Fitness wearables have quickly become a hot commodity. Garmin, Apple Watch, Fitbit – these wristbands follow you everywhere, from the bed and dining table to the weight room and pool. They’re tracking your every move, whether you’re aware or unconscious, excited or drained. And somehow we don’t mind it. We want more surveillance, more data, more analysis on the smallest movement.
Launched last summer, Moov has become one of the world’s most advanced fitness trackers, offering immersive, data-driven workout experiences. Tracking whole-body movement, Moov analyzes and corrects form in a wide array of sports, including swimming, running, and cycling. Moov Now, its second generation, was just released in August of 2015.
Erick McAfee, the Head of Business Development at Moov, spoke to us about the demand for a reboot following Moov’s overwhelming success on Amazon.
“Not long after we released Moov on Amazon, we received dozens of positive reviews, praising its durability, usefulness, and convenience. People loved it so much that they wanted to wear it all the time instead of just during workouts, and many asked that we produce a version suitable for everyday use. Moov Now is 44% smaller and 20% faster than Moov, comes in four different colors, and has a battery life that lasts half a year.”
“Currently,” McAfee says, “we are the only wearable on the market that recognizes all four swim-strokes and has over 200 variations of workouts that cater to both beginners and pros. The variations revolve around five primary sports: running, cycling, swimming, boxing, and the 7-minute workout.”
Unlike other wearables on the market, Moov Now is not interested in static movement. Rather than steps, it tracks movement in a 3D frame, with a hardware composed of three sensors – an accelerometer, a magnetometer that measures direction, and a gyroscope that detects rotation. Such precise measurement of 3D motion produces a holistic analysis of a user’s workout.
“With Moov Now,” McAfee explains, “your workout grows with you. You can start slow and unlock higher, more challenging levels as you become fitter and stronger. Moov Now tracks your daily activity to see if you’ve achieved your workout plans. Take jogging, for example. Say your baseline is seven minutes without rest. You will start with that, and as your endurance improves, Moov will gradually push you to do 10, 12, 20 consecutive minutes. Right now I am at 32 minutes.”
Moov Now is an electronic personal trainer. It is right by your side as you work your way toward your daily targets, offering you real-time coaching feedback. The smartphone app, connected to the wearable, will correct your form, push your speed, and remind you of your heart rate while you work out. It’s what you’d expect from Siri if she were a fitness coach.
After the new wristbands ship in the fall, McAfee says the next step will be adding variations to established sports, like a spin class to cycling. After that, in the coming year, more sports will be incorporated into the product.
Moov Now is available for pre-order on its website, at $59 for one band, $99 for two, or a family pack for $49.99 per person.