SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Transcription

1 A Seminar Report Submitted to JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY ANANTAPUR in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of the Degree of BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY in ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING by G S MOHAN KUMAR (12BF1A0444) DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to JNTUA, Ananthapuramu) Karakambadi Road, TIRUPATI

2 A Seminar Report Submitted to JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY ANANTAPUR in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of the Degree of BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY in ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING by G S MOHAN KUMAR (12BF1A0444) DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to JNTUA, Ananthapuramu) Karakambadi Road, TIRUPATI

3 SRI VENKATESWARA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to JNTUA, Ananthapuramu) Karakambadi Road, TIRUPATI ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the Seminar Report entitled FITBIT is being submitted by G S MOHAN KUMAR bearing Regd No. 12BF1A0444, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Technology in ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING to the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Anantapur. SEMINAR SUPERVISOR HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT B. Naresh Babu C. Chandrasekhar M.Tech, MISTE Ph.D.

4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I m thankful to Seminar Supervisor Mr. B. NARESH BABU, Assistant Professor, Department of ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING, for his valuable guidance and encouragement. His suggestions have helped us in successful completion of the seminar. I would like to express my gratefulness and sincere thanks to Dr. C. CHANDRASEKHAR, Head of the Department, Department of ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING, for his kind help and encouragement during the course of my study and in the successful completion of the seminar. I have great pleasure in expressing my hearty thanks to our beloved Principal Dr. N. SUDHAKAR REDDY for his support and encouragement. I would like to thank our parents and friends, who have the greatest contributions in all my achievements. G S MOHAN KUMAR ( 12BF1A0444)

5 ABSTRACT Fitbit is a high performance, wirelessly connected tracker in a flexible and comfortable wristband format. Fitbit Inc. is an American company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded and managed by James Park and Eric Friedman, the company is known for its products of the same name, which are activity trackers, wireless-enabled wearable technology devices that measure data such as the number of steps walked, quality of sleep, steps climbed, and other personal metrics. The first of these was the Fitbit Tracker. The Fitbit Tracker uses a three-dimensional accelerometer, similar to that in the Wii Remote, to sense user movement. The Tracker measures steps taken, and combines it with user data to calculate distance walked, calories burned, floors climbed and activity duration and intensity. You can access all of Fitbit stats on your smart phone or computer. Fitbit comes with one large and one small wristband made of flexible, durable elastomer material that is comfortable enough to wear all day. It also includes one stainless steel clasp used to fasten the wristband. Fitbit launched a native app for Android. Users could log their food, activities, water intake and weight, as well as track their fitness goals throughout the day even while offline. Originally the ios and Android apps could only retrieve data from the user's Fitbit account, rather than connecting directly to the fitness tracker, but in later the Fitbit One and Zip were announced with Bluetooth support for syncing directly with phones. i

6 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO. 2.1 Fitbit Size and Weight Working of Fitbit The Tech Teardown Fitbit Tracker Fitbit Ultra Fitbit One Fitbit Zip Fitbit Flex with accompanying wristband Fitbit Force Fitbit Charge Fitbit Charge HR Fitbit Surge Fitbit Aria Fitbit Blaze Jawbone Nike Fuel Band 23 ii

7 LIST OF TABLES TABLE NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO. 4.1 SWOT Analysis of Fitbit Comparison between different wearable Devices 25 iii

8 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BMI CPSC GPS HR IFTTT LED OLED USB Body Mass Index Consumer Product Safety Commission Global Positioning System Heart Rate If This Then That Light Emitting Diode Organic Light Emitting Diode Universal Serial Bus iv

9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract List of Figures List of Tables List of Abbreviations i ii iii iv Chapter No. Description Page No. 1 INTRODUCTION History of Fitbit Objective 2 2 IMPLEMENTATION What is Fitibt? What does the Fitbit do? Hardware Size and Weight Software Fitibt App 2.5 Connected Hardware 2.6 Connected Software 2.7 Summary DEVELOPMENT How it Works? The Tech Teardown Fitter, Bit by Bit Controls and Display Features 14 4 WEARABLE PRODUCTS Fitbit Products Fitbit Tracker Fitbit Ultra Fitbit One

10 4.1.4 Fitbit Zip Fitbit Flex Fitbit Force Fitbit Charge Fitbit Charge HR Fitbit Surge Fitbit Aria Fitbit Blaze 4.2 Other Wearable Products Jawbone Nike Fuel Band 4.3 Fitbit SWOT Analysis 4.4 Comparison of various Wearables ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 26 6 CONCLUSION 30 7 REFERENCES 31

11 Chapter-1 INTRODUCTION In 2007, Eric and James, realized that sensors and wireless technology had advanced to a point where they could bring amazing experiences to fitness and health. They embarked on a journey to create a wearable product that would change the way we move. With computing devices becoming smaller and smaller it is now possible for an individual to don such a device like a hat or jacket. It is clear that these technologies will enable us to extent the desktop resources (including memory computation and communication) to anywhere in travel. Also this constant access, augmented by a battery of body mounted sensors will enable a computer to be sensitive to the activities in which we are engaged and thus allow the computer to participate in an active manner as we perform our tasks. This area includes computer science, computer engineering and psychology. Fitbit was started as fitness tracker to encourage personal responsibility for one s health. The Mission is to help people lead healthier, more active lives and Making Fitness Fun. Geared towards helping individuals reach fitness goals through developing everyday activity. It helps the average person, not just the marathoner. 1.1 History of Fitbit Fitbit, has been in the business for many years. The company was founded out of San Francisco, California in October The original tracker was dubbed simply the Fitbit, and now goes by the name of Fitbit Classic. This model spent a few years on the market and was a bit limited in terms of features. Well, limited at least in comparison to what we are seeing on the current generation of Fitbit branded trackers. The Fitbit Classic kept track of steps and distance as well as calories burned and activity intensity. Similar to the more modern Fitbit models, the Classic tracker also monitored your sleep. The Fitbit Classic was followed up by the Fitbit Ultra in October S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 1

12 2011. The Ultra brought some new goodies such as the altimeter to track elevation gain, your stairs, and a stopwatch that could be used to time activities. There were also some other options that arrived with the Ultra such as a digital clock and the "Chatter" messages. Along with the Fitbit Classic and Ultra, the company went on to introduce several other models since Those included the One, Zip, Flex and Force. The One and Zip models came in a clip style and were the first to sync wirelessly using Bluetooth 4.0 and were introduced in September The Flex arrived later in May 2013 for those looking to get something wrist-worn. And to round out the release cycle, the Force was introduced in October Due to frequent complaints, the Force was recalled in March The Classic and Ultra models are no longer available for sale, but with the exception of the now-recalled Force, the One, Zip and Flex are all currently available. 1.2 Objective On the walk to work, at the weight room or in the last mile somewhere between first tries and finish lines, Pillow fights and pushing limits, that s where you find fitness. Every moment matters and every bit makes a big impact. Because fitness is the sum of your life. That s the idea Fitbit was built on that fitness is not just about gym time. It s all the time. How you spend your day determines when you reach your goals. And seeing your progress helps you see what s possible. When it comes to reaching your fitness goals, steps are just the beginning. Fitbit tracks every part of your day including activity, exercise, food, weight and sleep to help you find your fit, stay motivated, and see how small steps make a big impact. Unbeatable technology, the largest fitness community & a family of products fit for everyone so you can achieve your health and fitness goals, whatever they may be. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 2

13 Chapter-2 IMPLEMENTATION 2.1 What is Fitbit? Using technology to try and improve your fitness is becoming more and more common these days. There are a variety of devices available, however one of the lower cost and simpler to use options is a fitness tracker. These trackers are coming from a variety of well-known companies such as Jawbone, Nike, Garmin and even Samsung. They are also coming from some newer companies such as Misfit Wearables. But while wearable, and fitness trackers in particular, may be somewhat of a new trend there is one company that seems to have a slight edge in terms of name recognition. That company is Fitbit, and despite this all being a new trend, they have already been around for more than a few years. Whether you want to use heart rate to take your fitness to the next level or just want to see how your steps add up each day, there s a Fitbit tracker for your goals. The Fitbit Tracker uses a three-dimensional accelerometer, to sense user movement. In plain language, that just means it tracks motion, as well as the intensity of that motion. Wireless-enabled wearable technology which are activity trackers. 2.2 What does the Fitbit do? The Fitbit is an activity tracker aimed at measuring your exercise, diet and sleep. The wristband primarily tracks sleep and steps each day. Also can be used to track food, water, and exercise. A user can track progress from any smartphone in an easy to use and appealing app! Fitbit sends you a weekly recapping all your progress, and even rewards you with badges for what you ve do. You also get push notifications when you reach your goal, or you re almost there! S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 3

14 Used to track sleep, quality sleep, steps, miles, distance, calories taken in, calories burned, water intake, active minutes and can be personalized to set certain goals such as: 1. Steps, 2. Calories Burned, 3. Active Minutes, 4. Water Intake etc 2.3 Hardware Fitbit has several models currently available. Those are the One, Zip and Flex, and that ultimately means those considering a purchase have an option to get a wrist worn or belt clip model. These three lines also allow for some flexibility in pricing. At present the One, Zip and Flex are selling for $60, $100 and $100 respectively. These three available Fitbit models all track the basics such as steps, distance and calories burned. The One and Zip have a display that shows your current stats and the Flex (the wrist worn model) has five white LED lights that show status. On the Flex, the lights will light up based on your current progress (towards your daily step count goal). Assuming a daily goal of 5,000 steps, the Flex would show 1 light per 1,000 steps. Or looking at this another way, each light indicates 20% of your daily goal. While the basics are included across the board, there is some difference between the $60 Zip and the $100 One despite those both being belt clip models. The One includes an altimeter, which keeps track of the amount of stairs you climb (which is displayed by flights of stairs). Another key difference between the Zip and the One is the sleep tracking. The Zip doesn't, and the One does offer sleep tracking. Bottom line here, if you are looking for something to wear on your belt you can spend $60 or $100 depending on whether you want the stair and sleep data. The other aspect to consider when choosing between the Zip and the One comes in with the battery. The Zip has a 3V coin battery, which is easily replaceable and should last 4-6 months. Key here, you will not have to worry about regular charging. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 4

15 The One has a rechargeable battery and is touted as being able to run 5-7 days between charges. Based on personal experience, the One is able to extend beyond those seven days. Otherwise, the Zip and the One aren't waterproof, however they can handle some sweat and rain. They can also both sync wirelessly to a PC or Mac and to a mobile device (with apps for ios and Android). The devices sync with a computer using a small Bluetooth dongle, and with mobile devices over a Bluetooth connection. The good part about the syncing these can both go quite some time before you have to worry about running out of room. According to Fitbit, the Zip and the One can each track up to seven days of detailed, minute-by-minute data, and for the preceding 23 days the data is summarized daily. A summary highlight for the wrist worn Flex shows a battery life of up to 5 days, the ability to sync with a PC, Mac or mobile device using Bluetooth 4.0, and enough memory to store detailed data for 7 days and summarized data for 30 days. The Flex is water-resistant and tracks your steps, distance, calories and sleep quality. The Flex also offers the widest variety of color options. The Fitbit Flex is available in 10 different colors, and because the Flex is actually a smaller piece that slips into the wrist band you can change colors without buying a completely new device. For reference, the Zip has five color, and the One has two color options. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 5

16 2.3.1 Size and Weight Figure 2.1 Fitbit Size and Weight 2.4 Software Fitbit App Regardless of whether you sync your Fitbit tracker using a computer or mobile device everything is tied to your Fitbit account which means you'll be able to view your stats on the web or using the mobile app. Ultimately both the web and mobile apps provide much of the same information and this will likely come down to personal preference. On the web your login and are taken to your dashboard. The dashboard takes you to the current day by default, with options to scroll back though previous day s history. The dashboard offers the basics such as the day, date and how long it has been since your last sync. Overall though, the web setup is based on a tile system. That means you can drag and drop the individual tiles so you can see the items that are most important to you. Tiles on the Fitbit website include everything from Friends to Steps, Distance, Floors, Calories and Active Minutes. You also have a tile for badges, sleep and more. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 6

17 You can also remove tiles for items you aren't actively using. Each of the tiles offer the basic details at a glance, with an option to click for more. The basic details include the current day s progress and the click offers access to things like weekly totals and daily averages as well as graphs to show if you are on track to meet your goals and a history of the past month. The Fitbit mobile app offers a similar data set. You are shown your dashboard by default, which has quick access to see your current daily progress. You can swipe to the right (from the left) to scroll back through previous day s history, and also re-order the layout by tapping and holding any of the items listed in the dashboard. Similar to the web interface, tapping any of the daily items in the Dashboard (on mobile) brings more detail. The mobile app also shows where you stand in regards to your friends, allows you to manage friend requests, add friends, and adjust settings such as sync, time and alarms. Again, which option (between web and mobile) you use will likely come to personal preference. The Fitbit web and mobile interfaces both also allow you to keep track of water intake, and manage your food intake. As we see with many other services these days Fitbit has a social side. This includes having Fitbit friends, and also connecting a Facebook account to connect with some of your existing friends. You'll be able to compete against friends on a day-to-day basis, and there are also the group challenges, such as the MobileFit challenge which (at present) has 855 members and will be running through June. All of what has been mentioned for the Fitbit web and mobile setups is available for free (provided you are using a Fitbit tracker). There is also an option to go premium. This is a $50 per year subscription and brings some additional features. Speaking generally, Fitbit Premium offers more in-depth data analysis. And just in case you aren't sure whether the premium option would be good for you, Fitbit does offer a 7-day free trial. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 7

18 2.5 Connected Hardware Along with the activity trackers, Fitbit also has the Aria, which is a Wi-Fi connected scale. Fitbit refers to the Aria as being a Wi-Fi Smart Scale. Features here are rather simple the scale keeps track of your weight, body fat percentage and BMI. You can get the same functionality with a more traditional (non-wi-fi connected) bathroom scale, however the real perk of the Aria is the automatic uploading. The Aria automatically uploads the data to your Fitbit account. Other feature highlights for the Fitbit Aria scale include being able to handle up to 8 user profiles. When using multiple profiles, the Aria scale will automatically recognize the person based on their weight, and all of the information is private by default meaning one person shouldn't have to worry about another seeing their weight. The Aria is currently selling for $130. While we've only talked about Fitbit branded products up until this point, there is another option when it comes to the scale. The Withings Scale also syncs data with Fitbit. The Withings Scale has a similar feature set and is priced a bit less at $100. Features for the Withings Scale include monitoring of weight, body fat percentage and BMI for up to 8 users. Of course, the Fitbit software (web and mobile) will also allow you to manually enter weight and body fat percentage details. Basically, that is to say you could use a much less expensive home scale and just key in the data manually. Sure, that adds an extra step, but sometimes things have to be done on a budget. 2.6 Connected Software You have the Fitbit activity trackers, and the options to monitor your weight with the Fitbit Aria or Wittings Scale. But there is a bit more involved here the third party software. Your Fitbit data can be pulled into numerous other apps. And nicely, some of those apps are fitness related, and some are a bit more general. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 8

19 On the fitness side you have apps such as Runkeeper and Endomondo, MayMyRun, MyFitnessPal and others. On the non-fitness side, you have integration with everything from about me to Walgreens. The Walgreens aspect is fairly interesting, and could help encourage some users to get in more steps. This is tied in with the Balance Rewards and means Fitbit users can sync to earn points. You get 20 points per mile, and 20 points per daily weigh-in. Along with the partner services that allow you to share and connect data there is another that was released much more recently. This other is IFTTT. This is a service called If This, Then That. Basically, IFTTT allows you to make things happen by using triggers if something happens, then something is done. IFTTT users who activate the Fitbit channel can create recipes of their own using the If this, then that concept, or simply choose one of the many that have already been setup. Options here deal with getting alerts for current activity levels, getting weekly activity summaries, sleep summaries and more. 2.7 Summary As covered, Fitbit is more than a simple fitness tracker (step counter) these days. The wearable trackers are connected to software that syncs between the device, mobile app and web. You can also choose to add in the extra hardware such as the scale to get more of a complete picture. Plus, the Fitbit software allows you to track water intake, food intake, sleep and more and that is without using any hardware beyond the wearable tracker. One important aspect to remember is that you do not need to go all in from the beginning. In fact, it may be better to start slow and gradually get deeper and deeper. Using technology for fitness may still be new to some. Heck, getting fit may still be new to some. And that being the case, it is sometimes better to go slow and get comfortable, as opposed to jumping in with all the bells and whistles only to get burnt out. Because if you burn out you may stop and that isn't going to help at all. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 9

20 Chapter-3 DEVELOPMENT 3.1 How it works? Just clip it on and go. The Fitbit tracks much of your physical activity and integrates with software that encourages you to be more and more active - COURTESY FITBIT. Fitbit is a physical activity tracker designed to help you become more active, eat a more well-rounded diet, sleep better and ultimately, turn you into a healthier human being. And it does it all without subjecting you to a weird afro or a maniacal grin. The equipment is deceptively simple. About the size of a clothes pin, the Fitbit is shaped like a clip, which you can easily slide into your pants pocket, as it's only around 2 inches (5 centimeters) long and about half an inch (1.2 centimeters) thick. Throughout the day, Fitbit logs a range of data about your activities, including the number of steps you take, distance traversed and calories burned. It's also sensitive enough to detect just how vigorous your motions are, which differentiates a slow stroll from a jog that consumes far more calories. At night, you slip the Fitbit into a wristband so it can monitor your sleep quality. It knows when you go to bed, how frequently you awaken and how long you lie prostrate, staring at the ceiling, pondering unmet deadlines. Thrashing around at midnight because of that quadruple latte you gulped at 4 p.m.? Fitbit will know. The clip has a built-in OLED (organic light-emitting diode) that scrolls current activity data. So if it's late in the day and you still have 8,000 steps to get to your goal of 15,000, you know it's time to get going, and fast. A little flower avatar "grows" as you become active; it gets shorter if laziness takes hold. Every time you pass within 15 feet (4.5 meters) of its wireless base station, Fitbit automatically offloads a cornucopia of numbers. From there, your statistics go to your online profile, where you can peruse details, monitor your progress (or lack thereof) and redouble your dedication to getting into shape. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 10

21 T TRACK SSYNC PROGRESS ACHIEVE INSPIRE Figure 3.1: Working of Fitbit TRACK: Track activity, exercise, food, weight, sleep and more for real time information about your day and night. SYNC: Sync stats wirelessly and automatically from your Fitbit device to your phone or computer. PROGRESS: Stay on track with online and mobile tools that show your progress as charts and graphs on the Fitbit dashboard. ACHIEVE: Reach your goals by seeing progress notifications and celebrate milestones with achievement badges. INSPIRE: Encourage friends and family to join your path to fitness with the leaderboard, group challenges, and cheers or taunts The Tech Teardown Figure 3.2: The Tech Teardown S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 11

22 The base station charges your Fitbit s battery, and every time you pass within about 15 feet of it, the Fitbit transfers more of your activity data - COURTESY FITBIT. You clip a little plastic widget to your clothes every day, hoping that it'll somehow magically transport you out of couch potato land and into healthful bliss. The process seems straightforward, but the technology is sophisticated. Then Fitbit's software relies on special algorithms to convert raw accelerometer data into usable information. Those algorithms are the secret sauce that the company has worked diligently to tweak and improve, by experimenting and comparing Fitbit's accuracy with other test machines. For example, as the engineers test the "calories burned" feature, they compare Fitbit's results with a portable telemetric gas analysis system. The latter analyzes gas composition as you exhale and very accurately determines your calorie usage. With a lot of trial-and-error, Fitbit has learned how to track and convert our energy expenditures (tracked by the accelerometer) into information about the number of calories you burn. Likewise, the company's testers have developed algorithms that work well for tracking the steps you take and how far you've moved. In order for all of this to work properly in a population that differs greatly in physical characteristics, Fitbit needs more information. Using your Web-based account, you enter personal information regarding age, weight, height and sex. You can also click to log your meals so that Fitbit knows how many bacon triple cheeseburgers you need to work off. Armed with your personal stats and a continuous stream of motion data, Fitbit will keep you updated with information that tells you how much or how little activity your body is getting. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 12

23 3.1.2 Fitter, Bit by Bit There are also more sophisticated (and more expensive) products for people who have both calories and cash to burn. The Basis Band is a watch-like device that comes loaded with sensors that track heart rate, movement and even galvanic skin response, which is a measurement of your stress levels. The Body Media Fit is an armband equipped with four types of sensors that supposedly capture around 5,000 data points every minute. In addition to a motion sensor, it logs temperature, galvanic skin response and heat flux, which relates to the amount of heat that's dissipating from your body. Together, these sensors may provide a clearer picture of your overall activity and health. And when it comes to monitoring sleep quality, it gets more complicated. Sleeping is highly variable and individualized behavior, and as such, there are many gadgets dedicated solely to tracking the quality of your rest. Those include the Lark sleep sensor, Zeo and others. If you really need sleep-related functions, you might be better off using something in this product category instead of a fitness gadget. 3.2 Controls and Display 1. Single-button control. 2. Each press of the button cycles the display through one of six modes, Steps Distance Floors climbed Calories burned Flower (overall recent activity level) Clock 3. You can also personalize your display with, Greeting/name Chatter(encouragement) 4. 1 X 0.25 blue Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 13

24 3.3 Features 1. All day activity: View progress towards your daily goals for steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes and see yours tends over time. 2. Sleep goals and trends: Record your sleep with a Fitbit tracker, then use the app to see how well you slept, explore sleep trends and set sleep goals to improve your nightly routine. 3. Mobile track: If you want to track your activity but don t have a Fitbit tracker, you can use your smartphone to record basic stats like steps, distance and calories burned. 4. Multi-tracker support: Connect multiple trackers to one account and the Fitbit app will automatically detect when you switch between them. So you can wear Fitbit surge during workouts and use Fitbit one to discretely track your day. 5. Exercise calendar: Logged workouts will pop up in your exercise calendar so you can look back on what you ve accomplished and use data and trends to make progress towards your goal. 6. Track weight: Use the Aria Wi-Fi smart scale to automatically send weight starts to your dashboard, or log your numbers manually in the Fitbit app to stay on track and see your trends over time. 7. Challenge friends and family: Stay encouraged to move more by using your steps to climb the leader board, or compete with friends and family in Fitbit challenges. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 14

25 Chapter-4 WEARABLE PRODUCTS 4.1 Fitbit Products Fitbit Tracker Figure 4.1: Fitbit Tracker The Fitbit Tracker uses a three-dimensional accelerometer, similar to that in the Wii Remote, to sense user movement. The Tracker measures steps taken, and combines it with user data to calculate distance walked, calories burned, floors climbed and activity duration and intensity. It uses an OLED display to display this and other information such as the battery level. It also measures sleep quality by tracking periods of restlessness, how long it takes the wearer to fall asleep and how long they are actually asleep. A wireless base station is included to receive data from the Tracker and also charge its battery. When connected to a computer the base station will upload data to the Fitbit website, where a number of features are available: seeing an overview of physical activity, setting and tracking goals, keeping food and activity logs and interacting with friends. Use of the website is free. The Fitbit Classic tracked only steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, activity intensity and sleep. It was designed to be a small black and teal device that could be clipped discreetly onto clothing and worn 24/7. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 15

26 At the TechCrunch50 during the "Mobile" session on September 9, 2008, Fitbit received positive reactions during its panel from experts like Rafe Needleman, Tim O'Reilly, and Evan Williams who cited its wear ability, price point, and lack of subscription fees Fitbit Ultra Figure 4.2: Fitbit Ultra A new hardware upgrade was announced on October 3, 2011 called the Fitbit Ultra. The new features included: An altimeter that measures elevation gain in terms of floors, with one floor roughly equivalent to ten feet. A digital clock visible on the device's display. A stopwatch that can be used to time activities. Randomized "Chatter" messages show when the Ultra is moved after sitting idle for a while, and there's a custom field to write in a personal "Greeting". New colors (plum or blue, as opposed to the original teal). The Fitbit Ultra is powered by a small Lithium polymer battery. The Fitbit Ultra suffered from a small design flaw: the unit had a permanently curved shape in order to clip directly onto any piece of clothing. The plastic used in the unit was S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 16

27 not appropriate for the strain experienced at the looped end, and with time would become brittle, and crack. While most users experienced only minor cracking with no effects to the device's function, in a few cases the cracking led to total failure: mostly the case splitting and screen ceasing to function Fitbit One Figure 4.3: Fitbit One Announced on September 17, 2012, the Fitbit One is an update to the Fitbit Ultra that uses a more vivid digital display, has a separate clip and a separate charging cable and wireless sync dongle. The Fitbit One and the Fitbit Zip were the first wireless activity trackers to sync using Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth SMART technology. The wireless syncing is currently available on ios and Android devices such as the iphone 4S and higher, ipad 3rd generation, ipod touch 5th generation, Samsung Galaxy Note II and higher, Samsung Galaxy S III and higher, LG G2, HTC One, Moto X, and Nexus 4 or higher. Fitbit One can record several daily activities, including but not limited to, number of steps taken, distance travelled on foot, number of floors climbed, calories burned, vigorously active minutes, sleep efficiency, delicate movements during sleep, number of wake-ups during sleep, etc. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 17

28 4.1.4 Fitbit Zip Figure 4.4: Fitbit Zip Announced on September 17, 2012, the Fitbit Zip is roughly the size of a United States quarter and tracks only steps taken, distance travelled, and calories burned. Compared to the other Fitbit trackers, the Zip is the first Fitbit product to include a disposable battery. It also has a lower price point than other Fitbit trackers. Similar to the Fitbit One, it is able to sync its data wirelessly to supported mobile devices, such as the iphone 4S and higher, ipad 3rd generation, ipod touch 5th generation, Samsung Galaxy Note II and higher, Samsung Galaxy S III and higher, LG G2, HTC One, Moto X, and Nexus 4 or higher Fitbit Flex Figure 4.5: Fitbit Flex with accompanying wristband In May 2013, Fitbit released the Fitbit Flex, which is a device that one wears on the wrist. It tracks movement 24 hours a day, including sleep patterns. It has a simple display of 5 LED lights which indicate the number of steps taken in a day, and it vibrates to indicate that your goal has been reached. The lights also indicate battery level. The S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 18

29 Fitbit Flex has almost all the same sync functions as the Fitbit One and Zip. The Flex is also the most water-resistant tracker; it can be worn while showering, but not while swimming. The Fitbit Flex includes a specialized USB charger; the battery lasts 5 7 days, and it takes 1 2 hours to charge Fitbit Force The Fitbit Force was announced on October 10, It has an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display that shows time and daily activity. The Force tracks a number of statistics in real-time, including steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed and active minutes throughout the day. At night, the Force tracks sleep and can wake a user silently with a vibrating alarm. Figure 4.6: Fitbit Force On January 13, 2014 it was reported that an unconfirmed number of Fitbit customers who have purchased the Force have complained about skin irritation after wearing the Force for extended periods of time. Fitbit stated on its website that the company consulted with medical professionals whose assessments are that these irritations are most likely allergic reactions to nickel, a component of the surgical-grade steel or the adhesives used to assemble the Fitbit Force. Fitbit, working with the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, recalled the Fitbit Force on February 20, On March 12, 2014 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) made the recall official. At that time, it was revealed that The Fitbit Force had caused about 9,900 injuries. It is no longer for sale on Fitbit's website. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 19

30 4.1.7 Fitbit Charge Figure 4.7: Fitbit Charge Announced in October 2014, the Fitbit Charge is a replacement for the Fitbit Force. It was released in November 2014 for US$130 retail. Unlike the Force, Charge's wrist band is slightly different and textured and can display caller ID information from a connected smartphone through the Fitbit app. The Charge automatically tracks user s steps, sleep, flights of stairs (using an altimeter) and an approximation of distance traveled. The Charge tracks steps using a 3 axis accelerometer by tracking forward movement along with slight upwards through movements. Both the Charge and the HR version register each step almost exactly half through the step Fitbit Charge HR Figure 4.8: Fitbit Charge HR Announced in October 2014 and released in early January 2015, the Charge HR is the Charge plus a heart-rate monitor and a calorie counter. With this addition the 7-day battery life is reduced to 5 days. The Charge HR has the same textured band as the S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 20

31 Charge and comes in black, plum, blue, tangerine and teal. The Charge HR band clasp resembles that of a traditional watch instead of the Snap-On band of the original Charge Fitbit Surge Figure 4.9: Fitbit Surge Announced in October 2014, the Surge is more like a smart-watch than an activity tracker and aimed for the fitness demographic. The Surge includes a heart-rate monitor and the ability to track pace, distance, and elevation using the GPS on the device Fitbit Aria Figure 4.10: Fitbit Aria In April 2012, Fitbit released a "Wi-Fi smart scale" called the Fitbit Aria. It recognizes users who are wearing Fitbit trackers and measures weight, body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat of the user. It can keep track of eight individual users and updates information to Fitbit.com automatically via Wi-Fi network. The information is also updated to the mobile apps. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 21

32 Fitbit Blaze Figure 4.11: Fitbit Blaze During CES 2016 event, Fitbit announced a new fitness watch that is called "Fitbit Blaze". It is similar to a modern smart-watch, such as Apple Watch, Pebble Smartwatch, and Android Wear watches. The Blaze focused on fitness first, then smart features inside the watch. Unlike the Surge, the Blaze comes with a colored touchscreen, and exchangeable strap and frame. Some functionality from the Surge has been retained, like auto-tracking exercise and heart-rate monitor. Blaze has GPS that can derive its power from the user's phone Internet connection. The user can find notifications regarding incoming calls, texts and calendar right away on his or her Blaze. 4.2 Other Wearable Products Jawbone Figure 4.12: Jawbone UP allows users to track their sleep, eating habits, and daily activity including steps taken and calories burned. The wristband is water-resistant and designed to be worn S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 22

33 24/7, with a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 10 days at a time. The wristband also features a vibration motor that can be programmed as an alarm to wake users in the best phase of their natural sleep cycle, or act as a reminder when users have been sedentary too long. The UP app includes a social-networking platform designed to add an extra layer of motivation within the system. UP users can view their friends data and engage in challenges with other users. Additionally, as a part of the UP Platform, Jawbone partnered with fitness related apps including: IFTTT, LoseIt! Maxwell Health, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal, Notch, RunKeeper, Sleepio, Wello and Withings. In a 2014 test by a sleep specialist, the Jawbone UP "produced an impressive amount of data" which however showed "little resemblance to [the subject's] actual night of sleep" Nike Fuel Band Figure 4.13: Nike Fuel Band The Nike Fuel Band is an activity tracker worn on the wrist and is to be used with an Apple iphone, ipad or Android device. While sale of the device continues, development has ceased. As part of the Quantified Self movement, the Fuel Band allows its wearers to track their physical activity, steps taken daily, and amount of energy burned. The information from the wristband is integrated into the Nike+ online community and phone application, allowing wearers to set their own fitness goals, monitor their progression, and compare themselves to others part of the community. Nike+ relies on the gamification of fitness activities turning all tracked movement into Nike Fuel points, S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 23

34 which can unlock achievements, can be shared with friends, or can be used to engage others in competition. Nike has axed its Fuel band, for evolving digital priorities. 4.3 Fitbit SWOT Analysis Strengths Nimble First Mover Advantage Great Technology & Value Platform Openness Broad Device Portfolio Corp Wellness/Affiliate Channel Opportunities Build Richer Data Set/Tracking Build Dietary Expertise Big Data Analytics Investment Expand Corp Wellness & Affiliates Programs Data Monetization Position as Leader in Wellness New Tech Start-ups Weaknesses Lack of Fitness/Health Credibility Brand Awareness Threats New Tech Start-up Table 4.1: SWOT Analysis of Fitbit S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 24

35 4.4 Comparison of various Wearables Activity Monitors Jawbone Nike Fuel Fitbit Flex Basis Website Jawbone.com Nikefuel.com Fitbit.com Mybasis.com Style Bracelet Bracelet Bracelet Watch Color options Yes Yes Yes No Display No Yes No Yes Steps Yes Yes Yes Yes Distance Yes Yes Yes Yes Intensity Tracker No No No Yes Calories Tracker Yes No Yes Yes Sleep Tracker Yes No Yes Yes Smart Alarm Yes No Yes No Heart Rate No No No Yes Perspiration No No No Yes Body Temp No No No Yes Wireless Sync Up no /UP24 Yes Yes No Yes Battery Life 10 Days 1-4 Days 5 Days 5 Days Water Proof No Resistant Yes Yes Cost $130 / $150 $ 169 $ $ 199 Table 4.2: Comparison between different wearable Devices S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 25

36 Chapter-5 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES For a long time, wearable tech has been little more than an intriguing concept. We already augment our bodies with various peripherals, using watches to tell time and glasses to protect our eyes or correct our vision. But what if those devices, and others like them, could do even more for us. What if our watches and glasses and jewelry could do what our smartphones do, and perhaps even more? Perhaps the most notable piece of wearable tech available today (albeit on a limited basis) is Google Glass, a pair of glasses augmented with a virtual display which adapts to your environment. It can record whatever you require, translate signs in other languages, give you facts about your surroundings and answer questions on the fly, among many other features. Basically, it s like constantly having Google in front of you, allowing you to interact with it in real time without the barrier of a computer screen. What some might not realize is that Google Glass is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many pieces of wearable tech currently being developed, everything from interactive fitness equipment to bracelets that tell you when you ve received a Facebook message. The only question is how soon these items will catch on and how successful they will truly be. With the popular support of a number of startups devoted to the cause and the downright intriguing nature of the concept itself it s hard to imagine that wearable tech won t become popular eventually. That being said, it might be a while. However, with so many companies fighting to be at the forefront of this new type of technology, companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple, there s never been a better time to discuss to viability of wearable tech. So, without further hesitation Pros More Immediate: The usage of many apps often requires some planning ahead of time. If you need information without delay, alternate directions in lieu of a detour for example, you d better already have the app you require booted up and ready to go. Otherwise, you might be in for a bit of a wait. On the other hand, S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 26

37 wearable tech can, hypothetically, provide you with the information you require immediately, responding to your environment and keeping you updated with whatever you might want to know on the fly. No time wasting stumbling through your phone for apps or even getting it out of your pocket and unlocking it. Allows You to Stay Better Engaged with Your Environment: For the most part, the usage of a smartphone or a tablet is a solitary activity, the screen forming a dividing wall between you and the outside world. Wearable tech largely eliminates that wall. Sure, glancing down at a watch s face is similar to looking at a screen, but it s much less involved. When it comes to devices like Google Glass the level of immersion possible is quite remarkable. Doing away with standard screens entirely, Glass and its ilk present an incredibly exciting and revolutionary way of engaging with personal technology. Indeed, these pieces are generally just more convenient than smartphones or tablets. More Discreet: This is kind of a tricky topic, as the discreetness of devices like Google Glass could also lend the product to some less savory applications as well. However, for the most part the discreet nature of wearable tech is a positive thing. For example, remember that bracelet I mentioned earlier, the one which can alert you to the existence of any and all Facebook messages? Well, it can actually alert you to quite a bit more, including phone calls the user has received. Previously, to learn that same information the student would have had to pull out their phone or their computer, potentially disrupting the class (or, at the least, their own learning) and earning the scorn of their teacher. Now a student can learn essentially the same information in a much quieter, far less obtrusive manner. This is one example of the discreet nature of wearable tech benefiting not only the user, but their environment as well. Potentially More Fashionable: One of the most interesting ways that portable technology has progressed is in the area of aesthetics. Interestingly enough, many buyers seem to care just as much, if not more in some cases, about a device s sleek look as they do its performance or capabilities. Tech companies have S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 27

38 become set upon making their devices smaller, sleeker, lighter and more intuitive. As such, tech like pads and pods and, of course, phones have almost become fashion accessories to some. However, because they are replacing items like standard glasses and jewelry wearable tech has an even more centralized focus on being fashionable. If these items don t look as good as possible their appeal will be greatly limited. After all, who would want to wear an ugly bracelet or a pair of glasses that did not compliment their face? Some won t care much for the look of the pieces, buying them solely for their technological capabilities, but for others aesthetics will be very important, and the companies who make these products will need to recognize that. Cons Less Versatile: Clearly, wearable tech can do plenty that standard smartphones and tablets can t do, but they also have some pretty serious limitations. For example, you re not going to want to write an on a watch, and while your bracelet may light up to let you know when you ve received a message it s not going to allow you to see it or respond to it. Most pieces of wearable tech aren t going to come with keyboards because there s simply nowhere to put them. You re also probably not going to use a watch or a pair of glasses to make a phone call. Whereas ipad and Androids are machines of many facets, most wearable tech is built around one very specific purpose. What that purpose is changes from machine to machine, but one constant remains: these devices simply aren t as versatile as smartphones in some areas. Smaller: Here s one of the most obvious complaints one might have about wearable tech. It s also a complaint which doesn t apply at all to Google Glass, or to that bracelet I mentioned earlier. However, the fact remains that you re generally not going to want to wear a piece of jewelry which is as big as an ipad or even a smartphone. That means that, generally speaking, wearable tech will be smaller than your average phone or tablet. That might make certain tasks harder to accomplish, like browsing the internet for example. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 28

39 Not as Widely Accepted: This is the kind of thing that will change in time as people get used to its presence, but for the foreseeable future people who utilize wearable tech are going to be seen as outcasts. This prejudice has already reared its ugly head, as evidenced by the story of Steve Mann, an inventor who was attacked in a Paris McDonalds by three men who were fearful of the Eye Tap Digital Eye Glass he was wearing. Currently, wearable tech is not widely understood or accepted by the masses, and it won t be until it becomes more widespread. So for now, if you want to use Google Glass in place of a smartphone don t be surprised when you get some weird looks. The sleep tracking feature is more rudimentary. It merely logs how often you move throughout the night. So, if you're reading in bed and not moving the arm to which the Fitbit is attached, it will think you're sleeping. Likewise, if you tend to flail about often during the night, the device may interpret your motions as meaning you're not sleeping at all. Regardless of these pros and cons, wearable tech is obviously a hugely exciting concept. Far from being so far-off pipe dream, there are many products being produced right now which could easily be placed under that banner head. Some have even already been released, though in limited numbers for the most part. While wearable tech won t be replacing smartphones any time soon, and likely won t be widely used for years to come, the future is bright for this fledgling industry. There was a time when cell phones were rare and their usage seemed strange and disagreeable to some. That time has obviously passed us by. Wearable tech will go through the same process. At first, it ll seem strange and perhaps a little scary, but as time continues on these products will almost certainly become hugely popular. They have too much potential to be ignored. So keep an eye on wearable tech. It s here to make our lives easier, to grant us new opportunities and, maybe, to change the way we interact with the world as a whole, and with each other. S.V. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DEPT OF E.C.E 29