UPDATED 13:19 EDT / OCTOBER 22 2013

Fashion-Forward Fitness Trackers : From Fitbug to RISR

This week’s Quantified Self round up features a “fitbug” that records all your activities to help you get in shape, a fitness tracker fancy enough to be a fashion accessory, and a project to help you improve your body language.

Fitbug Orb

 

A new fitness tracker is out to undercut other popular fitness trackers in the market with its very low $50 price tag.  The Fitbug Orb can be worn on your wrist like a watch, or placed just about anywhere else on your body.

 Unlike other fitness trackers with batteries lasting only a week or so, the Fitness Orb doesn’t need recharging with a battery that lasts to up to 6 months.  It’s also splash-proof, so sweat won’t damage it, just don’t submerge it in water, or go jumping in a pool or shower wearing the device.

The Fitness Orb tracks your activity 24/7, including your quality of sleep.  It comes with the KiK app that helps you get motivated by sending notifications if the device notices that you are not giving it your best effort, and can even connect to MyFitnessPal.  Fitness Orb also comes with a Fitbug membership, which includes food logging and progress tracking, plus a host of healthy recipes, wellbeing content, online games, advice from resident experts and all the hottest wellness topics in the weekly Bugzine newsletter.

BodyMedia Core 2

 

Earlier this year, BodyMedia unveiled the second version of its popular tracking device, the Core 2.  The device is slimmer than previous offerings such as the Link and the original Core, plus you can quickly change its appearance with snap-on faceplates, armbands and cuffs.

Like the original versions, the Core 2 is something you place on your upper arm, not on your wrist.  It is equipped with sensors that can detect a user’s temperature, heart rate, and other biometric data.  The Core was supposed to launch last August but has been delayed, and its price is expected to be in the price range of the Link and Core at $119.

One thing to consider is the cost of its Online Activity Manager, which is not free, but at least it is compatible with third party apps like RunKeeper and MyFitnessPal.

RISR

 

Experts say that body language conveys more information than spoken words alone.  A simple gesture could be a dead giveaway that you are lying, or you are not confident in your answer.  So what if there was a way to help you improve your body language, to keep your message from being lost in translation?

RISR is a project, and not an actual product, out to explore the future of medical technology.  RISR aims to improve your body language through vibration feedbacks.  This project was inspired by the likes of Valedo, MotivePro and LUMOback, which uses sensors and vibrations to alert you if you are not sitting up straight, if your posture is wrong to prevent injuries resulting from the wrong way of lifting things, running and other extraneous activities.

Though RISR is not a real product, the possibility of it becoming a reality is huge since the technology to build it is already available.  And with the help of social networking sites, you can get feedback, not only from the data stored on the device itself, but from your family and friends as well.  A simple comment on your photo could alert you that you were slouching on a particular photo, completely changing the way you present yourself in front of others in the future.  Poker players could also benefit from this as it could help them eradicate their tells.  Hopefully, if someone does develop this, users won’t have to wear a vest-like mesh of wires and sensors, because that could be quite uncomfortable to wear.

Get all your Fashion-Forward Fit needs on our Smart Body collection on Springpad.


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