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FitBit is Clip-On Wireless Exercise-Tracker, Monitors Your Sleep Too
Posted by Kit Eaton at 7:59 PM on September 10, 2008
The FitBit's just been unveiled at the TechCrunch 50 event, and it's an interesting gizmo: it's designed to clip to your clothing where it tracks your exercise activity, a bit like Nike+. But unlike the iPod/Nike combo, it wirelessly connects to its charger/basestation which sends data to an online database that tracks your performance. And it comes with a wrist-strap so you can wear it at night. Apparently as you slip into REM sleep your wrist will tremor slightly, and the FitBit uses this to work out your sleep quality. These prototypes have no screen, but the final product will have an OLED one that includes a Tamagotchi-style avatar that'll symbolise your health status. It's due in December for US$99. [Gearlog via BBG]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
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Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 8:56 PM 10/9/08
Well, as long as one of the avatar choices is a fat guy on a couch, it would work with me.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
bloodymed
Posted 8:42 PM 10/9/08
i´m not much into sleep physiology bit your wrist should only tremor in the non-rem phase, in the REM-sleep only your eyemovement, heartrate and breathing is increased.
bloodymed
DustyButt
Posted 10:17 PM 10/9/08
I don't trust it.
It lets the aliens know when to come and get you at night. Or in the case of dc-united, makes for an uncomfortable, and embarrassing situation for both the aliens and himself.
DustyButt
dc-united
Posted 10:10 PM 10/9/08
When I have wrist tremors at night in bed they usually have nothing to do with REM sleep.
Just sayin'...
dc-united
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 10:27 PM 10/9/08
@dc-united: You have night terrors too? Damn cobras.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
GusRandall
Posted 3:17 AM 11/9/08
What's the monthly fee to load and track fitness online. There has to be something there because $99 is awful cheap for a "sell and forget" business model.
GusRandall
anti-hello-kitty
Posted 5:22 AM 11/9/08
Just how does this thing work? Exactly how will it measure calories burned if this thing is in your pocket. Doesn't its sensor actually need to detect your heartbeats via skin?
"the FitBit has a built-in motion sensor that tracks exercise intensity levels, calories burned"
anti-hello-kitty
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->
Posted 6:16 AM 11/9/08
@GusRandall: It's either not water/sweat proof, or requires a proprietary battery. So if you take a shower in the morning after wearing it all night, you have to buy a new one. But that's just my dumb theory.
Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->