Athletes have a long history of using whatever they can find to enhance their performance or improve their training. While fitness tracker watches are nothing new, swimmers have used them to track their split times, distance, and other parameters. The problem with fitness trackers though is that you have to look at a watch. FORM has swim goggles that promise to address this, their smart goggles present the swimmer with a heads-up display of metrics. You can see a slick video about them below.
The screen is only on one eye, although you can switch it from left to right. The device has an inertial navigation system and is — of course — waterproof. It supposedly can withstand depths up to 32 feet and lasts 16 hours on a charge. It can use Bluetooth to send your data to your phone in addition to the display.
All this comes at a price, the goggles cost about $200. These aren’t the goggles from the dollar store, but even a nice pair of Speedo goggles might run $30 tops.
The device reportedly tracks split time, interval time, rest time, total time, stroke rate and count, distance per stroke, pacing, distance, length count, and even calories burned.
This reminds us of Google Glass. Most similar displays we’ve seen however have been automotive.
So this is a less fashionable DBZ Scouter.
It’s… 1006.Kick his ass, Nappa!
How does it work ? Can we open it ? Can we hack it ? Is it functional ? The video only shows the outside of the product and text incrustations.
Is it an ad ?
PS : I watched the video without audio, so maybe I missed something.
+1
Uhm, yeah. You didn’t miss something. The audio just makes it worse.
I seem to remember sparkfun has a super cheap HUD available if someone wants to cobble this together with a esp8266, and a lipo…
Found it! , Not very cheap… https://www.sparkfun.com/products/15173
“Not very cheap…”
Well, it _IS_ Sparkfun, after all!
B^)
(It does look like something I’d be interested in, even at that price)
Just strapping a transparant display close to your eye isn’t enough. You simply can’t focus to things this close to your eye, so you need extra distance, additional lenses or most likely a combination of both. This makes a project like this a lot more complex. So it’s very cool to see the managed to cramm it all in such a small set of glasses AND managed to make it all waterproof.
Very interesting stuff.
My first thought was “Heck, this would be a great application for a dive computer.”
Given the deep pockets of the scuba market, there has to be one already and sure enough: https://ww2.scubapro.com/en-GB/FRA/instruments/computers/products/galileo-hud.aspx
Only $1.7k. OK, par for the course.
“deep pockets of the scuba market” – it’s not that the scuba market has deep pockets, but since the actions you base on the numbers from that computer can quite literally cost you your life, the gear needs to be dependable…quality costs money, especially if skimping on it can cost your life.
ScubaPro is well known for being well overpriced. Want something for less, how about $25? This has been on craig’s list for MONTHS, nobody wants it. https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/spo/d/drager-fps700-scuba-mask-display/6946596219.html
I know ScubaPro is premium stuff — I certainly never could justify it, so have only their cheaper competitors’ gear. But I have their T-shirt!
That Drager “display” is an entirely different class of device: it’s just a few LEDs reporting cylinder pressure, not a computer at all. It’s not even intended for scuba (underwater) use.
That’s even close to what the Galileo HUD does. Have you actually looked through one in person? I have.
The Galileo has a graphic color OLED that displays useful diving information and fits most dual-lens masks, not just ScubaPros. It’s expensive because it’s been extensively tested and certified to perform in actual diving conditions by actual divers.
The product you linked only fits Drager’s FPS 7000 mask, which is probably why nobody wants it. Especially on Craigslist in Phoenix. There aren’t exactly a lot of people looking for a mask specific dive computer in the middle of the desert.
Besides, does it have any of the following features?
Lightweight (neutrally buoyant) and easily mountable to a dual-lens mask.
Hinge mechanism allows you to easily flip up the HUD when not in use.
Intuitive menu structure and push-wheel interface make for effortless navigation through the system.
Full-color OLED 96x64p display.
Choice of 2 algorithms: Predictive Multi-Gas Bühlmann ZH-L16 ADT MB PMG, or ZH-L16 GF.
PMG algorithm offers Microbubble levels and Profile Dependent Intermediate Stops (PDIS).
Selectable dive modes: SCUBA, Gauge, Apnea and CCR.
Trimix and Nitrox compatible, with advanced CCR functionality.
Up to 8 selectable gases in SCUBA mode, plus oxygen and diluent in CCR mode and2 changeable set points for CCR diving.
Compatible with the SCUBAPRO Smart transmitter for hoseless tank pressure monitoring.
Provides true remaining bottom time (RBT) based on the workload from breathing.
3D full-tilt digital compass allows you to store 3 pre-programmed headings.
Includes built-in GPS for surface navigation.
Maximum operating depth: 120m.
Rechargeable battery provides up to 20 hours of dive time per charge in Power Save mode.
2GB memory stores 10,000 hours of diving.
Download data via Bluetooth or USB cable.
Compatible with Apple and Android devices using LogTRAK.
Hardly a worthy comparison.
I bought a Mark V regulator in 1968. The lifetime warranty and service is still good. And it is a great regulator that can handle high air-volume accessories. The ScubaPro Jet Fin design was tops for what, 40 years? Mine are perfect with one strap replacement since ’67. I also have a Dacor Dial-a-Death double hose retired from rental that is older. I took it apart for cleaning/inspection once. Terrifying!
Didn’t watch the video but from the picture at the head of the article all I can say is, DAMN 125m, that’s a DEEP pool!
deep, it thought that was altitude?
The part a 0:55 where some “engineer” does soldering through a microscope is hilarious.
If you need a microscope AND apply such huge amounts of solder with such a big tip… not even mentioning the huge amounts of fumes coming from it. A classic example of showing things that the average people “want to see” instead of showing what the technically interested people need to see (but nobody really cares about). Fortunately, they were holding the iron at the cold end.
Regarding the goggles itself, really cool stuff.