Heart disease is one of the most prevalent and deadliest conditions in the world, especially because it can so often go undiagnosed. Many people walk around with severe complications that make them a ticking time bomb. Today, Aktiia announced the availability of the first-ever 24/7 automated blood pressure monitor — something we got a first look at during CES 2020. Users wear the device and it gathers information about their blood pressure and other health metrics all throughout the day and night.
The device doesn’t work like traditional blood pressure monitors. Rather than squeezing your arm each time it needs a measurement, the Aktiia Optical Blood Pressure Monitor monitors your blood pressure by analyzing the diameter of the blood vessels with each heartbeat. This happens automatically, so users are never aware of the test, and therefore do not skew the results by being anxious or behaving differently.
The device received approval for release in the U.K., and pre-orders will start today. During the pre-order period, the price will be set at 159 British pouds, a 20% discount from the standard price of 199 British pounds. The purchase includes the Optical Bracelet, Initialization Cuff, and Mobile App.
The 24/7 blood pressure monitoring service will require a monthly subscription fee of 9 British pounds per month, but pre-order customers will receive access to the service for free.
The Aktiia has not been approved for release in the United States yet, but having just received its CE Mark Approval in Europe, the device will no doubt be taken under review by the FDA for use here.
The Aktiia looks like any other bracelet, so no one will even know you are wearing a blood pressure monitor. You can take the information the device gathers and present it to your doctor. It’s worth using even if you’re healthy, as changes in your blood pressure can help you identify problems before they can worsen. You can also use the information to identify periods of high stress and make changes to your routine.
After the previous year, many people are more aware of their health than ever before. If you want to take a more proactive approach, a wearable blood pressure monitor can help you stay on top of potential problems and cut them off at the pass.
The OnePlus Buds Clip are a new pair of open-ear earbuds built around a simple convenience. They join Sony’s LinkBuds Clip in the growing ear-cuff category, but either OnePlus bud can go on either ear.
Sensors recognize how the earbuds are being worn and route the audio channels accordingly. There’s no label to check before putting them on, and the feature also works when only one bud is used.
We buy fitness bands and activity trackers to keep tabs on our exercise, but it is easy to forget to start tracking or switch modes when moving between different activities. For Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, that could soon become a lot less annoying, as Google is rolling out a major upgrade to automatic activity tracking that can recognize more than 100 types of exercise, up from just 10 before.
Google first showed off the improved tracking earlier this month alongside the Fitbit Edge. It is now coming to Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, and Google claims the added context behind the system makes workout detection nearly twice as accurate while cutting missed activities by more than half. Fitbit Edge will support it too.