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Consumer electronics manufacturer LG announced it would be introducing its first fitness wearable devices, the Lifeband Touch and Heart Rate Earphones to consumers starting this month.
Both devices can be wirelessly connected to most of today’s smartphones to create a full-featured wearable ecosystem. Following its launch in the United States on May 18, LG Lifeband Touch will be rolled out in key markets in Asia and Europe in the days and weeks ahead, the company said.
The Lifeband Touch enables users to check incoming calls and messages and control their music playlists on their smartphones, keeping wearers connected and offering an uninterrupted workout experience simultaneously.
The Lifeband Touch is compatible with both Android and iOS operating systems and is designed to work with the LG Fitness app as well as fitness apps such as MyFitnessPal, Runkeeper and MapMyFitness.
The device features a full-touch OLED display that provides real-time access to a full range of fitness data so wearers can track their progress and adjust their workout plans accordingly.
Lightweight and designed to be simple to use, a motion-sensing algorithm automatically turns on the display when wearers rotate their wrists.The Lifeband Touch features two sensors — a triple-axis accelerometer and an altimeter — that work together to provide more accurate data in real time.
The -90mAh battery is good for five days of use between charges. In addition, the Lifeband Touch is available in three different sizes, eschewing the more standard one-size-fits-all approach.
The company’s Heart Rate Earphones are designed to provide accurate heart rate data by measuring blood flow signals in the ear through PerformTek sensor technology while also delivering good sound.
The Heart Rate Earphones can be used alone or with the Lifeband Touch, and a separate clip-on medallion contains Bluetooth connectivity which sends data to the Lifeband Touch or a compatible smartphone.
When using the Fitness App, users can also receive audible status updates informing them of their heart rate and VO2 max (maximal oxygen consumption) levels in real time.
While about one in six consumers who have heard about wearable technology (wearables) are using them–with 61 percent wearing fitness bands, the appeal of wearables goes beyond fashion accessories, particularly as more consumers adopt technology to help address their individual health and fitness needs, using both wearables and smartphone apps to meet their goals, according to an April survey from Nielsen.
In addition, the survey found nearly one-third of U.S. smartphone owners—about 46 million unique users—accessed apps in the fitness and health category in January 2014, an 18 percent increase in users compared with the same month a year earlier.