Some of the best things in life come in little black boxes, like PlayStations, XBoxes, and DISH Network (if that’s what brings ESPN to your doorstep!). Now, thanks to OMsignal, there’s one more reason to love tetragonal technology.
Last year, the Montréal-based company announced the innovative development of biometric T-shirts (which subsequently debuted this spring). This smartwear has the capacity to monitor heart rate, breathing rate, breathing volume, movement, the intensity of your movement (including steps, cadence, etc.), and the number of calories burned. This data is captured by OMsignal’s “little black box,” a device the size of a Tic-Tac container that fits in an inconspicuous pocket on the right side of the shirts. This module then streams the real-time data wirelessly to the OM app on your phone via Bluetooth connectivity.
For fitness fiends, OMsignal provides a revolution in the field of wearable body sensors. While devices like Fitbits, polar heart rate monitors, and Jawbone can collect similar data, they don’t necessarily advise you to improve regular breathing (via Breathing Alerts), or gauge the intensity of your bench press based on previous reps. The “Leaderboard” feature capitalizes on the idea of healthy competition by measuring your performance against your friends (or your personal best). Friends can also “like” your workouts and statistics, providing a healthy dose of positive motivation to push users towards achieving their fitness goals.
Post-workout, performance reports are sent to the OM app. The data includes a variety of relevant statistics, including time spent in your desired training zones and movement intensity. These analytics can be compared to show improvement and growth over time. Users can also receive a complete workout email report that breaks down the data in detail.
For fitness nerds, OMsignal’s product is right on the money. No more fumbling around with sensors—they are inconspicuously hidden in the shirt’s silver-based thread; simply insert the little black box and go. Progress can be both measured and monitored, and the “social” interaction aspects of the app provide a hefty dose of inspiration. The products were tested by Olympians and the compression design is relatively aesthetically appealing; these folks did their homework.
Interest in smartwear isn’t just fitness based, however. People with medical conditions (like asthma) and those interested in knowing more about what makes their body tick comprise a large piece of the consumer pie. The Lifestyle shirt places the focus on improving the user’s daily wellbeing.
Feeling stressed? The RPM Gauge will offer a suggestion on how to manage and reduce stress in order to elevate performance levels. The Fuel Gauge monitors how much energy the body has available, and helps users manage subsequent depletion. The Activity Widow records time spent active (or at rest), calories burned, and also serves as a pedometer.
Even if users aren’t exercise junkies, they are likely to appreciate the encouragement from Active Nudge. This alert informs the user when they have been inactive for a specified period of time, and encourages them to get up, walk around, and get their blood flowing. For those interested in a more detailed analysis of their physiological makeup, a Personal Analytics Report can be provided via email. This could be especially relevant for users concerned about monitoring heart rate, stress levels, and respiratory activity.
OMsignal’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephane Marceau, launched the product for purchase in May. Rather than simply debut a single smart-shirt, the company has provided men with four options to choose from: a long-sleeved shirt, a casual T-shirt, a sleeveless shirt, and an undershirt. Marceau said that clothing for women can be expected to arrive towards the end of the year, and there’s no word on a line for children. The shirts are machine washable (though the little black box is not!) and the batteries in the LBB will last approximately 30 hours. Prices for the products can be found here, and range from $79.00 to $359.00.
The versatility of the OM products generates appeal to a large audience (rather than just a fitness market), and this could help solidify the brand. Using a shirt to collect data (rather than a wrist band) brings a new option to consumers, which bodes well for folks who find wrist devices cumbersome. It is quite possible that biometric clothing could be the future.
Julia Randall will be anxiously awaiting the women’s line of OMsignal’s fitness clothing. Until then, you can find her working on reaching her anaerobic heart rate zone and watching her fantasy drafts!