14 DAY TRIAL // Fitness trackers could be considered the main representatives of wearable technology, since smartwatches are pretty young and every other “wearable” device isn't the sort of thing you'd be willing to wear all the time. Now, even they may become obsolete.
Fitness trackers are those little devices you wear on your wrist or bicep in order to record how much you jog / march, see what your heart rate is, and generally accumulate data that will let you figure out how to stay in shape or get better.
They are usually quite unobtrusive. You'll probably forget about them more easily than about the phone sitting in your pocket and playing music through your earphones, if you choose to wear them on a run.
However, they lack the auxiliary features that would persuade you to wear them all day, instead of just while working out.
FitLinxx, a health technology company, decided not to bother trying to turn fitness trackers into smartwatches. Instead, it chose a different way to get people to wear one all the time: miniaturization.
The AmpStrip is basically a high-tech band-aid
Band-aids are little strips lined with basic numbing and healing agents which you put over little cuts and calluses, or other cracks in the skin.
FitLinxx decided to create a new sort of band-aid though, one that doesn't necessarily heal you but does keep an eye on your health, all the time. Or some parts of it at least.
Marketing director Steven Schwartz had competitive swimmers in mind while overseeing the development of the item.
The AmpStrip, as it is called, is waterproof because of that, with an adhesive that can last for up to seven days of swimming and sweating.
AmpStrip plays the role of the lead of an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor and sends data to an iOS or Android app via Bluetooth 4.0 technology.
Availability and pricing
Sales of the AmpStrip are meant to begin in March for the beta program, with July 2015 as the mass availability ETA. The AmpStrip IndieGoGo campaign has already met its funding goal, so you can be sure you'll get to see it if you make a pledge now or order it later.
The band-aid is meant to be attached to your side, right under your left pectorals in order for it to best read your body's pulse. The mobile app will be able to compile the info and help plot progressive workout / fitness regimens.
