Images via Sensoria
The wearable technology industry continues to change the way we exercise. So far, and perhaps understandably, efforts have been heavily concentrated on improving athletic performance. Sensoria Inc., a smart fitness clothing company, is now attempting to fill a different niche.
Through crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, the company has announced a new line of smart sports bras and t-shirts which will connect to an improved version of their Sensoria V2.0 app. The app features a cardiologist-created algorithm called Heart Sentinel which will use heart rate monitoring on the clothing to detect cardiac irregularities which often indicate impending catastrophic events. Additionally, it will offer access to training programs and an AI personal trainer.
In the past, Sensoria has developed award-winning smart-socks as well as a full-body wearable running platform, both of which aim to enhance performance by providing real-time coaching.
Now, they have a different target. Solo runners and cyclists looking to push themselves often venture into remote and isolated areas where they are at elevated risk of cardiac arrests. Indeed, it is thought that 2,400 US athletes die every year from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Sensoria’s aim, therefore, is clear: to vastly reduce this number.
“Sensoria’s new cardiologist designed, patent-pending algorithm will constantly monitor the user’s probability of cardiac irregularities during exercise, offering a real-time alert countdown to confirm that he or she is still conscious, or it alerts selected family or friends through text message, urging them to seek help”, Nicola Gaibazzi, MD and Cardiologist at University of Parma Hospital in Italy, explains.
The technology may also help locate the person using GPS coordinates, and will look to eliminate problems of slipping and chaffing associated with existing heart-rate monitoring straps.
For early-bird prices, the smart-garments are available on Sensoria’s Kickstarter page with packages ranging from $79 to $750. Sensoria will be hoping that, aside from reaching their $35,000 target, wearable athletic technology may just be starting to broaden its horizons.
