Nike has unveiled its second generation activity-tracking wristband,thermos bottle addressing
criticism that its earlier device failed to recognise that some
activities use more energy than others.The Fuelband SE lets owners
define the start and end of a session and then tag it - for example as
yoga or basketball.The firm's software then adjusts its "fuel" score
accordingly.However, speculation that Nike would add a heart monitor or
other new sensor to improve accuracy proved incorrect.The New York
launch came a fortnight after the Fitbit Force was unveiled - a rival
activity tracker that introduced a height-measuring altimeter that can
record how many stairs its owner has climbed.Jawbone, iHealth, Garmin,
Withings and Adidas are among other firms to offer dedicated
fitness-measuring gadgets. Meanwhile Samsung and Sony are promoting
their newly released smartwatches' ability to download and run
Android-based activity-tracking apps.One market watcher suggested Nike
might have missed a trick."Since Nike launched the first Fuelband early
last year there has been an explosion of fitness wearables and apps,Used construction machinery"
said Nitin Bhas, senior analyst at the tech consultancy Juniper
Research."On the one hand you have Apple's promotion of the new motion
processor in its iPhone 5S, which extends battery life when the function
is used, and on the other hand you have Fitbit adding new technology.
"But
you mustn't forget that Nike has the fact that it's an established
brand in its favour, unlike some of the other firms involved."Other
improvements to the Fuelband include an upgrade to the lower-power
Bluetooth 4.0 technology, allowing the device to automatically
synchronise its data to an iPhone rather than requiring the owner to
carry out a series of button presses.There continues to be no official
Fuelband app for Android devices, although users can connect the gadget
to a computer to upload their data to a website.The firm also suggested a
redesigned internal circuit board and other changes meant the device
offered "greater flexibility" and "improved water resistance". Issues
with the original model meant several users suffered error messages
after several months' use,Antique tubs requiring the bracelet to be replaced.Like its predecessor,Antique faucets the
company suggests the Fuelband SE can be worn in the shower but should
not be submerged for extended periods, for example while swimming.The
company said that its iOS app also introduced a feature allowing users
to work together to hit a fuel score target as well as a way to better
monitor how much energy was used at different hours of the day.
Nike
also announced plans to expand an existing programme to encourage
third-party firms to develop software that makes use of the information
generated by the device.Analysts agree that the wearable tech market -
which includes devices such as Google's forthcoming Glass eyewear - is
set to expand, but differ over its expected size.According to a new
report from Juniper Research the sector will grow from $1.4bn (￡878m) of
annual sales this year to $19bn (￡11.9bn) by 2018.Analysts at the bank
Credit Suisse are more optimistic suggesting a $50bn figure by the same
date.Tech research firm Gartner is more cautious suggesting a $10bn
target for 2016. But one of its analysts suggested the sector would grow
more quickly if businesses decided to equip their workers with such
tech."If you don't have motivated and passionate employees they don't
give you the extra discretionary effort, and there's some thinking that
wellness programmes that encourage staff to be healthier may make them
more productive and combat absenteeism," Mike Gotta told the BBC.tyre changer"But
that raises the issue of privacy - where does the data go? Employees
will be concerned if the information gathered could be used in a
punitive way."Nike is adding France, Germany and Japan to its existing
Fuelband markets - the US, Canada and the UK.
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