BodyMedia, Biggest Loser are Jawbones

Jawbone did not disclose financial terms of its deal to purchase BodyMedia, which makes armbands used to track performance of fat-shedding competitors on US reality television show "The Biggest Loser."

"The two companies have a combined three decades worth of technology and intellectual property around sophisticated body sensors along with hundreds of patents focused on wearable technology," Jawbone's chief executive and founder, Hosain Rahman said..

"There's an enormous appetite for personal data and self-discovery among consumers that will only continue to grow," said Rahman.

"We look forward to pushing new boundaries, creating new markets, and showing people what's truly possible with wearable computing," he added.

The San Francisco-based company behind "smart" wireless earpieces and Jambox speakers last year redesigned its UP wristbands that combine fashion with smartphone lifestyles to help people along paths to improved fitness.

UP wristbands are priced at US$129. The UP applications tailored for Apple or Android mobile devices collect data from the bands to let people more easily get a snapshot of their of activity, sleep, eating, and even their moods on any given day or over a period of time.

Activity levels

The wristbands track users' level of activity, whether they are exercising, pacing in an office, or snoozing in bed.

BodyMedia, founded in the Pennsylvania city of Pittsburgh about 14 years ago, is considered a pioneer in combining sensors in wearable devices with machine tracking.

BodyMedia armbands monitor activities of wearers, including how intensely they work out, and calculate how many calories are burned. Sleep and eating information is also gathered.

The BodyMedia platform is registered with the US Food and Drug Administration as a proven device for enhancing weight loss.

By combining forces, "we can make an even bigger impact on people's health and help them achieve their goals," said BodyMedia chief executive Christine Robins.

BodyMedia operations will remain in Pittsburgh but the employees will become part of the Jawbone team, according to Jawbone vice president of strategy Travis Bogard.

"We always talked about wireless headsets as wearable computers," Bogard said.

"This is exactly the long-term vision we have. We are expanding what is possible with sensors and computing going on the body," he said.

Jawbone announced its creation of a UP platform that software developers can use to build applications that work with the wristbands on iPhones, iPads, or iPod touch devices.

Applications ready at launch included RunKeeper and MapMyFitness for logging runs or bicycle rides, including routes and synchronising this information with UP software on Apple gadgets.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge