30 Jun 2014
New wearable helps parents improve kids' physical activity levels
BY Chris Dodd
Technology developer X-Doria has created a new piece of wearable kit allowing parents to set physical activity goals for their children, also enabling them to keep tabs on how much exercise their kids are doing.
Recommended for five to 13-year-olds, the KidFit band is worn on the wrist, with parents able to set daily activity tasks, which are scored out of 100 points to give children an incentive – similar to a game.
The device’s accompanying app, available for both iOS and Android systems, then keeps tabs on the tasks completed, providing the users with real-time updates as they achieve their targets.
The software also allows parents to tie in real-world rewards for their children when they achieve their set goals.
As well as physical activity, the KidFit can monitor sleeping patterns and enables parents to set sleeping targets, to ensure children match their improved activity levels with adequate amounts of sleep.
The product is due to ship this August with a price of US$39.99 (€29, £23). This price will then increase to US$50 (€36, £29) once all of the company’s preorders have sold out.
Given that the World Health Organisation (WHO) regards childhood obesity as one of the most serious global public health challenges for the 21st century, it comes as no surprise that developers are now seeking to make us of the lucrative wearable tech market, especially with a focus on children.
The KidFit will enter the market having to battle with the likes of LeapFrog's LeapBand, which also looks to set out goals for children to achieve, with their physical activity helping them to nurture a tamagotchi-like virtual pet.
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