4 Red Hot Sports Technology Companies To Watch In 2014

Zac Rowley

4 Red Hot Sports Tech Companies to Watch in 2014

FITNESS 2.0 SMART CLOTHING

4 Red Hot Sports Tech Companies to Watch in 2014

Wearable technology has come a long way from the humble pedometer. At the moment there are countless corporations vying for top spot. The following is a list of established & emerging companies trailblazing the “smart clothing” branch of wearable tech, all destined for greatness in 2014.

***

HEXOSKIN

HEXOSKIN

A start-up from Montreal, Hexoskin are currently on the cusp of exponential growth. The team has been working on wearable health sensors since 2006. The culmination of their work is evident in their sensor filled smart shirt offering a range of metrics. Made in Canada from Italian quick-dry textiles, the shirt offers all necessities for repeated outdoor assaults: UV protection, anti-odour and breathable.

Almost all physiological aspects are measured including HR, breathing rate, GPS and pedometer based metrics. The beauty of this device is the inclusion of ECG allowing PR interval and Heart Rate Variability ratio; Alterations of either can indicate an underlying heart condition.

Data is displayed wirelessly in real time through their app, Hexoskin Solo for individual, or Hexoskin Team for team based training. Having worked with research teams at McGill, MIT and the Canadian Space Agency (amongst others) these guys are establishing themselves as the ultimate wearable technology.

OMSIGNAL

OMSIGNAL

Another Montreal based start-up company staring down the barrel of success of the wearable boom.

OMsignal’s shirts have interwoven sensors that record HR, breathing rate & depth, HR variability and other pedometer based metrics. The data collected is displayed in realtime through their app dashboard which also includes a ‘Fuel gauge’ suggesting how much energy the user has left. The app has a HR alert system that can notify the user when they cross predetermined parameters and a similar alert for breathing.

Once you're done with your training session, you can email yourself a biometric breakdown telling you/your trainer, or your coach how you actually performed. A nice little feature on this system is their use of accelerometers to determine inactivity during the day & alert you to ‘take a short break’ when you've been idle for 2 hours.

All of your activity is provided in your personal analytics report emailed to you daily, allowing you to compare your metrics and increase your future performance.

WEARABLE EXPERIMENTS

WEARABLE EXPERIMENTSThe ‘Alert Shirt’ is a fan jersey that uses wearable technology to simulate forces felt on the field. On first inspection it appears like a typical wearable: bluetooth, sensors, CPU. This is where the similarities end- the Alert Shirt receives data via a smart phone app and simultaneously converts it into powerful sensations to the wearer simulating the live action, bringing the emotions, frustrations and joys to the wearer in an unmatched physiological manner.

Having joined forces with Australian cable TV Foxtel, they are engaging viewers in entirely new ways with their AFL project.

Interestingly, the co-founders of We:eX come from divergent industries, one from a prominent Sydney fashion design school and the other a successful electrical engineer. Until recently most wearable technologies were not aesthetically pleasing, nor typical of someones personal brand, enter We:eX.

Wearable tech meets fashion: its the only way forward

(Note: Before you scoff and pass this off as a novelty, its best to remember that Australia is at the forefront of applied sports technology and AFL is the driving force behind this. Advances in sports technology allow us to measure & improve performance of the athletes giving the fans a greater experience. We:eX have embraced this enhanced user experience & engaged fans in a way that no other sport tech company has been able to. I know I'm excited to get a GWS jersey).

CATAPULT

CATAPULT

Although not specifically a smart clothing company per se, Melbourne based Catapult deserves special mention in this list, as their device can be discreetly integrated in/under sports uniform, with no impact on performance.

Having developed specific devices for use indoor and out, they use cutting edge technology coupling GPS and Inertial Movement Analysis: accelerometers and gyroscopes. Specific algorithms identify validated information on accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction and jumps (height and frequency).

Their ground breaking technology has established them as an authority across a multitude of sporting codes. Check out their website to see their impressive list of current clients and you will understand the importance of this small Australian company. Mark Cuban has recently shown his support by securing a stake in their future with a modest financial investment ahead speculation of an IPO in the near future.

First time reading my posts? Thanks! I hope it was helpful. I write weekly on developments in Sport & Exercise Science.Also, I'll be greatly appreciative if you:

☛ Like & Share this article with your network.

☛ Follow me to keep abreast of my future publications.

☛ Connect with me on LinkedIn to keep up with my daily updates on current health & fitness research.

☛ Ask me a question.

*******

Zac Rowley is an Australian Senior Sports Scientist specialising in applied sport technology, strength & conditioning and exercise science.