Wearable start-ups make leap into skipping rope sector
POSTED 02 Mar 2015 . BY Jak Phillips
The Sophia smart rope Sophia is expected to begin shipping from around May 2015 Credit: FitFox
We’ve had smartwatches,smart glasses and even smart shoes. Now the humble skipping rope is the latest age-old object to be reinvigorated as a fitness-focused piece of wearable technology, with not one, but two companies currently crowdfunding to bring skipping ropes into the 21st century.
Kickstarter – the crowdfunding website which has been the birthplace of many a wearable tech product – has carried the campaigns of both products.
The first skipping rope, known as Sophia, concluded funding on Friday, having comfortably outstripped its target of €28,500 (US$32,000, £20,700) with the help of some handy publicity from an array of tech bloggers.
Designed by Ireland-based startup FitFox, Sophia comprises a Bluetooth-connected smart skipping rope with a high quality activity tracker in the handle that can measure jumps, speed and calories.
Data from the device can be synced to an accompanying smartphone app, where – as users have come to expect from fitness trackers – you can monitor your progress and share stats with your friends for an added element of competition and social gaming. Sophia is available on pre-order for US$45 (€40, £29) expected to begin shipping from around May 2015.
Meanwhile, the other skipping rope hoping to get users hopping to the shops is the Smart Rope by Tangram, a company which has previous form with products including remote controls and phone cases. The project launched on Kickstarter last week and was already two-thirds of the way to its US$60,000 (€54,000, £39,000) target at the time of writing.
Like Sophia, Tagram’s Smart Rope features tracking capabilities, but it really comes into its own through the 23 LED lights inside the rope that actually display your jump count in mid-air while you’re in motion. There is also a virtual trainer function on the app which lets users set fitness goals and track progress.
Tangram currently has a prototype of the Smart Rope and will use the funds it raises to take the rope into production. Price and potential shipping date have yet to be confirmed.
Pioneers to showcase latest devices at London wearable tech show POSTED 20 Feb 2015. BY Jak Phillips Wearable technology pioneers will launch the next generation of sports and fitness devices
at next month’s Wearable Technology Show, which takes place from 10-11 March at
ExCeL in London.
AmpStrip makes waves at CES 2015 POSTED 12 Jan 2015. BY Jak Phillips AmpStrip, the new fitness device from wellness equipment supplier FitLinxx, was
one of the wearable technology stars at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
2015, which wrapped up last week.
Wearable tech to spark ‘new era of power dressing’ POSTED 22 Dec 2014. BY Jak Phillips As the industry gathers apace, wearable technology will come to represent a
new form of power dressing for business leaders next year, in the same way
that shoulder pads dominated 1980s wardrobes.
FEATURE: SIBEC review: Question time POSTED 12 Dec 2014. This year’s SIBEC Europe event opened with a lively discussion forum covering wearable technology and Sports Direct Fitness’ £5 membership announcement
According to research which tracked more than 147,000 people for 30 years, 90-120 minutes
of strength training a week may deliver some of the biggest long-term health rewards.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Panatta brought together four of the most influential figures in bodybuilding history on the
stage of RiminiWellness 2026: Phil Heath, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and Hany Rambod. [more...]
Wearable start-ups make leap into skipping rope sector
POSTED 02 Mar 2015 . BY Jak Phillips
The Sophia smart rope Sophia is expected to begin shipping from around May 2015 Credit: FitFox
We’ve had smartwatches,smart glasses and even smart shoes. Now the humble skipping rope is the latest age-old object to be reinvigorated as a fitness-focused piece of wearable technology, with not one, but two companies currently crowdfunding to bring skipping ropes into the 21st century.
Kickstarter – the crowdfunding website which has been the birthplace of many a wearable tech product – has carried the campaigns of both products.
The first skipping rope, known as Sophia, concluded funding on Friday, having comfortably outstripped its target of €28,500 (US$32,000, £20,700) with the help of some handy publicity from an array of tech bloggers.
Designed by Ireland-based startup FitFox, Sophia comprises a Bluetooth-connected smart skipping rope with a high quality activity tracker in the handle that can measure jumps, speed and calories.
Data from the device can be synced to an accompanying smartphone app, where – as users have come to expect from fitness trackers – you can monitor your progress and share stats with your friends for an added element of competition and social gaming. Sophia is available on pre-order for US$45 (€40, £29) expected to begin shipping from around May 2015.
Meanwhile, the other skipping rope hoping to get users hopping to the shops is the Smart Rope by Tangram, a company which has previous form with products including remote controls and phone cases. The project launched on Kickstarter last week and was already two-thirds of the way to its US$60,000 (€54,000, £39,000) target at the time of writing.
Like Sophia, Tagram’s Smart Rope features tracking capabilities, but it really comes into its own through the 23 LED lights inside the rope that actually display your jump count in mid-air while you’re in motion. There is also a virtual trainer function on the app which lets users set fitness goals and track progress.
Tangram currently has a prototype of the Smart Rope and will use the funds it raises to take the rope into production. Price and potential shipping date have yet to be confirmed.
Pioneers to showcase latest devices at London wearable tech show POSTED 20 Feb 2015. BY Jak Phillips Wearable technology pioneers will launch the next generation of sports and fitness devices
at next month’s Wearable Technology Show, which takes place from 10-11 March at
ExCeL in London.
AmpStrip makes waves at CES 2015 POSTED 12 Jan 2015. BY Jak Phillips AmpStrip, the new fitness device from wellness equipment supplier FitLinxx, was
one of the wearable technology stars at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
2015, which wrapped up last week.
Wearable tech to spark ‘new era of power dressing’ POSTED 22 Dec 2014. BY Jak Phillips As the industry gathers apace, wearable technology will come to represent a
new form of power dressing for business leaders next year, in the same way
that shoulder pads dominated 1980s wardrobes.
FEATURE: SIBEC review: Question time POSTED 12 Dec 2014. This year’s SIBEC Europe event opened with a lively discussion forum covering wearable technology and Sports Direct Fitness’ £5 membership announcement
According to research which tracked more than 147,000 people for 30 years, 90-120 minutes
of strength training a week may deliver some of the biggest long-term health rewards.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Places Leisure has exchanged contracts to build and operate a flagship £60m water and leisure
destination on behalf of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
The Republic of Ireland will become the latest market in PureGym’s expanding international
portfolio, with the first launch planned for Dublin in 2027.
Panatta brought together four of the most influential figures in bodybuilding history on the
stage of RiminiWellness 2026: Phil Heath, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and Hany Rambod. [more...]
