Just like the Garmin units before it, the Polar RCX5 seeks to be your one-and-only wearable fitness supercomputer. It may just have done it, actually.
The unit uses a variety of sensors to measure just how much good stuff you are doing to your body as you writhe around in agony while wearing short shorts. You know the drill. GPS, heart beat, calories burned, distance ran, all sent via Bluetooth to another device.
The basic pack costs $350 which includes the unit and plus the WearLink+ Hybrid, an amphibious chest-strapped heart rate monitor. There are other bundles as well. There’s a bike bundle costs $390 and includes Polar’s CS W.I.N.D. speed sensor that installs on a fork and spoke. The Run bundle costs $420 and comes with a s3+ stride sensor that ..read more
Posted in: Accessories, GPS, Polar, Watches
Need any more proof that Nike+ is cool? The GPS data pulled from your Nike+ SportWatch system has now been turned into art. Interactive media collective YesYesNo are to blame for the artistic hoo-hawing. The collective pulled data straight from Nike’s servers and began collating them into patterns.
Best of all? The art is individualized. You see, the collective did one runner at a time. They pulled all of their data, distance, speed, where they went etc. Then they transformed the data into an image like the one shown above. Each user of the system has their own unique art.
The collective is far from commercialization, but it’s a still a cool concept that could reap dividends for them down the line. I’d buy a poster of mine, anyways. Although I have ..read more
Posted in: Armbands, GPS, Nike, Watches
Nike is all about GPS-integration, and now you can get some of it on the cheap. The company’s Nike+ SportWatch GPS watch is on sale for just $199. The device is partnered up with TomTom for all the GPS love you can shake a satellite stick at.
Basically, this is a watch that keeps tracks of your runs. It works similarly to the Nike+ iPod systems that are floating around but these devices are better for serious runners who don’t want to run the risk of breaking their beloved smartphone. It keeps tracks of your history and records and will also give you an alarm when it’s time to start cooling down.
The units are already available at the pleasantly reduced cost.
Posted in: GPS, Nike, Watches
Ah, the humble GPS. It’s in our phones. It’s in our computers. It’s not, however, in our carry bags. Not until now, that is. A Chicago resident known simply as Josh has been toiling on a project to put the global positioning in backpacks and bags. This could be a boon to the hopelessly lost. Now we don’t have to whip out our phones every time we are lost, which is approximately every two seconds. It’ll be right there on our bags!
This bag can actually fool people into thinking you know which direction you go. You don’t have to look at it, ever. It works by constantly monitoring your position versus your destination. Then, it sends you vibrations to let you know if you are going the right way. Simple ..read more
Posted in: Backpack, Bags, Concept Design, DIY - Corner, GPS
Recon Instruments and Zeal have teamed up to bring us their Transcend GPS-enabled goggles. The best part? These goggles are already available for order. In case you were keeping track, these are the world’s first pair of GPS-enabled goggles. All of you fancypants skier and snowboarders out there are in for a treat.
There are two models to choose from. The $499 Transcend SPPX is fitted with an SPPX polarized and photochromic lens, while the $399 Transcend SPX features an SPX polarized lens. Really, the price isn’t as exorbitant as it could be considering those “fashionable” Oakleys don’t have anything by way of GPS and they cost just as much.
They both come equipped with a Zeal Optics micro LCD display. The amazing head-mounted display provides real-time feedback to the ..read more
Posted in: Eyewear, GPS, Recon Instruments, Wearable Tech, Zeal
Many watches use the mighty power of GPS to do all kinds of cool stuff. Only one of these watches, however, are associated with the venerable brand Timex. The Timex Global Trainer GPS watch comes with all kinds of bells and whistles: SIRFstar III GPS, water resistance to 50m, ANT+ compatibility, and training software for both PC and Mac. It also includes a heart rate monitor, for an additional $50.
The Global Trainer is available now at REI outlets and at REI.com. It costs $275 for the watch by itself and $325 for the the watch plus the heart rate monitor. A great and surprisingly watch-like way to stay in shape. Thanks Timex! This item will be available at other retailers come September.
Posted in: GPS, Timex, Watches
Sony has made a lot of cool stuff in their day, but this may just take the cake. The company has been showing off a really unique concept lately: Eye-tracking glasses that are designed for “lifelogging.”
What is logging one’s life, you ask? Well the eye-tracking glasses combine with an outward facing camera to literally log a life. Everything you do. Everywhere you go. Pretty much the opening salvo in cool “live another person’s life” technology. Cool!
It is just a concept for now, but the company plans to include even more bells and whistles, such as GPS capabilities. More on this as it develops.
Posted in: Concept Design, Eyewear Display, GPS, Sony
The humble watch phone has yet to really capture the imaginations of the people. Still, it doesn’t stop some companies from trying. Next up? Shanghai Zhiyuan Vacuum Electric Company with their no frills GPS 800G watch phone.
This watch phone handles time telling, texting, GPS routing and even emergency calling. Not to mention regular, non-emergency, calling. No word on when they’ll come to these shores, but you should be able to pick one up via your favorite Asian importer. You do have a favorite Asian importer, right?
Posted in: GPS, Watches
Recon Instruments is planning to put a heads up display inside ski-goggles. We’ve been waiting for eyewear display’s for quite some time now. It’s about time this long-time video game feature is finally going to make its way into real world products. The system works by integrating a GPS-linked heads-up display system(HUD), and ski goggles.
Recon Instruments is reportedly developing the technology right now, and if they can stay on track, a heads-up-display set of goggles will be be on sale next fall between $350 to $450. The device will be able to tap into your cellphone via bluetooth, and if your phone has a GPS chip, you’ll be able to see where you’re at on a small map, and where your fellow snow pals are and where you’re ..read more
Posted in: Display, Eyewear, Eyewear Display, GPS, HUD, Recon Instruments, Sports, Wearable Tech
As part of a commercial and government concept, Pharad has developed a wearable antenna. Compatible with GSM band phones, this embeddable device helps increase reception. When first created it was aimed for first responders but now is available to the general public.This flexible, water-proof antenna, is able to be place within or on garments for great versatility. It is made of Pharad’s state-of-the-art, thin flexible material called Flextenna. This is great considering they offer other varieties too like UWB and GPS. This may become a mainstream concept soon.
Posted in: GPS, Mobile Phone Integration, Mobile Phone Technology, Pharad, Safety, Two Way Radio, Waterproof
