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Smartbands, or activity monitoring bands, are intelligent devices designed for active people and interesting technological innovations. The smartband will be useful for people practicing various sports, especially runners and cyclists. Read what works with smartbands and check which model to choose.
Smartband(also known assmart bracelet , a fitness band or just an activity monitoring band) is an English "smart band". It has a number of functions useful for active people, so it can definitely be called another intelligent device. Worn on the wrist, it resembles an ordinary silicone bracelet, but - unlike a smartwatch - it does not have a display and a case characteristic for watches. In the first models of smartbands from 2014, there was also no display, - currently on the market there are bands with displays, but very simple, unlike in the case of smartwatches.
Smartband - how does it work?
Smartband is a small, light and comfortable device, the main function of which is lifelogging, which can be translated as recording the course of the whole day.
Smartband usually has the form of a silicone band with a fairly uniform structure that emits vibrations (it can also have one or more LEDs and send sound signals). Although it seems inconspicuous at first glance, it hides many functions - on the inner (adjacent to the body) side of the device there is a small pocket with a cartridge in it, which is the main core of the device. The cartridge looks like a flash drive and is usually waterproof. To use the data stored on it, we need to connect the smartband to an external device: usually with a smartphone, but it can also be a computer or tablet. To read the data, you need applications provided by specific manufacturers.
Let's take a look at the smartband functions that are especially useful for people who practice sports.
Smartband - how can it help in training?
Smartbands have many functions that can be useful to active people. The most important ones are:
- Heart rate monitor(in many models the functionadditional) that allows you to monitor the heart rate and arrange training with heart rate control.
- Acceleratorfor measuring the number of steps - based on the number of steps, the distance traveled and the number of calories burned will also be measured.
- Monitoring your 24/7 activity , including sleep time and quality - you can also set your smartband to wake you up with vibration.
- The function of motivating to move- the smartband notifies its owner - also with vibrations or sounds - about staying motionless for too long.
- Daily progress , about which the user is informed by LEDs.
- Tells you the difference in hill climbedand, based on your heart rate,exercise intensity .
The above-mentioned training advantages of smartbands will not be found in every model, of course, but most of the products of proven brands have them. Some also allow you to analyze your training and view your statistics.
Is it worth buying a smartband? Check what coach Jacek Bilczyński advises:
Worth knowingSmartbands, like smartwatches and physical activity recorders, are products of wearable technologies ( wearable technologies ). The name means smart accessories that we wear on our body. Their colloquial English name iswearables . There was even a competition for the Polish word for it. His chapter included, among others. prof. Jerzy Bralczyk - the name of the "carrier" was chosen.
Smartband - what additional functions does it have?
It is also worth mentioning about additional - i.e. unsportsmanlike - functions of smartbands. Connected via bluetooth to a smartphone, they allow you to control some functions of the phone, e.g. playing music or the camera. The smartband vibrates to notify you of an incoming call or SMS, so you don't have to check notifications on the phone every now and then. Individual models will also notify you about what is happening on our social network, remind you of the events stored in the calendar on your smartphone. Thanks to the applications, we can trace the day saved on the smartband, because the device knows perfectly well when we were sleeping, running, cycling or driving a car. Smartbands are almost always waterproof - from a depth of 30 meters downwards. Thanks to the smartband, we can also check the weather.
How much does a smartband cost?
One of the advantages of smartbands is the price - they are cheaper than smartwatches. Leading manufacturers offer equipment that can be purchased for PLN 150-250, the cost of purchasing more advanced models is PLN 300-700. Of courseThere are also products available for several dozen zlotys, but you shouldn't trust their quality.
This will be useful to youSmartband and smartwatch - differences
Smartband not only resembles a smartwatch with its name - it also has similar functions. However, both devices have a different screen: the one in smartwatches is definitely larger (in smartbands it is often absent at all) and displays more information. On the other hand, smartband displays, if they already exist, are monochrome and legible. External equipment is necessary to display data from a smartband, in the case of smartwatches, we also use many device options using, for example, a smartphone, but we can read a lot of information on the device itself. Some users also emphasize that e.g. the counters of calories or steps taken in smartwatches are more accurate.
On the other hand, smartbands are lighter, more comfortable to wear, and above all - they have a durable structure and retain water resistance at a greater depth than smartwatches. When connected to an external device, smartbands provide the athlete with the same amount of information about his results and progress.
View the gallery with an overview of different smartwatch models.
About the authorAnna SierantEditor in charge of the Psychology and Beauty sections, as well as the main page of Poradnikzdrowie.pl. As a journalist, she cooperated, among others. with "Wysokie Obcasy", the websites: dwutygodnik.com and entertheroom.com, the quarterly "G'RLS Room". She also co-founded the online magazine "PudOWY Róż". He runs a blog jakdzżyna.wordpress.com.
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