It's been almost two months since MobiHealthNews has surveyed the mobile and digital health crowdfunding landscape, but the tide of projects hasn't slowed down. At the end of March, we looked at smart jump ropes, smart canes, two wearable thermometers, and an app-connected home blood test kit. Three out of five of those companies -- Kenkodo, Smart Rope, and STEMP -- made their goals (with the Smart Rope more than tripling its goal). Baby Check and The Smart Cane fell short.
This latest batch of crowdfunding projects are all about tracking, from an emotion-sensing ring to a smart standing desk to EEG-sensing headphones. Read on for 10 interesting wearables, sensors and apps making their case on Indiegogo and Kickstarter right now.
RunRite is a device and software platform to help runners track specialized data about their movement and make the most of that data. A sensor strapped on each leg helps the user collect data, and then a coaching algorithm turns that data into suggestions about improving technique, training suggestions, and records of steps, pace, and good and bad form throughout the run. The project is seeking $60,000 and has raised $5,300 so far.
This water resistant titanium Android smartwatch can make phone calls, play music, and send texts but it's mainly designed for exercise enthusiasts. It has a social running app that would allow users to compete with large groups of friends, in one-on-one challenges, or on global networks. Rockioo has raised $61,000 out of a $200,000 goal.
Autonomous is a smart take on the standing desk. It automatically adjusts its height to remind the user to stand up throughout the day, to improve health. It also has additional, Siri-like features that let the user order food, make appointments and look things up via voice activation. It can even get data from a user's fitness device and keep them up to date on their steps. The project has already raised $225,000, much more than its $50,000 goal.
Kokoon's smart headphones are designed to help the wearer sleep better. This means the headphones are designed to be slept in comfortably, but also that they have a built-in EEG sensor that collects data to help the user track and understand their sleep. They can use those sensors to detect when the user falls asleep and turn music or meditation sounds off accordingly. Kokoon has already raised $435,000 out of an original $100,000 goal.
TZOA is a small, clip-on sensor that, rather than telling the wearer about their own movement, instead sends them insights about their environment. The sensor suite includes air quality, ultraviolet radiation, light, humidity, and temperature. The device (and Bluetooth-connected app) can then use this information to make recommendations from choosing a different bike route to avoid pollen to recommending more time in the sun. Users can also share their info with each other to create crowdsourced air quality maps. So far TZOA has picked up $40,200 on Indiegogo out of a $50,000 goal.
The Moodmetric ring is sort of a smart evolution of the mood ring, sporting an electrodermal activity sensor that quantifies the user's emotional response into a number they can access via their smartphone screen. By tracking the user's emotions/stress level, Moodmetric is able to provide biofeedback to help teach people how to better manage their state of mind. The ring also has a 3-axis accelerometer to track steps. Just a week into the campaign, Moodmetric has raised $2,799 out of a $50,000 goal.
Resistrack is a sensor-laden pulley device that can be attached to different exercise machines like resistance bands, cable machines, and suspension trainers and provides exercisers with detailed data about the strength of each of their muscles. Associated software allows users to do focused training or guided workouts with the sensor, or to use it to compete with friends. It can connect either wirelessly or my USB to a phone, tablet, or computer. Resistrack has raised $4,821 toward a goal of $78,213 (or 50,000 euros).
WellBe, not to be confused with care coordination offering Wellbe, is a heart rate tracking bracelet that aims to offer users an overview of their stress triggers and then provide users with personalized stress reducing programs to help them maintain calmness. The wearable's companion app offers a variety of relaxation exercises including meditation, focused breathing, guided imagination, and personalized playlists. The app also provides users with regular updates on their mental state, and if the user chooses, the app can send push notifications prompting them to take a mental break and perform a relaxation exercise.
The bracelet is available on Indiegogo for $129, which is $80 cheaper than its retail price. WellBe has raised $99,807 of its $100,000 goal with 17 days left in their campaign.
Geneva, Switzerland-based FindaFitness is an online community that helps users to search and compare local gyms and personal trainers in their region. The company says this offering is available in cities around the world, including Paris, London, New York, and Singapore. Gyms are also able to use this service to promote their offerings. FindaFitness will use the funds they raise on Indiegogo to continue developing the website, which launched in Feburary, and add a smartphone app.
FindaFitness is free to use, but campaign contributors will receive FindaFitness swag or special beta testing privileges depending on how much they contribute to the campaign. The company has raised $2,192 of its $40,000 goal with 48 days left in the campaign.
NextToMe has developed a wearable that tracks pollution levels, UV exposure, the user's body temperature and blood alcohol level, altitude, and air pressure. The device can be worn on a key chain or on a wrist strap. The device also sends the data it collected from NextToMe's sensors to a companion app via Bluetooth. The app will also display information about ambient temperature and pollution in areas where other people are wearing NextToMe sensors. The will also suggest alternate traveling routes to avoid polluted areas, which the company explains is ideal for runners or anyone exercising outdoors.
Users can purchase a NextToMe device for $89, though the Indiegoo campagin page says it will eventually retail for $149. So far, the campaign has raised $17,305 of its $50,000 goal with 31 days remaining in the campaign.
