California-based startup Motiv has created a water-resistant smart ring that tracks user's activity, average heart rate, and sleep. The titanium-encased wearable also measures calories burned, steps taken, and distance covered.
Motiv's ring gives the user information about his/her "Active minutes," the amount of time one exerts energy via "moderate-intensity aerobic activity." This does not count regular walks, but brisk walking or any other intensive activity, which leads to sweating.
According to a 2008 physical activity report by US Department of Health and Human Services, an average human should have 150 active minutes in a week. This is the goal of the ring fitness tracker. Its benefits include lower risk of hypertension, depression, premature death, coronary heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
The company behind Motiv was founded by former Apple, NASA, Cisco, and Intel employees. The Cofounder and CEO of Motiv Mike Strasser claims that the fitness tracking device is comfortable and fashionable enough to wear all the time.
It looks like a traditional ring, but the unique fitness device is light with a metallic titanium shell. On pre-ordering, Motiv sends a ring-sizing kit that lets one try on seven sizes to ensure a perfect fit. The redemption code given in the kit can be used on Motiv's website or app to purchase the ring of suitable size. The kit need not be shipped back to the company. Also, the ring comes in slate gray and rose gold.
The ring has a Bluetooth sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer, an optical heart rate monitor, and a lithium ion battery. The heart-rate monitor is activated only when it detects the user's intensive activity. The battery can last an average of three to five days on one-time full charge of 90 minutes.
The Motiv Ring is waterproof up to 160 feet underwater. It measures one's progress weekly instead of daily. If one hits only a few active minutes on one day, it will adjust the numbers for the rest of the week to make sure one can still hit the primary goal.
The Motiv Ring will be available in spring 2017, but it can pre-ordered now on Motiv's website for $200. The ring is compatible with iPhone 5S and newer devices that run iOS 9 or higher. An Android companion app is still in the making.