If you're interested in leveraging data to record, analyze, and explore a wide range of daily activities, a new breed of smart wearables and fitness trackers are for you.
(Image provided by: Ultrahuman)
From smart glasses to biowearables, we've delved a little deeper into the world of personal statistics and rounded up 10 wearable technology devices that claim to help you shape your best self.
Wearable technology that helps you become your best self
1. Wrist Fitness: Honor Band 9
(Image credit: HONOR)
First, traditional, everyday technology. Honor has been providing fitness bands to runners and walkers for years, but their latest product, the Band 9, is a remarkable evolution. The 1.57-inch AMOLED display is always on, while a battery life of up to two weeks is promised, and the interchangeable strap is available in three colors. The Chinese company features up to 96 different training modes and can apparently perform an assessment of your body's age based on your “maximal oxygen uptake.” Distance, sleep, stress, heart rate, menstrual cycles, and more can all be tracked in detail.
Honor Band 9, £49.99; HiHonor.com, @UKHonor
2. Looks sharp: Brilliant Labs frames
Brilliant Labs Frame AI Glasses
(Image source: Brilliant Labs)
Brilliant Labs describes the frames as “multimodal AI glasses.” The not-yet-released $349 round-rimmed glasses have a transparent OLED display, battery, microphone, and speakers, and connect to your mobile device and an app called Noa to create AI-powered displays of your surroundings. Provides a visual overlay of the world.
“Mr.” Charging Dock Adds Mr. Potato Head Elements to Frame AI Glasses
(Image source: Brilliant Labs)
The startup behind Frame says the underlying software will be completely open source, and it may even include prescription lenses. It's not an Apple Vision Pro, much less an Apple Vision Pro. Mission Impossiblenor are they the only pair of augmented reality specs on the market, but if you're interested, you should take a look.
Brilliant Labs frame, $349; brilliant.xyz, @BrilliantLabsAR
3. Subtle charm: Oura Ring
(Image provided by Oura)
If smartwatches and fitness bands are too big for you, consider the latest wave of wearable devices: smart rings. Ourais is now in its third generation of its pioneering model, which is powerful enough to track sleep, heart health, stress, activity, and even early detection of disease based on sudden changes in skin temperature and heart rate. It's packed with sensors.
Oura Ring and charging station
(Image provided by Oura)
The downside is that access to Oura's datasets, analytics, and recommendations requires a monthly subscription, but it also has the ability to sync with Apple Health, Google Fit, Peloton, Strava, and more. Samsung is also nearing completion of its first Galaxy Ring. This is an ultra-lightweight device that comes in silver and gold color options and can sync with your phone to provide your health data 24/7.
Oura Heritage Ring, £299; Horizon Ring, £349; ouraring.com, @OuraRing
4. Cut-Through: Vasco E1 Translator
(Image credit: Vasco)
Sometimes it seems like technology companies make products not because they should, but because they can deal with the consequences later. In the case of Vasco's E1 translation earphones, I don't see any immediate downside to the impending end of confusion, wire crosstalk, and general misunderstandings. This is the kind of technology that will probably be embedded everywhere within a decade, but you can get ahead of everyone else by signing up to try E1.
Vasco E1 Translator earpiece and case
(Image credit: Vasco)
The pack of twin earpieces comes in a charging case, and you'll need to hand one to your conversation partner to start a conversation (or they can speak into an app on your phone). Vasco believes the device can perform real-time conversation translation in up to 49 languages.
Vasco Translator E1, coming soon Vasco-Translator.com
5. Learn more: Create smart swim goggles
(Image credit: FORM)
Form's smart swim goggles are a new way to track your performance and stats in the pool. Founded in 2019 by Dan Eisenhart, the company markets products with augmented reality displays integrated inside the goggle lenses to professional swimmers and triathletes. This provides real-time performance information that is difficult to track during training sessions. The goggles feature automatic stroke detection, allowing detailed post-swim analysis in the app. The subscription service includes training and coaching plans and allows you to pair the goggles with other workout apps, as well as your Apple watch and your Garmin watch.
Foam Smart Swim Goggles, $199; form swim.com, @FormSwim
6. Health Forecast: Ultrahuman
Ultra Human Ring AIR and App
(Image provided by: Ultrahuman)
Investors and consumers alike are somewhat wary of product suites that offer complete surveillance solutions. The ghost of Theranos is remembered. With this wayward path in mind, startup Ultrahuman relies on a suite of products rather than a single device to track all kinds of health metrics. The aim is to “build a grand unified view of the human body.'' Products include the Ring AIR smart ring and the M1 Live glucose monitor, which attaches to the body and provides real-time monitoring to his Ultrahuman app. Also on the horizon are home devices that are environmental monitoring systems that combine smoke detection systems with statistics on air quality, noise levels, temperature, light, and humidity.
Ultra Human Ring AIR, starting at $349, ultrahuman.com, @UltrahumanHQ
7. Exhale: FoodMarble
(Image credit: FoodMarble)
Your breath is one of the final frontiers of non-invasive health data collection. FoodMarble offers a pocket-sized sensor system that can track the efficiency of your digestive system by analyzing the levels of methane and hydrogen in your breath (indicating fermentation levels in your gut – see our guide to gut health). Masu.
(Image credit: FoodMarble)
When you enter details of the foods you eat into the FoodMarble app, you get a set of tailored statistics that show you how you react to different foods. Think of it as a personalized e-nutritionist that can detect various intolerances (including lactose but not gluten) and thus make your daily life easier.
FoodMarble AIRE, £149, AIRE 2, £189, food marble, @FoodMarble
8. Conversation Structure: Solos' Xeon 5
Solos' Xeon 5 Smart Glasses
(Image credit: Solos)
You are either fully committed to this thing or you are treating it with anxiety. AI advocates and enthusiasts will love Solos' new Xeon 5 smart glasses. Working in conjunction with the AirGo mobile app, the frame not only tracks and monitors your posture and fitness goals, but also includes push-button access to ChatGPT for AI-powered translation and summarization. Although the Xeon 5 doesn't have a display element, it can also whisper sweet information (like calendar events) directly into your ear.
Solos' Xeon 5 Smart Glasses, £160; Sologlass.com
9. Journey into surreality: XREAL Air 2 Ultra
XREAL Air 2 Ultra Smart Glasses
(Image credit: XREAL)
XREAL's upcoming Air 2 Ultra smart glasses represent a middle ground between Apple Vision Pro and lightweight, screenless devices like the Xeon 5. Weighing 80g (Vision Pro is around 600g), Air 2 Ultras is touted as the lightest augmented reality solution. The downside is that the glasses need to work in conjunction with your phone (or laptop) to “project” the giant display into your environment. Sensors track depth, surfaces, images, and even hands to immerse users in the experience. XREAL is currently encouraging developers to join and work on the platform.
XREAL Air 2 Ultra, £699.00, UK.shop.XREAL.com, @XREAL_global
10. Bioware for Beginners: Lingo
(Image credit: Lingo)
Finally, Lingo launched its first consumer biowearable system. The system is a circular puck-like glucose tracking system that you stick on to sift through two weeks of hard data on how she processes this essential sugar. You'll also benefit from better sleep quality and healthier habits, as Lingo's app identifies blood sugar spikes and suggests challenges to bring your readings down to a steady state. One sensor lasts 14 days.
Lingo Discovery Pack, £89; HelloLingo.com, @HelloLingo
