LG Launches Fitness Tech at CES 2014

LG Electronics has launched the LG Lifeband Touch and LG Heart Rate Earphones, two wearable products that mark the company’s first foray into fitness tech.

Unveiled at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Lifeband Touch is a smart activity tracker that is compatible with heart rate monitors as well as smartphones. Meanwhile, the Heart Rate Earphones’ unique dual-function design offers a convenient way for users to measure their heart rate while exercising.

Connected to smartphones (Android and iOS supported), the devices can transmit data to the LG Fitness app, or to a number of other third party apps such as MyFitnessPal, Runkeeper or MapMyFitness.

Lifeband Touch and Heart Rate Earphones can wirelessly link up to each other, creating a seamless wearable eco-system.

Lifeband Touch features a touch OLED panel to display time, biometrics, incoming calls and music controls, the built-in 3-axis accelerometer and altimeter allows the device to accurately measure key performance indicators such as distance, speed, number of steps, calories burned and projected pace. All this information is visible with a swipe of a finger on the OLED display.

Engineered to be lightweight and simple to use, Lifeband Touch incorporates a unique motion-sensing algorithm that automatically turns on the display when the wearer rotates his or her wrist. It also offers wireless connectivity via Bluetooth to transmit data to a smartphone or receive data from third party devices such the Heart Rate Earphones.

LG’s Heart Rate Earphones feature PerformTek sensor technology which measures blood flow signals from the auricle, the external part of the ear to capture accurate biometric data such as heart rate and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max). A clip-on medallion connected to the earphones provides Bluetooth connectivity, enabling the unit to send data to a smartphone or the Lifeband Touch for a truly seamless experience.

“We wanted to introduce wearable fitness products that met the expectations of today’s tech savvy consumers and brought something new to the table, which in our case meant exceptional design, comfort and functionality,” said Jim Clayton, executive vice president of LG’s New Business Division in the Home Entertainment Company. “The uniqueness of our wearable devices is that they weren’t just designed for exercise but also for day-to-day use in the office or around the home. With Lifeband Touch, you can get call and text notifications sent from your smartphone while the Heart Rate Earphones are perfectly happy playing back music all day even when you’re not exercising. These are much more than just fitness devices.”

Lifeband Touch and Heart Rate Earphones will be available starting in the United States in the first half of 2014, to be followed by rollouts in other markets.