Wearables

"World's smallest EKG" makes for a healthier smartwatch

"World's smallest EKG" makes for a healthier smartwatch
The new Cronovo smartwatch is on Kickstarter at the moment
The new Cronovo smartwatch is on Kickstarter at the moment
View 10 Images
Cronovo says it has created the world's smallest EKG
1/10
Cronovo says it has created the world's smallest EKG
The Cronovo smartwatch works as a microphone and speaker for phone calls
2/10
The Cronovo smartwatch works as a microphone and speaker for phone calls
Like regular smartwatches, the Cronovo will pass on notifications from major apps
3/10
Like regular smartwatches, the Cronovo will pass on notifications from major apps
The health tracking side of Cronovo
4/10
The health tracking side of Cronovo
Like a Fitbit, the Cronovo smartwatch will track the effectivness of your sleep
5/10
Like a Fitbit, the Cronovo smartwatch will track the effectivness of your sleep
The full range of functions available on the Cronovo
6/10
The full range of functions available on the Cronovo
The Cronovo acts as a music controller
7/10
The Cronovo acts as a music controller
The specs of the Cronovo smartwatch
8/10
The specs of the Cronovo smartwatch
The EKG on the Cronovo
9/10
The EKG on the Cronovo 
The new Cronovo smartwatch is on Kickstarter at the moment
10/10
The new Cronovo smartwatch is on Kickstarter at the moment
View gallery - 10 images

Although some smartwatches claim to be health-focused, with heart rate and step tracking capabilities, a team based in the UK has set out to one-up them all with the Cronovo. Capable of tracking stress levels, metabolism and heart rate, the company says its watch is the world's smallest EKG.

An EKG, or electrocardiogram, tracks the electrical activity of the heart, and displays the results as a trace on a graph. Using this technology provides the Cronovo with a number of advantages compared to regular health-tracking smartwatches, most of which have optical heart sensors. Instead of using an optical sensor, the watch uses small electrodes held close to the skin to keep an eye on heart rate, a method the brand claims is 99.9 percent accurate. The EKG sensor will also keep an eye on your metabolism rate, track live training intensity levels and recovery times.

During workouts, animations show the wearer how to complete certain exercises, and there is a dedicated mode for wheelchair-bound users who want to train.

Beyond the health tracking, the EKG watch works just like a regular smartwatch. It's compatible with both Android and iOS devices, and delivers notifications from key apps like WhatsApp and Facebook directly to the wrist. Thanks to a built-in speaker and microphone, the wearer can even answer calls directly through their watch. Whether you'd want to do this is another question entirely – although we're sure Get Smart devotees will enjoy the chance to imitate Agent 86.

The health tracking side of Cronovo
The health tracking side of Cronovo

Users can expect to charge up every three days, and the watch is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are responsible for wireless connectivity, with a gyroscope and accelerometer both packed into the 12.5-mm (0.49 in) thick case for good measure. The case is water-resistant, and straps can be easily changed.

At the moment, the team at Cronovo is seeking funding for the watch on Kickstarter, where it has raised over £27,000 (US$34,000) of its £25,000 ($31,500) goal with 57 days left. Pledges start at £84 ($105) and retail prices are expected to start at £189 ($240), should the crowdfunding campaign be successful.

There's more information in the following pitch video.

Source: Cronovo Inc.

Cronovo Smartwatch

View gallery - 10 images
3 comments
3 comments
liui
I don't think it's possible to measure EKG from the wrist!
SaysMe
Don't know if it really works as intended, but I live alone and already had one heart attack, no one around if I have another one, I could be die for months before someone found out...
charlieFreak
Yeah, I can't see how there'd be enough voltage (especially with the inevitable motion artefact) to detect EKG. Normally you'd need electrodes on two sides of the body (left arm-right arm, or one arm and a leg) or electrodes on the chest. I'm sure all the big companies tried this first before giving up and opting for optical methods (which are also poor).