Fitness Apps - Wearable Computing

Fitness apps help to keep track of how much you’re exercising and how many calories you’re burning.

Fitbit

Fitbit Tracker, a wireless-enabled wearable device that measures data such as the number of steps walked, quality of sleep, and other personal metrics. The average price of the Fitbit is between $60-$130, depending on the model. However, data cannot be downloaded off the fitbit website unless one pays the premium membership price of $49 per year. It has 3 models

Google Glass

What is Google Glass?
Google Glass is a wearable computer with a head-mounted display (HMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project  with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computers.





What does it currently do?

• It shows time

• Takes picture

• Record video

• Stream video Live

• Show directions

• Send a message

• Google search

• Translate to another language

• Remind flight timings

How does it work?

It responds to natural language voice commands and head/eye gestures. Users issue voice commands by first saying "ok glass". Or they can scroll up and down the menu using finger on the side of the device

Is it available?

Currently (May 2013) glass is available in explorer version for $1,500. It has been distributed to 8000 odd developers who attended Google I/O 2012. The consumer version will be released in 2014 for significantly less price. Sergey Brin wore Google glass in June 2012 for Google I/O that streamed Live video to Google+  Hangout. Google ran a contest in Feb 2013 whereby participants had to enter a Google+ or Twitter message with 50 characters or less ending with #ifihadaglass. People with the most creative and unique ideas were given an opportunity to buy Google glass before anyone else.

Current Specs

• Android 4.0.4 and higher

• No official information about display resolution, 640×360 suggested, as it is recommended for app developers

• 5-megapixel camera, capable of 720p video recording

• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g

• Bluetooth

• 16GB storage (12 GB available)

• 1 GB RAM "proc"

• The Explorer Edition receives data through Wi-Fi, or it can tether via Bluetooth to an Android device or iPhone and use its 3G or 4G data; the Glass also has a GPS chip.

• It is not available in prescription lenses and google is working on producing them. 

• The Explorer Edition is available in Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton, and Sky colors.

• The Explorer Edition has an interchangeable sunglasses accessory which twists on or off.

• Glass does not fold

• Glass includes a Guest Mode setting 

• Battery lasts for a day but runs out faster if video is recorded.

Densely PackedThe right side of the device holds a small casing that contains the SoC (system on a chip) as well as the 640x360 prism-mounted color display, the forward-facing 5MP CMOS sensor, the microphone, the bone conduction audio system, flash storage, and the support electronics for wireless networking and Bluetooth.

Apps for Glass
Glass currently uses Google Now, Google +, Google maps and Gmail. Other third party apps available are New York Times, Skitch, Evernote and Path. Developers are using the Explorer editions to create new app using Mirror API provided by Google. It has a companion App called MyGlass to connect to phones. All features are available in Android. Only call is available in iOS so far.

First Impressions from Early Adoptors

Unboxing revealed micro-USB charging cable, a black-and-white USB outlet adapter, a fabric Glass storage bag with a protective shell at the bottom and a small paper envelope with printed FAQs and two pairs of extra silicone nose pads. Also snap-on tinted and clear lenses

Glass is heavier than normal eyewear however: 42 grams, compared to 26 grams for a regular pair of reading glasses. So wearing Glass for long periods of time -- several hours -- can be uncomfortable, an issue magnified by the uneven weight distribution.

To get the attention of Glass, you either tap the frame by your right temple or you tilt your head back 30 degrees (the angle is settable). Doing so turns on the display screen to show the time and the "ok glass" prompt, which you have to say before speaking a command. Available commands include: google, take a picture, record a video, get directions, send a message and make a call. Prompting Glass to listen for search query terms can also be accomplished by tapping the frame with two fingers.

Controversy
Privacy: Glass ought to prompt a reevaluation of privacy rights in public places and in commercial businesses. Is everyone in public subject to constant citizen surveillance? 
Distraction: Some states have banned the use of glass while driving.
Places that have banned google glass:
- Bars
- Strip Clubs
- Movie Theatres
- Casinos
- Cars

Future Uses of Glass:
Use for fitness
Face recognition
Offer Instructions
Provide Weather Conditions
TV enhancement

Trivia

Google will be entirely manufactured in the US. It will be manufactured in Foxconn that makes Apple products.

Improvements that can be made in the consumer version

• Increase Battery Life - The device only has about a five-hour battery life, and this is reduced to about 20 minutes of total recording time under battery power if the front-facing camera is used for 720p video capture. 
• Stronger Security - Current glass is not safe against hacking. It could have voiceprint unlocking and consider any other voice as guest only.
• Antiglass - Hardware equipped to block glass from lifelogging in an area of radius 10-100ft.

Futuristic Scenario

Lifelogging becomes a choice of life. Glass is a chip in the brain that send everyday life feed to cloud servers constantly. You could replay any part of your life by requesting data from the cloud. Govt. has the right to search through anyone's lifelog in association to a criminal activity. User chooses to share any part of his/her lifelog with social networks. Parents can have unlimited access to their minor's lifeblog. The lifeblog projects video on a plain white wall. It augments your view so you can customize your view in your own areas like home interiors, window displays, paintings, etc. You can stream you lifeblog live to your social networks.

Other similar products out there are:

Vuzix

Occulus VR

Airwave