Swimming is one of those sports in which stopping to check a smartwatch during a performance can be quite distracting. For this reason, there is a new market for a class of devices that allows you to monitor performance without stopping swimming.
Holographic glasses, smart glass, what do you want to call them? The last one in order of time is called Holoswim and has just started a crowdfunding campaign on the popular Kickstarter platform.
Developed by Guangli, a Hong Kong-based startup, Holoswim consists of a fairly normal-looking and not too heavy set of swimming goggles (the company says they weigh 75 grams (2,6 ounces), module included). Did I say module? Yes. The glasses have a waterproof electronic module on one side, which is paired with a dedicated iOS / Android app on the wearer's smartphone.
The swimming instructor ended up in my eye
Users start by using the app to design a training program to follow. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) in the goggle module subsequently follows their movements while swimming.
This is where an OLED holographic display comes into play which is capable of showing data in real time. Data such as total distance traveled, number of strokes, number of laps, 100m stroke pace and total elapsed time are available. Users can switch between screens by pressing a physical button on the form. And after each swim session, they can review their performance on the companion app.
For all nomophobes in addition, the Holoswim are connected to the poolside phone with Bluetooth. It will be nasty, but if you work on it with your phone know that the goggles will alert you to incoming calls (but if you are underwater this feature only works within a range of 5 meters, 16 feet). And in any case you will have to finish the swimming session and reach for the phone to answer (unless you have a smartwatch, and so on).
According to Guangli, one charge of the module's lithium battery should be enough for more than 10 hours of autonomous swimming.
