I’m not the biggest fan of inserting things into my orifices but some new headphone technology that is coming out may make it well and truly worth it….
Wearable tech is expanding beyond wrist worn trackers or chest worn straps: a new market segment is arising. The use of headphone technology to analyse parameters associated with physical fitness and health is becoming increasingly possible with two technology giants scrapping it out to reach commercialisation of their latest innovations first.
LG appear to have taken a lead ahead of technological innovators Apple having recently released their newest headphone technology, the LG Heart Rate earphones monitor heart rate during activity whilst still providing the same sound quality of conventional headphones.
The earphones monitor heart rate through the ear buds themselves supplying data which then gets processed in a small attachment. Data can then be visualised through an application on your smart phone via a Bluetooth connection. The headphone technology is also compatible with the LG wrist worn activity tracker technology and combines data to provide the consumer with a more rounded experience.
Not only is the functionality of LG’s latest wearable technological advancements pretty impressive but they appear to have nailed the simplicity of aesthetic design that is necessary for a more mainstream take up of the technology.
So where’s the catch? You guessed it, these won’t come cheap, for the headphones alone you’re going to have to stump up $179.99 (£106.93 at the current exchange rate) and the activity tracker isn’t much less than that. Unfortunately that is the price you have to pay when competition is limited, maybe when other releases their offerings prices will become a little bit more affordable.
Jack Barton (Researcher, Rescon Ltd)
Links
http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/13/lg-beats-apple-to-market-with-heart-monitoring-earphones/
http://www.lg.com/us/fitness-activity-trackers/lg-FR74-heart-rate-monitor
http://venturebeat.com/2014/02/18/new-patent-shows-apple-wants-to-turn-those-ubiquitous-earbuds-into-sensor-packed-health-meters/