If you want to make a sports gadget or other wearable thing, then read this

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

As the editor-in-chief of a very popular publication, an amateur athlete, a freak, a geek and so on, I am often visited by startups and other initiative people who are sick with the topic of wearables and the internet of things. They are interested in testing on me ideas for new gadgets for fitness, wellness, meditation. It is understood that these gadgets will live on someone's body and make that person feel good. But they often do not even suspect what the human body really is and how it is ready to destroy literally any gadget in a matter of days or weeks. Here is a story for you about what is happening with the best gadgets of our time in my case.

A little bit about yourself. I am doing triathlon. I train 8 to 12 hours a week. I run at -10 ° С and at +35 ° С. The humidity around me is from 0 to 100%. I swim in a salt sea, in a fresh river or lake, in a soviet toxic pool and in an ionized modern pool. I can lose over 2 liters of sweat when jogging in Asia, or I can be on the bike for 2 to 4 hours, and how much I lose there is incalculable. And when you, far from being a pro and not the best amateur, pull on or try on a future gadget as for a target audience, then you need to look at the task more seriously. It's easier to design a lava diving suit or chemical protection suit than a fitness gadget.

There is such a company - Jawbone. She makes bracelets with the best ecosystem. I had Jawbone UP × 2 and Jawbone UP24. They all died after living on me for 3-4 months. They are not bad, just someone thought I was a dummy on Cebit. But it wasn't me.

First UP. Dead

Second UP. Dead

Third UP24. Dead

My last fitness watch is the Polar V800. This is the best sports gadget you can think of. Design, web and mobile software, convenience and intuitiveness - everything is up to par. But after just three months of the described application, the open charging and synchronization connector simply rotted away. Corrosion processes began in it, which led to a smooth flooding of the watch, and soon they will die. Garmin Fenix 3 have already been ordered, and there is a hope that at least these guys treated the humble lover as they should.

Rotten Polar V800 connector

The water is already inside (perspiration inside). The gadget is sinking

A third example is the Jabra Wireless and Jabra Pulse Sport headphones. The first died in three months, the second in two months. Pulse is an ingenious product that works like wireless headphones and can record the pulse from the ear. It was very sad when they just stopped charging - a friend died, no less.

I also had other sports watches, whose aluminum case was damaged by light corrosion. They are still in the ranks, and this does not interfere with their work. But all the same again this carelessness and perhaps the producers.

And therefore morality. If you want to do a startup on the Internet of Things, if you apply for my wrist, neck or ears, if you believe that you can be with me 24/7, then I pray you do not think that the task is simple and you just need to draw beautiful pictures, make adaptive site, and the Chinese will do the rest.

If you do not understand how toxic and chemically aggressive the environment of the human body is, if you have no idea what is going on in an inch from the body of a hard-working amateur athlete, then make better hair extensions for hipsters or regular embossed leather bags.

And yes, the editors and personally I will be happy to help you with an idea, a test of the strength of your gadget or with an overview of the ready-made "breakthrough of the Internet of fitness things.":)