Today's fitness junkies have all kinds of monitors to choose from, and who says dogs couldn't do with a little activity tracking themselves? Bringy is a connected ball with a sensor inside to track things like speed and distance, so you can keep tabs on their movements and make sure they're on a path to good health.
Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, Bringy is a rubber ball said to be waterproof, durable and able to bounce on grass and concrete, so you shouldn't have any trouble using it as a regular ball for your dog. But inside is a set of motion-tracking sensors, such as a magnetometer and gyroscope, that connect with a companion mobile app to collect data that caring pet owners might find useful.
When the ball is tossed, the sensors track the ball's motion through the air so then when the dog snatches it in its jaws, data is collected on how far the dog has run, its speed and also the height of the jump. This information can be displayed in real time, so you can see when your dog sets a new personal best for speed or a leap, and accordingly offer it a treat or 10. At the same time, the app collects all this data so you can monitor progress over time and set fitness goals for your pet.
There are a couple of other handy features, such as a built-in LED so you can spot the ball in the dark and an alarm that beeps to make it easier to find, as well as a few other features that do seem rather far-fetched. Bringy's makers claim that through the data, the app can somehow notify the owner when the dog is thirsty, hungry, or needs a rest.
We certainly wouldn't be banking on those last few points, but if Bringy ball is ticking enough boxes for you, then an early pledge of US$45 will have one headed your way in December, if the campaign runs as planned.
You can check out the promo video below.
Source: Kickstarter
