Without a doubt, it is pretty obvious that wearables are the future of technology, and will increase market share in 2014 and beyond. One of the more popular forms of wearables are those for fitness junkies, and they’ve been around for a couple of years now. In our modest opinion, the wearables realm has thus far underachieved from different android smartwatches available to Nike (which quit, as far as we know) and other’s efforts to create fitbands to help us stay fit.
Atlas Wearables was founded back in Jan. of 2013, and thus far has raised 2.2 million dollars, thanks in large to Indiegogo “Forever Funding”. Their current device – the Atlas Wristand has been coined by its team as an “advanced exercise detection” wearable.
So what makes this one any better than all the others? It sounds odd that a small company with so little funding (in comparison to size of the market and competition) could compete and even over-take the big dogs.
Atlas can automatically identify your exercises and log them for you, so that not only does it count your steps, in addition it is also advanced enough to know when you are doing a regular push-up and a triangular push-up, or if you are doing simultaneous or alternating bicep curls. The Atlas wristband will be able to track something between 50-100 of the most popular strength workouts.
How is any of that even possible? First of all algorithms. Their algorithms is their own IP. Do note though that their CEO Peter Li has already said that there will be an API that will make part of the technology accessible to other parties. This is what the technology is able to do when companies combine it with actual human movement.
Atlas Wearables has their Motion Genome Project, which in short, allows the Atlas team to classify and analyze millions of routine movements from current and future exercise detection wearables, by getting help from local athletes and trainers.
Other than detection, the Atlas display shows you only the most important information from reps, heart rate, the exercise being performed and more. In regards to the heart rate, it appears like the detector used by the company is ahead of the rest, as it allows you to know what cardiovascular zone you’re in.
One feature that makes us more optimistic about this wearable than others is that the Atlas actually suggests a rest time between reps based on the judged heart rate.
For those interested in keeping an eye on their weight, the company claims that the touch screen on the Atlas is the only wearable that allows for simple weight input (without the hassle of your phone). You are always “in touch” with your weight.
We would like to see a feature added for those that want music, because what’s the point in having a phone and wristband? It will also be interesting to see how accurate it is when someone switches between exercises almost simultaneously – like in cross-fit.
We definitely want in on one, and if you do too, then you can pre-order. Releases is set for summer ’15.
