Pulse: stay in your zone
Pulse is a wearable accessory and mobile phone experience that monitors your heart rate and helps keep you in your most optimal fitness zone.
Fitness performance made simple
There are a lot of heart rate monitors on the market today that are bulky and uncomfortable to wear (such as large chest bands), or that are undesirable for people who want a more fashionable solution to their sports activities (such as bulky watches). In addition, focusing on staying within your optimal target heart rate zone can help you burn more calories and reach your goals more efficiently. No constant calculation in your head. No bulky hardware. Pulse simplifies your heart rate performance and helps keep you in your zone, beautifully and discretely.
Know when you're in or out of your target zone, at a glance
Focusing on staying within your optimal target heart rate zone can help you burn more calories and reach your goals more efficiently. The experience simplifies heart rate monitoring by focusing on keeping you in your zone. No need to calculate your heart rate during your work out. The experience does it for you.
Making real-time feedback fashionable
Some people want a more fashionable approach to their fitness gear. Pulse is a fashionable approach to heart rate monitoring that can be worn as a piece of jewelry. It’s small, discrete, and you can comfortably wear it anywhere.
Connect to your friends and support group
The experience allows you to select your most optimal target heart rate to your needs and goals using the mobile app. Change it at any time. Connect to your friends and trainer to help keep you on track and share your progress.
Ring interaction
On the phone, select your target zone based on your goals. The ring is connected to the phone and provides visual and haptic feedback that helps you stay within your zone during your work out. If you’re in your zone, it pulses white. If you’re below it, it turns blue indicating that you’re too cold. If you’re above it, it turns red indicating that you’re working out too intensely.
Experiential Prototype
Experiential Prototypes are used to "test often and fail early" in order to iterate and improve new experiences early in the design phase. This makes it easier and more efficient to get a sense of the feel and interaction before investing in the development prototype. This experiential prototype was built using the new open-source Pulse Sensor that was recently developed and funded through Kickstarter. Custom software was created for the ring interaction and tested during a variety of fitness activities such as running, biking and gym use. Watch the video to see it in action during a 6 mile outdoor run.
Findings
The haptic feedback was initially too aggressive. It was adjusted so that it provided 3 taps when you're above your target heart rate zone and only 1 tap when you're below. This seemed to provide enough touch feedback without interrupting the flow of your workout. It was also just enough to nudge you to glance at the ring to see more specifically what zone you're in.
The light pulses to your heart rate when you're in your target heart rate zone. This mode is unnecessary when you're doing activities such as running since you simply glance at the ring rather than look at it for long periods of time. The pulsing does work really nicely when on a bike, especially indoors when your hand is placed in a similar location during your workout. In that case, it provides a beautiful way to visual your heart rate in real-time.
Squeezing the heart rate sensor too tightly against the finger lead to some errors. This is particularly problematic when on a bike. Holding the handle pushes the ring into the finger. This was improved when two wires were placed into the ring that kept the sensor from pressing into the skin too tightly. Consider the ID to solve this problem.
This prototype was not tested in rain or very wet conditions. Too much moister could lead to errors or short-outs. This will need to be considered in the development prototype.
Experiential Prototype
21 Comments
Nancyv
November 17, 2011Pulse is so absolutely and essentially cool! I can’t wait until you have these available for purchase!!! I would LOVE to have one!
Hazel
February 12, 2012Not only would these rings be useful for fitness, but for those like me who need to monitor their heart rate for health reasons. I am unable to run or do much exercise due to my physical disability, I do however need to keep track of my heart rate with a big bulky ugly watch. To be able to keep track of my heart rate and record it using the app, for doctor’s use in the future, would be great. The colour coding system is especially helpful, and lets my family know if they need to be extra watchful (ie. have the defibrillator on hand in case the worst happens).
Thank you so much, I can’t wait until you have these available for purchase!
Radostina Stoycheva
August 6, 2012Have you thought about making this accessible for other apps?
jennifer
August 6, 2012Radostina – absolutely. I see a product like this integrating nicely with a variety of platforms such as SweetBeats and other fitness products.
Brennan Novak
September 26, 2012Awesome. I would love to purchase one as soon as they are available. I’m also a good beta tester =)
Robert Tillung
September 26, 2012This would be a great alternative to wearing the chest straps, so I will definitely be considering this as soon as one comes on the market.
Marie taft
September 27, 2012I can’t wait for this product, with heart issues this would be the perfect. I would be willing to be a beta tester,as well. My heart rate varies due to the effects of radiation treatment. I have to wear a sports watch, which is fine but not so nice when dressing up. This seems like a good solution. Thank you for your research on this project.
Dan Chu
September 29, 2012I can see this being a great product for people with heart problem, such as uneven heart beats. It would be great to constantly monitor heart rate and would be a early warning system for user and their doctors.
Robert Matthews
October 4, 2012Would love to have one of these…I would make a *great* beta tester ,
Jose
October 11, 2012Where can I get this????
Kang
October 23, 2012I want this ASAP! I have a heart condition and need something to monitor my heart rate. I hate watches. Please keep me informed.
Arnold
October 27, 2012I am definitely interested as well! Please make this thing a reality, would LOVE one of these!
Tommy
December 6, 2012Love the idea and would gladly beta test. Please bring this market, I would definitely buy it!
Liuxi
December 17, 2012How to buy one?
Lynn
January 29, 2013I want one!! Where and when can I buy it??
mary
February 22, 2013I want, I want, I WANT! i would love to be a tester. this is just what ive been looking for. Will it be available for android as well?
Ben smith
February 23, 2013IDE definatly get one of these let me know when they
Are available I would also be willing to beta test
one and you should include the ability within the app
To sync data with other fitness app like fitbit
Rupa
April 24, 2013Hi where do we get this
Linda
May 1, 2013PLEASE add me to your beta testing! I’m an aging boomer getting into shape to ride a long distance biking fund raiser in Sept and need to be sure I don’t push too hard too fast. This would be perfect! Thanks for your consideration!
BINOS
May 15, 2013Hello, I saw your website and I am interested in this accessory could you tell me where it is possible to acquire
CDT
LOUIS BINOS
14604
May 18, 2013It’s great that you’ve taken the effort and time to assist those out there who are
searching for resources on this area. You have put in an enormous level of dedication into these solutions,
and it has enabled individuals in our field to acquire great benefits.
Please know that this work means a lot to all of us.