Outdoors + Tech newsletter – September 10, 2018

Outdoors + Tech news articles, blog posts and research papers for September 10, 2018

 

bracelets


How fitness- and health-tracking apps failed me during my pregnancy

Engadget, Swapna Krishna from

I’m not a super fit person. I am considered a healthy weight, and I exercise simply because I enjoy eating and drinking whatever I want. For my type A personality, fitness and health tracking has been an incredible motivator. Being able to close all the rings on my Apple Watch is enough to get me on the treadmill desk or spin bike instead of just sitting with my laptop in front of the television.

But since becoming pregnant with my first kid, all that’s changed. I was determined to have a healthy pregnancy; while I’m not too particular about what I eat, I wanted to exercise regularly and gain a reasonable amount of weight. I figured my fitness-tracking apps would be a real help in monitoring my goals and progress.

I was laughably wrong. Seven months in, I’ve stopped all fitness and weight tracking because these apps don’t take my pregnancy into account.

 

Facebook Watch set for global rollout

SportsPro Media, Sam Carp from

Facebook Watch, the social media giant’s streaming service, is set to be rolled out globally just over a year after launching in the US.

Facebook said in a statement that the service will be ‘available everywhere’ from Thursday, helping publishers and content creators around the world ‘make money from their videos’ on the platform and ‘better understand how their content is performing.’ Users are able to pick from a selection of shows and have the ability to view clips saved from their news feeds.

 

I’m trying out a watch with vital sign sensors for continuous blood pressure (cuff-less), oxygen saturation, heart and respiratory rate. Not real-time display but good form factor @SpryHealth “Loop”

Twitter, Eric Topol from

 

non-wrist wearable


New data shows wearables are no longer just for the worried well

Cardiogram, Brandon Ballinger from

1 in 4 Americans now own a wearable. While it’s often assumed that those who purchase a wearable consist of the “worried well,” the data says otherwise—among Cardiogram users, the average Apple Watch owner is now 41 years old, and more likely than the general population to manage a chronic condition.

Today, we’re releasing our first Wearable Healthcare Usage Report, based on anonymized data from more than half a million Cardiogram users. The full report is below, but here are some highlights.

 

Validation of a Wearable Sensor for Measuring Running Biomechanics

Digital Biomarkers journal from

Background: Running biomechanics have traditionally been analyzed in laboratory settings, but this may not reflect natural running gait. Wearable sensors may offer an alternative. Methods: A concurrent validation study to determine agreement between the RunScribeTM wearable sensor (triaxial accelerometer and gyroscope) and the 3D motion capture system was conducted. Twelve injury-free participants (6 males, 6 females; age = 23.1 ± 5.5 years, weekly mileage = 16.1 ± 9.3) ran 1.5 miles on a treadmill. Ten consecutive strides from each limb were collected, and the mean values were analyzed. Pronation excursion, maximum pronation velocity, contact time, and cycle time were compared between measurement platforms using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analyses. Results: Excellent ICC estimates were found for maximum pronation velocity, contact time, and cycle time. Pronation excursion demonstrated fair ICC estimates. The mean differences between platforms were small with limits of agreement clustered around zero, except for contact time measures which were consistently higher with the RunScribe compared to the camera-based system. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the RunScribe wearable device showed good to excellent concurrent validity for maximum pronation velocity, contact time, and cycle time; however, direct comparisons or results between the two platforms should not be used. [full text]

 

Smart clothing

JWT Intelligence, Emily Safian-Demers from

Is commercialization of personal data the next frontier for wearable tech?

From biometric measurement for an enhanced workout to self-regulating materials that adapt to temperature, consumers are turning to wearable technology more and more for a bespoke experience. SNS Telecom & IT projects that the global wearables market will reach a value of $45 billion by the end of 2021, an increase of over 47% from 2017—and with this growth comes a significant new source of consumer data. The latest innovations in smart clothing are putting individuals in control of their data, in some cases cueing up personal data as the newest profitable commodity.

 

When the Implantable Internet of Things Gets Under Our Skin

RTInsights, Joe McKendrick from

The internet of things has always been about getting the nodes of data closer to the “edge” – meaning you and me. Is implantable tech the next step?

We’re reaching the point in which our bodies are becoming the “things” within the Internet of Things. A couple of recent developments point to the emergence of the human IoT.

For example, one forward-looking company now has a workforce of at least 80 employees with implanted RFID chips in their hands to help them go about their work routines more efficiently. Rachel Metz at MIT reports the company, Three Square Markets, has facilitated the implantation of sensors about the size of a very large grain of rice within employees on a voluntary basis. “They’re intended to make it a little easier to do things like get into the office, log on to computers, and buy food and drinks in the company cafeteria,” Metz states. Essentially, participating employees can access systems and buy food in the cafeteria simply by waving their hands.

 

StretchSense Smart Garment Preliminary Washability Findings

StretchSense from

StretchSense Smart Garments are designed to capture motion data from the human body to enable new motion capture applications in sports, gaming, and healthcare. Our Smart Garments are a prototyping platform for other businesses to develop new user experiences based on human movement. Just like any other item of clothing, it is important that our Smart Garments survive the washing process without performance degradation. StretchSense, therefore, has begun work to ensure our garments can be washed for end consumers when produced at volume.

 

STRYD & Running With Power – What Next In The Market? the5krunner power meter, Running, Running Power

the5krunner blog from

It’s tricky to say whether STRYD or Garmin Running Power (CIQ app) are the leading running power meter solution at the moment. Sure, the free Garmin Running Power app has more single downloads but how many people then really go on to use it in training? Sure, STRYD has more total downloads of all its apps and data fields but how many users use more than one?

 

hardware


Bluetooth Low Energy-equipped power transmitter wirelessly charges wearables and other portable electronic devices fitted with RF energy harvesting chips

Nordic Semiconductor from

… The PowerSpot wireless transmitter automatically powers enabled devices it detects within its charging zone and stops charging when no devices are within range. According to the company, the wireless transmitter can charge and power smaller, less power hungry devices—such as smart cards and basic sensors—at distances up to 24 meters while for more power hungry devices like game controllers, headphones, and smartwatches, the most suitable charging range is typically within 30cm. The transmitter itself can be mains- or USB-powered, so the ultra low power consumption of the nRF51422 SoC was important to keep the temperature of the 915-MHz subcircuit low, and enhance the efficiency of wireless power transmission.

 

Silicon Valley Jumps Into the Fitness Business, and It Will Cost You

The New York Times, Erin Griffith from

Paul Wright, a smiling, impeccably jacked personal trainer, stared at me from the large screen mounted to the wall. He was waiting for me to start my next set of biceps curls.

The screen was part of a new weight-lifting machine from Tonal, a San Francisco start-up. The system combines software and an interactive LED screen with electromagnetic weights and cables to create an experience that does not rely on plates, barbells and gravity. Tonal had sensed that my last set of curls was too easy, and helpfully — perhaps sadistically — added more weight for the next set.

I grumbled about the weight, but realized Mr. Wright couldn’t hear me any more than Tamilee Webb could hear me griping through a “Buns of Steel” VHS tape in the 1990s. The video of him was a recording, too. But as I grimaced and sweated through the reps, I noticed they were precisely the right level of difficulty. The machine knew my strength better than I did. As I tested the machine in a Tonal office, the company’s chief executive, head of marketing, public relations representative and another trainer eagerly looked on.

The Tonal machine is very cool, I told them — and, at $2,995, very expensive.

 

gear


PurTrek is the Trekking Pole with a Built-In Water Filter

Digital Trends, Kraig Becker from

If you’re the kind of hiker who appreciates a piece of gear that is versatile enough to pull double-duty on the trail, then you’re going to want to check out PurTrek’s trekking poles. Recently launched on Kickstarter, these walking sticks not only provide all of the functionality you would expect from a traditional set of trekking poles, but they have a unique, hidden feature that could make them extremely popular with the ultralight backpacking crowd. That’s because these poles come with a built-in water filtration system that can provide clean drinking water on the go.

 

materials


Teijin develops highly water-repellent stretchable fabric

Innovations in Textiles blog from

… Based on the company’s existing water repellent fabric, the new design incorporates a convex structure with horizontal surface tension which is smaller than waterdrops, allowing water to run off the surface smoothly.

The fabric achieves a grade four out of five in water-repellent rating initially, and a grade three rating after being washed 20 times, the company reports. It is able to stretch by 10% and maintains water-repellency when stretched thanks to its flexible structure; conventional water-repellent fabrics are unable to achieve similar levels of stretchablility because of the high density of their yarn arrays.

 

Device harvests energy from low-frequency vibrations

Penn State University, Penn State News from

A wearable energy-harvesting device could generate energy from the swing of an arm while walking or jogging, according to a team of researchers from Penn State’s Materials Research Institute and the University of Utah. The device, about the size of a wristwatch, produces enough power to run a personal health monitoring system.

“The devices we make using our optimized materials run somewhere between 5 and 50 times better than anything else that’s been reported,” said Susan Trolier-McKinstry, the Steward S. Flaschen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering, Penn State.

 

W. L. Gore & Associates Contributing to the Wearable Market

Wearable Technologies, Sam Draper from

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. or simply ‘Gore’ is an American multinational manufacturing company specializing in products derived from fluoropolymers. This Newark, Delaware-based company is best known for its waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex fabrics.

The company uses PTFE – a.k.a. Teflon – in a variety of products. However, today most of its products are made with so-called expanded PTFE (ePTFE), a form of stretched PTFE discovered accidentally by Bob Gore, the son of the company founders, in 1969, reports IEEE Spectrum.

Paul Campbell and Linda Elkins, coleaders of Gore’s Silicon Valley innovation center believe ePTFE could be a breakthrough in digital health wearables.

 

stories


Climbing Training: Seven Digital Trends for Climbers and Boulderers

ISPO, Nadine Regel from

As a close-to-nature sport, how digital can climbing be? ISPO.com did the research and found some exciting approaches. From performance tracking, strength optimization, all the way to virtual reality: Climbing is going digital. How much can athletes benefit? We present the most important trends.

 

A Black Woman Who Tried To Survive In The Dark, White Forest

Mountain Journal, Melody S. Mobley from

… Yes, we hear a lot of talk about how government land management agencies like the Forest Service and National Park Service need to reflect the true diversity of our country. It’s the only way, after all, to guarantee public lands are perceived as relevant to Americans beyond those who have most benefitted.

Half my life ago, I trusted in that vision. My perspective was born of idealism but it is tainted by a harsh reality that still exists. It makes people feel uncomfortable to talk about. My own agency remains in denial. It’s why I’ve chosen to title this piece “A Black Woman Who Tried To Survive In the Dark, White Forest.”

 

Why we invested in Volumental

Medium, Vince Wols from

Volumental is catering to this need by combining an enhanced shopping experience through their scanners, a 3D scanning service and a data service, called the Fit Engine. Especially these last two are central to Volumental’s unique value proposition moving forward, as they have moved beyond supplying simply 3D scanners, and are becoming a true data service provider. Their data service allows retailers and brands to simplify a wide range of activities, allows rapid response to trends, and provides an invaluable source of insights for managers, marketing, and R&D departments. We have been intrigued by their approach to this market, and understood the pains they are addressing for brick & mortar retail. The added value for both offline and online sales, as well as a chance to help brands to develop and optimize R&D, production and marketing activities, is very clear.

We are excited to be part of this journey with founders Caroline, Alper, Miroslav, Rasmus, as well as CEO Moritz and the team. We foresee great things for Volumental, who have just surpassed 1.5 million pairs of scanned feet. We believe their technology will be become the standard for retailers and brands to enhance the footwear shopping experience and further develop their omnichannel strategies.

 

data


Establishing a relationship between the effect of caffeine and duration of endurance athletic time trial events: A systematic review and meta-analy… – PubMed – NCBI

Journal of Science & Medicine in Sport from

OBJECTIVES:

Caffeine has well-documented benefits on endurance athletic performance. Because of caffeine’s ergogenic effects of reducing perceived fatigue, it is hypothesized that as duration of athletic event increases, so will the effect size of caffeine upon performance. This study aims to examine the relationship between duration of endurance athletic event and the effect size of caffeine compared to placebo for athletic performance.
DESIGN:

A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials assessing the effects of caffeine in adults performing endurance athletic events.
METHODS:

We searched MedLine, Web of Science, and review article references published through March 2016. We performed meta-analyses on placebo-controlled trials to determine the effect of the duration of an endurance athletic event on the standardized mean difference (Cohen’s d) between the caffeine and placebo groups for athletic performance.
RESULTS:

Forty articles including 56 unique comparison groups were included. Pooled results showed a Cohen’s d of 0.33 (95% CI=0.21, 0.45; p=1.00; I2=0%). The effect of the duration of athletic event was significantly associated with Cohen’s d (Relative Risk: 0.005; 95% CI=0.001, 0.009; p=0.024). For a 30min increase in duration of the athletic event, Cohen’s d will increase by 0.150.
CONCLUSIONS:

This study is the first to report on the statistical finding that the effect size of caffeine increases along with the increasing duration of the time trial event. Endurance athletes may especially benefit from caffeine for performance enhancement.

 

Plotmypaws : A Dog Visualisation

Medium, Craig Taylor from

… I spend most of my days creating data-visualisations based on the movement of people and vehicles so it was only natural that as soon as Bryn came into the family I was googling GPS devices to attach to him. Seven months on and with some good puppy training instilled I was ready to track him.

Being a working cocker he is quite loyal in his movements, he will stick quite close to me or my wife and constantly seeks reassurance before venturing off. Whilst this is interesting in its own right it doesn’t make for a particularly interesting visualisation. However, Bryn has recently discovered a neighbouring cornfield and with a nod from the local farmer, he began exploring.

 

The Healthy And Wealthy Track Sleep Habits The Most In The U.S., Study Finds

Study Finds, Ben Renner from

Looking to adopt the habits of the well-to-do? You may want to think about paying more attention to your sleep. People who use smartphone apps to track and monitor their sleep habits tend to be wealthier and report themselves as healthier than the average American, a study by researchers at the New York University’s School of Medicine found.

The findings surprised the researchers, who conducted the first-ever study on American men and women who use sleep-tracking technology.

“Sleep apps are very popular among a diverse group of Americans, and they have a lot of them to choose from,” says study lead investigator, Rebecca Robbins, a postdoctoral research fellow at NYU’s Department of Population Health, in a university release. “People are getting all this information on their sleep patterns and not really knowing how to interpret it, or even if it’s legitimate data.”

 

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