Amazon today announced the launch of a new Wearable Technology store, which will function as a one-stop shop for customers looking to compare and discover the latest in wearable technology like fitness trackers, smart watches, cameras, and the like. Amazon additionally announced partnerships with top brands to deliver the latest technology, including established wearable technology brands like Samsung, Jawbone, and GoPro, in addition to up-and-comers like Basis, Misfit, and Narrative. As the burgeoning category of consumer technology continues to excite and prove popular, Amazon is offering a “learning center” which includes product videos and detailed buying guides, as well as an “Editor’s Corner” to find information about wearable technology news and reviews. It signals wearable technology’s advance into the main stream – and codifies it as a category that’s here to stay.
Tag: Wearable technology
Athos Core Improves Quantified Self
Athos is taking quantified self to the next level with its new product: Core. Using proprietary EMG sensors, mounted wirelessly in custom Athos workout garments, Core aggregates information about heart rate, breathing and how a user is working individual muscle groups, and displays this information in an app in real time to create actionable insights that improve the effectiveness of a workout. Athos believes their product gives a comprehensive and useful insight into athletic progress and isn’t just for power athletes: it could be used by anyone who exercises, or even for rehabilitation purposes. The company just scored $3.5 million in seed funding, so it will be interesting to see how this company and product shape up.
ION Release Sub-$100 Smartglasses
Wearable technology as a trend is burgeoning. With Galaxy Gear, Google Glass, and other soon-to-be announced gadgets, it’s a veritable market. The problem? Much of it is pricey, and it looks like you’re actually wearing technology. ION Glasses, though, is looking to change all that. In indiegogo funding right now, they’re prescription eye glasses and sunglasses that interact with the user’s smartphone or tablet, and offer functions for notification, remote control, and alerts. They act as more of a companion device than as a standalone piece of technology in their own rights. It’s a very different model than has been proposed by other smart technology makers, who think that their tech should, for the most part, stand alone. Presently the pledged total stands at $10,500, and each pair of glasses runs for $79, and they will likely be released before Google Glass hits the public.
Quantified Self Takes Center Stage
The New York Times published a piece this morning about the various options for keeping track of personal health, encompassing the trend known as Quantified Self. The article covered the technological specs of Jawbone’s Up and FitBit’s Flex, ultimately settling on the Flex as the best choice because of its Bluetooth connection. Though the article was more cursory than all-encompassing, it’s important to note that the Quantified Self movement is reaching mainstream adoption, and is continuing to expand with new devices and platforms.
