heartmonitor
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The next watchOS update will reportedly include the ECG app
One of the main features Apple announced for Apple Watch Series 4 was an electrocardiogram app, which could help you detect an irregular heart rhythm. While it wasn't included with the Watch Series 4 at release, nor in last month's watchOS update, it appears the app will arrive soon.
Your next heart monitor could be graphene-coated Silly Putty
For a child's toy, Silly Putty has some downright crazy physical properties. The mixture of boric acid and silicon oil, originally developed as a synthetic replacement for rubber, is a non-Newtonian fluid. Its viscosity isn't affected by temperature, but rather external force -- that is, its rate of flow depends on how hard you push or stretch it. And while its original inventors were content to leave it as a plaything, a team of researchers from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland are about to put it to work in the medical field.
Adidas miCoach X_Cell hits FCC, looks ready to track your sporting life
Judging by a recent FCC application, Adidas is about to add a new player to its miCoach lineup: the X_Cell performance monitor. According to the manual, the wee device can either be worn on your clothing or strapped to your chest for use in sports like football, soccer and tennis. So attached, it'll store seven hours or more of your sprinting speeds, dodging and cutting forces, jump forces, workout times and heart rates. You can then connect via Bluetooth to the miCoach iOS app to monitor your progress or brag about it on Facebook or Twitter. Adidas has yet to announce it, so there's no word on cost or an arrival date -- but when it does come, coasting through practice might be a thing of the past. To see a flip-side image, hit the break.
Scosche myTrek sends workout vitals to your iPhone, starts shipping now for $130 (video)
With a variety of portable power accessories, most Scosche products are designed to keep gadgets up and running, not to get our own blood flowing. The company's new Bluetooth myTrek pulse monitor pairs with an iPhone or iPod touch to motivate you to keep going and going, however, pumping "inspiring" audio alerts through your headphones during a workout, while also tracking pulse, distance, speed, pace, and calories burned. The arm-strap uses a pair of LEDs, along with a photo sensor and accelerometer to capture vitals as it rests strapped to your forearm, providing five hours of continuous feedback before needing its own boost using the included USB cable. You'll need to have your iOS device within 33 feet of the device to record your workout, so the myTrek may be better suited for trips to the gym than, say, a run through the park in the rain. It's also rather pricey, at $130, but if you're already dropping a grand or two for your gym membership each year, a gadget that lets you elegantly track your progress may be within reach.
Ford car seat prototype keeps its sensors on your heart, so you can keep your eyes on the road
Chevy had the whole "Heartbeat of America" thing cornered in the 80s, but now its Ford's turn to get in on the action. The car maker's European research team unveiled a prototype car seat capable of monitoring a driver's heart courtesy of six embedded electrodes, which can take measurements without coming in direct contact with skin. The technology, the latest in a recent string of health-related in-vehicle concepts from the company, can detect whether the driver is having a heart attack and transmit that information to the vehicle's safety system. According to the researchers, the system is already highly accurate in its prototype state, making correct readings for 98 percent of drive time with 95 percent of the drivers tested. For more information on the system, check the video and press release after the break.
iPhonECG case monitors your heart rate to make sure you're appropriately excited about CES
CES isn't just about incrementally thinner or faster hardware, you know. Some people like to bring legitimately innovative ideas to the show, such as this iPhonECG case, which does what its name suggests: it takes an ECG (electrocardiogram) reading of your heart's activity through a pair of electrodes and then communicates its findings to an iPhone 4 it can be attached to. We say it can be attached to an iPhone as communication is done wirelessly, so you'll probably be able to monitor your ticker's rhythm without the Applephone pressed against your bosom. Then again, maybe you like that. It's a free world, we don't judge. We'll be sending out our most hairy-chested editor to give this thing a proper test at the Las Vegas convention next week. Until then, scope out the video after the break.
Nike+ heart rate monitor tipped for June 1 launch
It was hinted at back in September 2009, now it appears certain that Nike will deliver a Nike+ heart rate monitor iPod accessory to the US on June 1st. The following Nike forum post by a long-time contributor and a suspected Nike employee has set heart valves aflutter: "I have a U.S. launch date for the Nike+ compatible heart rate monitor. It will officially launch on June 1, 2010, although it may reach some retail outlets slightly sooner. It will reach Canadian markets in June and will launch internationally in summer 2010, exact date to be determined." We might buy one just to prove that we're still alive.
TI introduces the eZ430-Chronos development platform... and sports watch
If there's one thing wireless networking developers have been clamoring for, it's the ability to take their reference platform mobile. Extremely mobile. TI's apparently heard this cry, as it's just introduced the eZ430-Chronos, a fully-capable wireless dev platform contained entirely within a sports watch. Yeah, it's just about the geekiest thing we've ever seen, and at $49 it's even kind of a steal -- especially since it doubles as a heart monitor out of the box. Looks like we've got a new super-nerd stocking-stuffer of choice.
MedNet app monitors heartbeat, transfers data to cardiologists
Heart monitors for cellphones have definitely been around, but a new option is about to surface for AT&T customers. The service, which will be offered up starting April 21st by MedNet Healthcare Technologies, will somehow let patients monitor their own heartbeats and automatically send that information to their cardiologists using Bluetooth-enabled phones. Reportedly, the information will be sent out to a central monitoring center, which then transfers the data to the doctor. As expected, there will be a monthly fee for the service (exact pricing has yet to be disclosed), and doctors must also be signed on to receive the information. Sounds good and all, but seriously, good luck getting your M.D. to be attentive to your every data dump.[Via textually]
First Look: Heart Monitor
If you run, or participate in sports, you can now use your iPhone to measure your heart rate in addition to listening to your favorite tunes. Last week we mentioned that Heart Monitor [iTunes link] would be released soon, and as it turns out, it was approved by Apple this weekend. I've been testing this application all week. Here are my results. This application can measure your heart rate using one of two methods. One way is to place the iPhone, microphone-down, on the bottom of your wrist, or chest -- this method produced poor results. The other method, which works well, is to use the standard Apple headset/mic combo and place the microphone portion on your neck. Both methods are sketchy in a noisy room, as Heart Monitor uses sound to detect your heart beat.If you are in a noisy location, you can use the "Pulse Count" tab to measure your heart rate manually. The application will walk you through counting your pulse rate for 10 seconds. Then, you will be prompted to press the corresponding button for the number of beats. The application will then log your heart rate in the "Results" tab. It would be nice to be able to export the results somehow (possibly through email).The hardest part to using this application is finding your pulse, but the developer has included pictures and tips to help. Overall, Heart Monitor works as advertised and has a beautiful user interface that gets right to the point. Be sure to look at our gallery of screenshots. You can purchase Heart Monitor for $4.99 on the iTunes App Store. %Gallery-32950%Thanks, John!
Found Footage: iPhone app monitors your heart rate
A new iPhone application, currently awaiting approval from Apple, will monitor your heart rate via the built-in microphone (through either the onboard mic on the iPhone or through the mic/headset combo). The developer has released the above video demonstration. In addition to monitoring your heart rate using the microphone, you can also count your bpm (beats per minute) using the voice prompts. The application then stores your heart rate for later reference. We can't wait to see this application hit the app store!Thanks, John!
Samsung and Adidas working on SGH-F110 handset?
Although the SGH-F110 was initially believed to be a sure bet, things have since turned, as the German site Area Mobile has updated its article by removing the bulk of the text at Samsung's request. Nevertheless, this could also mean that Sammy just wants the thing kept under wraps a bit longer, so here's what we know so far. The black slider will reportedly boast quad-band GSM and EDGE connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0, a two-megapixel camera, microSD expansion slot, two-inch LCD, and a host of exercise-centric features such as a pedometer, heart rate monitor, distance / calorie burning calculator, and possibly a "voice coach" to keep you going just one more lap. Unsurprisingly, there's no details on price nor availability, and we're still not sure if the pictured design will stick if this thing does emerge, but there's no time like the summer to bust out a fitness phone, eh?[Via Pocket-Lint]
