Smartwatches

This strap Shifts your smartwatch's viewing angle for workouts

This strap Shifts your smartwatch's viewing angle for workouts
Shift is a smartwatch band designed for fitness fanatics
Shift is a smartwatch band designed for fitness fanatics
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Shift moves your smartwatch from your wrist to the stretch of skin between your thumb and index finger
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Shift moves your smartwatch from your wrist to the stretch of skin between your thumb and index finger
Shift orientates your smartwatch in such a way as to put it in your field of vision
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Shift orientates your smartwatch in such a way as to put it in your field of vision
Shift can be used when running, allowing the runner to glance at their smartwatch
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Shift can be used when running, allowing the runner to glance at their smartwatch
Shift can be used when cycling, and is compatible with a host of smartwatches
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Shift can be used when cycling, and is compatible with a host of smartwatches
Shift is a smartwatch band designed for fitness fanatics
5/5
Shift is a smartwatch band designed for fitness fanatics
View gallery - 5 images

One of the key reasons to own a smartwatch is its use as a fitness tracker. From the Apple Watch to the Moto 360 (and everything in-between), smartwatches come with a range of neat tricks designed to help you train and track your fitness levels. There's just one problem: your wrist isn't necessarily the best place to wear a smartwatch when you're training. Shift is a (currently crowdfunding) attempt to fix that.

Shift is, simply, a wrist strap designed to move your smartwatch into a more sensible position for training. That being the stretch of skin above your index finger and thumb, with your choice of smartwatch orientated diagonally so it's easier to view when active.

Shift, which is made from a combination of silicone rubber and zinc, is designed to work with your body as you put it through its paces. And thanks to a spring pin tool included with the strap, you can swap back to your regular watch strap (supposedly) quickly and easily. Because, let's face it, you're unlikely to want to wear the Shift to a social function.

Shift can be used when cycling, and is compatible with a host of smartwatches
Shift can be used when cycling, and is compatible with a host of smartwatches

Shift is compatible with a number of smartwatches and fitness trackers, including the Apple Watch, Moto 360, Gear S2 Classic, Pebble Time (including the new Round version), the Garmin Forerunner and more. Aiding this compatibility is an adjustable strap offering a custom fit around your wrist, and suitability for both right- and left-handers.

EdgeGear is currently seeking to raise US$45,000 via Kickstarter to fund the production of Shift (at the time of publication, it's 95 percent there with 12 days to go). A pledge of $30 is enough to secure you a Shift band if and when the creators deliver on their promises. Should all go to plan, the first run is scheduled to begin shipping in March 2016.

The video below shows the Shift in action, as well as some of the logic behind its design.

SHIFT - Move Your Watch to the Perfect Angle for Interaction

Sources: EdgeGear, Kickstarter

View gallery - 5 images
2 comments
2 comments
JweenyPwee
This is a joke, right? Just an experiment to see how gullible we are?
JoeB
Not really... This looks like it was purposely designed for millennials with more money than brains... so it should be a big seller!