Wearable wonders of emerging India
An early snapshot of
Indian startup companies trying to lead the wearable device revolution
THERE IS a
pedometer that can speak to your smartphone, and a sensor on your wrist can now
see how much you have run. But the wearable computing revolution has only just
begun. And devices are increasingly affordable. For example, Xiaomi now has a
$13 (`780) wearable to track your fitness regime. There are some Indian devices
that are emerging as potential challengers in a space where giants like Samsung
and LG are struggling at a global level. We take an early look at some this
week.
GoQii
We can’t really
call this an Indian company, though the founder and CEO is Indian Vishal
Gondal. GoQii simply matches those who wear its device with trained fitness
coaches who guide you by chat, video or voice calls. Launched already, it has
not yet reached this reviewer. The service and the band are priced in a package
at 6,999 + taxes for a sixmonth period and 11`,999 + taxes for a 12-month
period. It is not clear if you can cancel the service after that period.
Meanwhile, a company based out of Dubai called Tupelo is trying to bring their
wearable device in India and this too is a coach-access gizmo. The pricing and
details are not available.
Fin
Kochi-based RHL
Vision is developing Fin, a simple ring you will sport on your thumb (yes!) and
use gesture control to manage devices over Bluetooth wireless links. To start
with you can use that to make phone calls or decline them. You can also use it
to operate your TV like your thumb was a remote. The possibilities are endless.
The launch is expected now early in 2015. Priced at $120 (`7,200) it may seem
like an expensive device, but if you could control all the devices around your
house or office and make them dance at your thumb tip, the price is probably
worth it. But the jury must await the launch.
LeChal
In Hyderabad, a
bunch of engineers have launched a smart Bluetooth-linked insole f or your s
hoe. This measures how much you walked and help you navigate as well. A buzzer
on your left foot (inside the shoe, of course) will vibrate to tell you whether
you should turn right or left. The insole is bacteria-resistant, waterproof and
fits most shoes. We don’t quite know other details including the cost as the
product is still in a lab stage. The smart insole will also act like a reminder
service. Companies like Nike have made shoe sensors in the past but what LeChal
is doing is a double benefit of getting yo u fitness with navigation. Its price
and quality may well be the deciding factors in a global race.
India has a
unique advantage with a huge pool of engineering students that graduate each
year, and with brighter and brighter kids every year there is more to come.
Companies such as Hyderabadbased Ineda are developing computing devices that
will make computing sense out of data spewed by wearables.
Similarly,
Bangalore-based Get Active has had a basic fitness-linked wearable very similar
to Fitbit available since 2013, and is now selling it at a throw away price of
2,999.
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