Science and Health

Meet Moov, The Wearable Fitness Coach

Moov is much more than a fitness tracker. The watch-looking device knows how to run, swim and do pushups better than you, and it will coach you.

Meet Moov, The Wearable Fitness Coach
Moov
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Siri can be pretty helpful. Getting you from A to B. Looking up random information for you.

But with Moov, she’s here to whip you into shape.

“Form check. Shorten your stride and land softer.”

Yes, you heard that right. Moov is a fitness coach. (Via Moov)

Sure, you’re used to fitness trackers, like Jawbone's UP, that monitor your movement throughout the day.

​​​But USA Today's Jennifer Jolly calls that “kind of a glorified pedometer.”

Moov is part of what some are calling a second generation of wearables that track and assess more specific details, and – in this case – coach users to better habits. (Via USA Today)

The Moov team explains, “Moov uses 9-axis sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer) to track your motion and evaluate your form.”

The watch-looking wearable syncs with your iDevice via Bluetooth and provides visual and audio feedback.

All you need to do is make sure Moov is where it needs to be. On your shoe when running, your wrist for swimming and your arm for body weight training. (Via Moov)

The Verge reports Moov comes after nearly a decade of research. The team brought in athletes and trainers and collected data on how they moved.

“The speed and pace with which they box or run or pedal; the angle at which their legs, arms, and wrists move … When regular users work out, your progress and form is pitted against theirs, with constant feedback both visually and audibly.”

Great. That’s not going to make anyone feel insecure.

Moov isn’t available just yet. But the team is independently raising money on its site. Its looking for $40,000 over the next month. A single Moov is selling for about $60.

The team expects to launch the wearable and companion iOS app this summer. An Android version will reportedly follow a few months later.

But a writer for Gigaom had a chance to try it already and said he was impressed with how quickly it responded to his movement. “It really does look as if it could be a viable alternative to a trainer, provided you’re not training for the Olympics or something equally hardcore.”

Yeah, let’s leave the 100m freestyle to the professionals.