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Running with an AI 'personal trainer' is fun, but expensive
The artificial intelligence that we hope will exist in our lifetimes is a world away from what's available right now. A thinking computer that knows us better than we know ourselves, and can make us better than we are, is still the stuff of fantasy. But if our goals are simple and easy to understand, does an AI really need to be that smart to get the job done? For instance, can a pair of swanky headphones with an AI personal trainer make me a better runner?
Smart headphones put an AI fitness coach in your ear
As a rule, fitness coaching from wearable devices is pretty limited when you're in mid-exercise. They'll tell you when you hit your goals, but they don't really know you and your patterns. That's where LifeBeam thinks it can help. It's crowdfunding new earphones, Vi, that combine sensors (tracking aspects like heart rate and elevation) with an app-based artificial intelligence coach. The audio gear provides real-time advice that adapts based on numerous factors, ranging from your running technique to your stress levels. It'll even do its best to minimize exhaustion and injury.
LifeBeam's heart-rate monitoring cycling helmet is ready for your commute
The last time that we covered LifeBeam, it was to tell you about the defense company's heart-rate monitoring cycle helmet that went up for pre-order on Indiegogo. More than a year later, and the second generation of the headgear is now ready for you to buy. This time around, the LifeBeam Helmet comes with a better sensor that cribs tech from the company's military aerospace systems that are used to monitor fighter pilots and special operations forces. The new hardware not only offers more accurate data, but also promises to vastly improve battery life to the point where it can be used several times in a month before you'll need to recharge. Other tweaks include the addition of Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+, while the helmet's shape has been redesigned to better fit your head. It's available from the company right now, setting you back $200, complete with a limited-edition carbon carry case.
Insert Coin: LifeBeam heart-monitoring smart cycling helmet (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Let's face it: heart monitors, whether strapped to our chests or mounted to the front of a treadmill, are an awful pain to use. But, those rate readouts can be quite useful while involved in any sort of physical activity, making them a necessary hindrance. A proposed "smart cycling helmet" from LifeBeam, a company best known for its defense products, would serve to simplify things a bit. The solution, which is based on physiological monitoring devices installed in some fighter pilot helmets, would instead serve consumers -- cyclists, specifically. LifeBeam will insert sensors within cycling headgear, letting you capture measurements as you pedal up hills and down city streets. With included ANT+ and Bluetooth transmitters, the device, which weighs 50 grams and supports up to 15 hours of continuous usage, can feed data to a smartphone or sport watch, for example, letting you track your stats in realtime. LifeBeam has turned to Indiegogo to raise funds for the project, with limited "pre-order" pricing fixed at $149 for the first 200 helmets sold. From there, the price jumps to $189 -- helmets are expected to begin shipping in September of this year. Sound like a fit? Hit up the source link to help the team reach their $50,000 funding goal, or, if you still need a bit of convincing, you can check out the well-produced video embedded just past the break.
