InstaBeat

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Instabeat
Instabeat 1.png
Category smartglasses
Developer InstaBeat, Inc. [1]
Announced January 2013 [2]
Released Developers:
Consumers: 2015 [3]
Price 150 USD [4]
Operating system unknown
Display LEDs (diodes)
Resolution none
Field of view
Weight 47 g [5]
Controls

touchpad

Data available good
Risk factor unknown
Standalone
http://www.instabeat.me

InstaBeat is a swimming tracker head-mounted device that allows the user to get information about their heart-beat and lap times. The device can be attached to a variety of swimming goggles. This way, InstaBeat goggles enhances the swimmer's training routine and provides them with data about their swimming performance in real-time without the need to exit the water. The recorded data can be uploaded via USB and through the provided InstaBeatConnect online application the user can review the performance data, save them, and compare them to previously recorded sessions.

The company won a number of awards. In 2010 the company won the 3rd place in the Star of Science competition with a prototype device then called Butterfleye.[6] In 2013, it was chosen as the best in wearable technology at CES2014. It was chosen among the 7 "hottest Global startups of 2013" by Forbes.[7]

Main Characteristics

InstaBeat is an attachable head-mounted heart-beat sensor and display. The device weights 47 grams and is made from a flexible waterproof thermoplastic polyurethane and can be attached to a selection of swimming goggles.[8] The inner side of the device features a heart-beat sensor as well as a gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer. Information about the performance is conveyed through three sets of three coloured (blue, green, red) LED diodes on the bottom rim of the goggles. The device can track it and inform the user about the heart frequency by lighting up the differently coloured diodes. The threshold at which different colours turn on is customised by the user through the bundled InstaBeatConnect software. InstaBeat communicates with the application via a USB connector. The application archives previous sessions, displays performance graphs and measures lap times, heart beat and burn calories. The data can also be shared on various social networks.[5]

Purpose

InstaBeat attached to a pair of swimming glasses.

InstaBeat provides the means to measure and track swimming performance and help to make training more effective.

Company & People

The device is developed by InstaBeat Inc. Instabeat is a Lebanon based technology startup. It was founded by a former professional swimmer Hind Hobeika in 2011.[1]

  • Hind Hobeika - Founder and Chief Executive Officer[9]
  • Carl Madi - Chief Operations Officer[10]

Important Dates

  • 1 September 2014 - InstaBeat Inc. founded. Originally named Butterfleye SAL.[10][6]
  • May 2013 - IndieGoGo campaign[11]
  • 17 June 2013 - IndieGoGo campaign successfully ended.
  • 23 June 2015 - InstaBeat ships first units.[12]

Ethical & Health Issues

Closer look at InstaBeat's sensors and display. LED diodes are on the left, the heart-beat sensor is to the right.

There are no ethical or health issues connected to this particular device.

For more general issues connected with smartglasses, please see the Smartglasses synopsis.

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

Enhancement. - The device aims at providing information about the user's sport activity and so enhance their training routine. Thanks to the heart-beat sensor, it can be used as a form of treatment but other, dedicated devices, are perhaps better suited for such task.

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

The device itself received marginal attention in comparison to more famous sport activity trackers such as Fitbit. In addition, more attention was given to the IndieGoGo campaign, before the device was release. The technical aspects were not discussed in detail in any of the researched news pieces. Popular web magazines focused more on the fact that the company is based in Lebanon,[13] was founded by a woman,[14] and that it managed to attract foreign investments.[15]

TechCrunch magazine called the crowdfunding concept of the device "revolutionary" and made a positive comparison to similar sport activity trackers.[16] Fast Company website interviewed the InstaBeat's founder and called the device the "Google Glass if swimwear" in the title,[17] and so did the Mashable magazine.[18]

Public Policy

There is no public policy that considers this device specifically.

For more information about policies related to smartglasses, please see the Smartglasses synopsis.

Related Technologies, Projects, or Scientific Research

There are no related projects or research relevant to this device specifically.

For more information about this type of devices, please see the Smartglasses synopsis.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 About Instabeat. InstaBeat [online]. Available online at: http://instabeat.me/about (Retrieved 30 November 2015)
  2. ↑ VOLKMAN, Elliot. 16 Gadgets You Might Actually Buy from CES. Tech.co [online]. 2013, 11 January. Available online at: http://tech.co/gadgets-you-might-actually-buy-from-ces-2013-01 (Retrieved 30 November 2015)
  3. ↑ Pre-order InstaBeat. InstaBeat [online]. Available online at: http://instabeat.me/preorder (Retrieved 30 November)
  4. ↑ Payment. InstaBeat [online]. Available online at: http://instabeat.me/payment/ (Retrieved 30 November)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 InstaBeat User Manual. InstaBeat [online]. Available online at: http://user.instabeat.me/user/files/Instabeat%20User%20Manual.pdf (Retrieved 30 November)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Alumni. Stars of Science [online]. Qatar Foundation, 2010. Available online at: http://www.starsofscience.com/English/Hind-Hobeika (Retrieved 30 November 2015)
  7. ↑ HIND HOBEIKA. MITEF Greece [online]. 2012, 30 October. Available online at: http://www.mitefgreece.org/hind-hobeika/ (Retrieved 30 November 2015)
  8. ↑ Instabeat fits on all swimming goggles! – Goggle Guide. Instabeat [online]. 2013, 20 November. Available online at: http://www.instabeat.me/blog/2013/11/20/instabeat-fits-swimming-goggles/ (Retrieved 30 November 2015)
  9. ↑ Company Overview of Instabeat. Bloomberg Business [online]. 30 November 2015. Available online at: http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=253760316 (Retrieved 30 November 2015)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Instabeat. CrunchBase [online]. CrunchBase Inc., 2015. Available online at: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/instabeat#/entity (Retrieved 30 November 2015)
  11. ↑ Instabeat. IndieGoGo [online]. Available online at: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/instabeat#/ (Retrieved 30 November)
  12. ↑ Instabeat June 23, 2015 Updates. Instabeat [online]. 2015, 23 June. Available online at: http://instabeat.me/blog/2015/06/23/instabeat-june-23-2015-updates/ (30 November 2015)
  13. ↑ BUTCHER, Mike. Beirut’s Bright Future As A Tech Hub For MENA, If Its Politicians Will Allow It. TechCrunch [online]. 2015, 3 April. Available online at: http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/03/beiruts-bright-future-as-a-tech-hub-for-mena-if-its-politicians-will-allow-it/ (Retrieved 1 December 2015)
  14. ↑ WAKEEL, Dina. The Women Leading Lebanon’s Startup Scene. Venture Magazine [online]. 2015, 9 June. Available online at: http://www.venturemagazine.me/2015/06/the-women-leading-lebanons-startup-scene-3/ (Retrieved 1 December 2015)
  15. ↑ JONES, Rory. Arab Tech Startups Begin to Attract U.S. Venture Capital. The Wall Street Journal [online]. 2014, 11 November. Available online at: http://www.wsj.com/articles/arab-tech-startups-begin-to-attract-u-s-venture-capital-1415705692 (Retrieved 1 December 2015)
  16. ↑ BUTCHER, Mike. Instabeat Is Revolutionary HUD For Swimming Goggles You Can Back On Indiegogo. TechCrunch [online]. 2013, 16 May. Available online at: http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/16/instabeat-is-revolutionary-hud-for-swimming-goggles-you-can-back-on-indiegogo/ (Retrieved 1 December 2015)
  17. ↑ SCHROEDER, Christopher M. How Hind Hobeika Created The Google Glass Of Swim Goggles. Fast Company [online]. 2013, 27 August. Available online at: http://www.fastcompany.com/3016356/dialed/how-hind-hobeika-created-the-google-glass-of-swim-goggles (Retrieved 1 December 2015)
  18. ↑ FRANCESCHI-BICCHIERAI, Lorenzo. Instabeat Is Google Glass and Nike FuelBand for Swimmers. Mashable [online]. 2013, 17 May. Available online at: http://mashable.com/2013/05/17/instabeat-google-glass-swimmers/#9SaHnwk3QSq1 (Retrieved 1 December 2015)
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