Pool-Mate watch packs built-in accelerometer to track laps

It may not monitor your heart rate or double as a media player like some other devices for swimmers, but this new Pool-Mate watch from Swimovate looks like it should appeal to quite a few folks nonetheless, with it packing a built-in accelerometer to help you keep track of lap counts. That's apparently done by detecting the glide portion of your swim after each turn, which Swmovate says it's able to do with 99.75 percent accuracy in all pools longer than 10 meters. You'll also be able to use it to keep track of your overall time, average strokes per lap, speed, distance, and calories burned. Somewhat strangely, however, Swimovate says that the watch will only last for about twelve months, after which you'll actually have to send it back to the company to get the battery replaced. A bit of a drawback, to be sure, but the $114 price tag isn't too out of line, and you won't have to wait long to get your hands on one, with it set to ship later this month. Head on past the break for a quick video overview.

[iFargle @ Jul 1st 2009 9:42PM]

That's.. interesting.

[RioRyan @ Jul 1st 2009 10:38PM]

That's.. almost as bad as saying first.

[iFargle @ Jul 1st 2009 10:39PM]

That's.. almost as bad as ripping on someone for posting first.

[johnwiles @ Jul 1st 2009 11:33PM]

Can someone tell Engadget that the "Daily Roundup" is a stupid idea. I skip over it EVERY TIME.
Maybe there could be a button that turns the Daily Roundup off?

[iFargle @ Jul 1st 2009 11:51PM]

I look at it every once in a while. I usually refresh a few times a day, so it doesn't seem that useful to me, too.

[red @ Jul 1st 2009 9:47PM]

too bad anyone whos a swimmer knows how to count and read a pool clock. I imagine this is only handy if you swim 1000's at a time. And it would be far more inconvenient to stare at your watch then at the pool clock.

anyone who's not a swimmer, I believe they can count as well, and they probably don't care TOO much exactly how many laps they swam.

[mjdyson @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:27AM]

Oh and everyone knows how to use a watch and a route planner... why do people need Nike+?

Getting statistics out of exercise is quite the motivational driver (see http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/magazine/17-07/lbnp_nike for quite a good article)

Now only if this could sync with my iPod I leave in the changing rooms.

[gfar @ Jul 2nd 2009 7:42AM]

Obviously people use Nike+ to hear Tiger Woods congratulate them on running their fastest mile. Duh.

[Mike @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:17AM]

I used to think stuff like this was stupid..and even Nike+ goes against Nike's slogan of "JUST DO IT". But recently I wanted to track my mileage better and see what times I was running.

Picked up a Garmin 405 GPS watch and I can tell you its great! I have been able to track my progress very easily.

This doesn't look like it's as advanced as the Garmin running watch. The Garmin downloads to the computer and I can look at the progress over time. Hopefully this thing would do the same. Maybe I'll get into Triathlons next!

Not for everybody product..but def a good niche product. I swim about 10-15 laps once or twice a week but almost always loose track of counting. (and NEVER know any times for my laps).

[Adam @ Jul 1st 2009 9:52PM]

I am kind of curious how it works. It would seem to me that it would have to be fairly sophisticated to tell the difference between a flip turn and the fact that your hand is constantly moving through the water and the air as your stroke.

[timothy_beeler @ Jul 1st 2009 10:33PM]

"hat's apparently done by detecting the glide portion of your swim after each turn"

[CtrlBurn @ Jul 1st 2009 10:12PM]

Call me old-fashioned, but I remember a simpler time. A time when people had the cognizance to keep track of how many laps they swim without spending $114.

[Bob @ Jul 1st 2009 10:46PM]

Call me newfangled but I like to get lap splits. And remembering 100+ splits is a challenge.

[Shaun @ Jul 1st 2009 10:23PM]

Boy, do I love a British accent. Hawtness.

[DeoWulf @ Jul 1st 2009 10:55PM]

My sentiments exactly.

[killermojo @ Jul 1st 2009 11:01PM]

My sentiments exactly.

[Doug @ Jul 1st 2009 11:29PM]

This is the worst demo of a product I've ever seen done. Period. The announcer's voice is sleepy, slow, and uninteresting. The background noise is unprofessional and sounds like it's done with a webcam microphone. There's no demonstration of the watch being used in a pool. The script is being read with a tedious monotone.

Although I was interested in the watch, this demo has totally turned me off. I can't imagine what possessed the watch manufacturer to authorise such a low grade ad such as this.

[andres @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:09AM]

"this demo has totally turned me off"
did you expect it to turn you on?

[danny @ Jul 1st 2009 11:47PM]

55! oh dammit you got to it first

[Swimosaur @ Jul 14th 2009 11:52PM]

This is an interesting product! Y'all who are saying, "anyone knows how to count" must not swim 3000 yards at a time -- it's frustrating to get to lap 88 out of 120 and realize you might be off by two.