curiosity in November last year and wore it 24/7.

But his passion cooled.

"I feel the device neither encourages me to do more workouts nor changes my lifestyle," Chen told the Global Times. "And sometimes, I feel uncomfortable wearing it when typing."

Companies like Nike and Fitbit have already added a social or competitive function to enhance user loyalty.

Wang believes accurate analyses and professional suggestions based on large amounts of data collected are the key.

Charts and data cannot attract users for long, and people want more personal service like specific foods or an effective exercise plan, Wang said.

"If I did not sleep well last night, I want to know what can I eat or what activity I can take to refresh myself, not just a notification I had a bad sleep."

It's not easy for companies to achieve this goal, as both sensor technology and data analysis still need time to mature, he noted.

Another potential risk consumers have to prepare is that some band materials may cause allergies after being worn a long time.

Fitbit, the leader in the global wearable band market according to Canalys, decided to recall all its latest Force wristbands after skin rashes in February.

Fitbit Flex



Fitbit Flex  $99.95



US-based Fitbit Inc has been playing in the activity monitor arena a long time and is a top pick by consumers. Flex was launched in May last year.

Wearing a Flex, users can track every step they take as accurately as most competing products. Based on this data, Fitbit estimates calories burned.

Users are allowed to set goals and check how they stack up via five LED lights. Each light represents 20 percent of a goal. Flex does not have a built-in screen.

Flex will also monitor sleeping patterns and help sleep, but users need to remember to switch it to sleep mode through a simple tap before climbing into bed. Its sleep analyses seem more detailed than rivals, but some users complain that they are not vivid and explicit enough.

Equipped with a silent wake alarm, the band can gently vibrate to wake you without disturbing others.

Flex is not a sealed unit. The tracking device and rubber wristband are separate, making it possible to change the band, offered in two sizes: 161 by 209 millimeters and 140 by 176 millimeters. Users have six color options.

The data can be automatically transmitted to PCs, iOS devices and select Android phones via Bluetooth. The battery life is up to five days, needing recharge through a proprietary cable. It's water-resistant and can be worn showering and swimming.

Jawbone UP24 wristband



Jawbone UP24 wristband  $149.99



US wearable technology company Jawbone built fame with its UP wristband. UP24 debuted in November as the newest member.

UP24 can always be connected with and send real-time data to smartphones apps via Bluetooth. This consumes more power, shortening the battery life to about seven days from the 10 days of previous versions.

The rubber-coated gadget can track steps, distance and calories burned, and is a regular reminder for users to keep moving and hit daily goals. The idle alert can be customized and goals will be suggested based on individual habits.

Through a push of a button at one end of the slim tracker, users can switch into sleep mode to monitor sleep. Jawbone's smart alarm is considered its most valuable feature, enabling it to wake you at an optimal time during light sleep when you feel less groggy.

The new gadget also has a food barcode scanner, allowing wearers to manually log food and beverages and keep track of caloric intake.

UP24's lack of a display makes it sleek, but reduces the overall experience. Users can only know the present by LED lights.

The band is compatible with iOS and Android devices and can be charged via a USB. It is not totally waterproof. Better not wear it during showering or swimming.

At a minimum 19 grams, it comes in black, orange and three sizes: 52 by 35, 63 by 40 and 69 by 43 millimeters.

 



 

Amiigo wristband



  

Amiigo wristband  $274



Four young people from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology cofounded startup Amiigo and introduced a device intending to make fitness more fun, simple and social.

The device drew many people's attention for aiming to track not just steps, but also various kinds of physical activities thanks to an additional shoe clip. The team claimed their system could identify about 100 activities.

Besides being able to monitor calories burned and sleep as most trackers do, Amiigo can also test resting heart rate and body temperature through a built-in pulse oximeter and temperature sensor.

Data can be uploaded to iOS devices and select Android phones via Bluetooth. To keep people enthusiastic, Amiigo allows users to post a snapshot of exercise on social networking platforms. Users can also compete with friends in competitions.

A major drawback is that the plastic 29 by 19 by 13 millimeters shoe clip is small and easy to lose. The clip's battery can last five days but the wristband powers off after three days. Its official website accepts pre-orders for the next model. There is no price tag, but Chinese tech information provider ZOL priced Amiigo at 1,699 yuan ($274).



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