Shape by Atlas, the 24/7 fitness coach starts shipping
Four years ago Atlas launched and shipped the original Atlas Wristband on Indiegogo. This is an activity tracker that keeps track of your reps and sets in the gym. It can tell the difference between push-ups and triangle push-ups, bicep curls and alternating bicep curls and squats versus dead lifts.
What followed soon was an upgraded second generation version. This one has the ability to automatically detect and count around 70 of the most popular exercises, plus you can teach it new ones.
Essential reading: Boost your gym session with these gadgets
The company turned to crowdfunding once again earlier this year for something slightly different – a 24/7 fitness coach that monitors your fitness and activity throughout the day, sleep patterns at night and heart rate at all times. Again the campaign was a success having raised $107,000 on Indiegogo and nearly $80,000 on Kickstarter.
Looking like a standard fitness tracker, Shape integrates the AI technology of its previous devices, so is still able to automatically recognize exercises. But while you are working out, the device now speaks to you helping you improve your form and pushing your intensity. With your headphones on, you might get an audio cue such as: “Slow down rep speed to burn fat more effectively!” In between workouts, you can chat with Shape like you would with a Personal Trainer.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
The accompanying smartphone app also digests your essential info to provide you with a custom workout plan. It starts you off light and than slowly ramps up your program. You get bespoke warmups, targeted workouts, HIIT and 7 minute workouts. Everything is designed to keep your heart rate up maximizing your daily caloric burn. For the initial release, the company is focusing on developing programs with exercises that require no equipment.
Essentially Atlas has slapped on a 24/7 activity tracker to its rep and set counting wearables and added guidance features. In our test, our main gripe with Atlas Wristband 2 was its bulkiness. Sporting an awkward horizontal orientation, it was blocky and retro looking. Shape does away with all of that and brings in a slim, discreet form factor. There is a touchscreen to navigate displays, up to 10 days battery life (depending on use) and up to 1 meter water resistance.
After some delay, the device has shipped backers both on Indiegogo and Kickstarter. Its now also available on Amazon.
Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!
