The startup Fitbit innovates once again with the Force. With the Fitbit Force, the wristband becomes trendy! A pioneer, innovating in this field since 2007.
Real-world use case
Wondering whether connected wristbands are worth it: a look back at the Fitbit Force, a pioneer of the market.
Fitbit, the American startup based in San Francisco, is the leader in electronic coaching devices such as: smart scales, advanced pedometers, and advanced activity tracking. The firm has been on the market since 2007, and the biggest names, such as Nike, LG, Razer, Google, or even Apple with the iWatch project, want to imitate Fitbit in this field. Connected devices seem to be all the rage at the start of 2014! A CES 2014 recap on cnetfrance.fr covers the notable innovations to expect in 2014.
The spirit: Fitbit Force!
The Fitbit Force is a connected device featuring various sensors as well as an LED screen. The Force clearly looks like a watch, yet it sits halfway between the sleek, elegant wristband (such as the Flex) and the connected watch (such as Pebble). The evolution of electronic coaches is heading toward connectivity with the smartphone, and NFC/Bluetooth technologies let us sync our data at any time.
Here is the list of devices compatible with the Fitbit Force on the official website.
The Fitbit Force's features
What sets the Fitbit Force apart from the Flex is its LED screen, which can display:
- The current time.
- The number of steps taken.
- The distance traveled in kilometers.
- The number of calories burned.
- Floors climbed.
- Programmed alarms/wake-up calls.
Smartphone notifications will soon scroll across the screen; the maker should soon offer a software update available on the compatible devices listed above.
I liked the spirit of the Fitbit Force so much that I gave up my Flex for the Force*…* I imported the product from the US via the eBay auction site, since it isn't available in Europe!
US launch ad:
Managing the Fitbit Force
Managing the Fitbit Force is no slouch either, a web interface centralizes our information:
Smartphone apps aren't forgotten either, for example with my Google Nexus 4: For reference, support for the Google Nexus 4 is very recent and was long overdue!
The available Windows app also lets you sync your precious Fitbit Force. The platform could become a connected health social network in the coming years. In the end, all that's missing is a Linux app to have the perfect lineup!
Have faith in the Fitbit Force!
The Fitbit Force is a source of daily motivation and helps you set goals. Because this kind of gadget isn't necessarily "geeky" or superfluous! In the future, providing even more innovative services will be possible with the Force, for example:
- Managing sleep time and setting thresholds.
- Cross-referencing all the data to get an overview of one's health.
- Having genuine health tracking with the web/smartphone interface.
In short, whether it's a wristband or a watch, 2014 marks the start of connected devices! So, if like me you've chosen the Fitbit Force, feel free to share your impressions!
Conclusion
Here I presented the Fitbit Force, a connected device sitting halfway between an activity wristband and a watch, which I imported directly from the United States before its release in Europe. Its LED screen, sensors, and smartphone syncing make it an interesting pioneer of the connected wristbands that would become mainstream in the following years. Beyond being a gadget, this device nicely illustrates the emerging trend of connected devices dedicated to health and activity tracking.