OMsignal’s Biometric Smartwear: functional and fashionable. (via Omsignal)
Fitness and small electronic devices seem to go hand-in-hand with one another. Just look inside any workout center and you’d be hardpressed to find someone who didn’t at least have an iPod strapped on them or is using a smartphone with a fitness app on it. Chances are those people are also wearing skin-tight attire to work out in as well. Bring the two together and you have a winning combination, at least that’s what OMsignal thinks.
Wearable computing is increasingly popular but integrating the technology into clothing, as opposed to just strapping it to your body, has been difficult to accomplish. Monitoring a user’s vitals is typically done by sticking sensors on their body and monitoring the collected data using an app on a mobile device. With OMsignals’ Biometric Smartwear, there is no more need to place sensors all over or strap devices to user’s bodies to garner pertinent fitness data, as their new fitness fashion line incorporates the technology in the garment itself. The company’s Biometric Smartwear features fabric similar to other high-performance fitness wear (think Under Armour) and sports a sensor band around the chest area that’s been woven into the fabric with silver-based conductive thread.
The band transfers fitness data, such as heart rate, breathing rate and calories burned and sends the data to a ‘little black box’ connected to the front of the shirt. The box is also outfitted with an accelerometer, magnetometer and gyrometer that tracks the user’s movements through space, providing the user with additional information on fitness levels. That data is sent wirelessly through Bluetooth to any mobile device for monitoring performance and even stress levels. The device is powered through an onboard battery that can provide data analysis for around 30 workouts before needing a recharge.
That data analysis doesn’t come cheaply, however, as the shirt (only men’s sizes are currently available for pre-order) starts at $199 for one shirt and up to $359 for four. While that might be expensive for some, you can’t put a price on fitness.
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