TomTom has become the second company after Adidas to license Mio Global’s patented heart rate technology in a sport watch.
The TomTom Runner Cardio GPS sport watches will use Mio Continuous Technology, which enables accurate heart rate monitoring on the wrist without the need for a chest strap. Using two green LEDs and an electro-optical cell, the technology measures every beat of the heart in real-time. The technology is integrated into the back plate of the watch so LEDs shine light into the skin, enabling the electro-optical cell to detect the pulsing volume of blood flow. If accepted by consumers, the technology could replace chest-mounted heart rate monitors, which can cause chafing and discomfort for some runners.
“By enabling brands like TomTom to use our electro-optical cell detection technology, Mio is expanding the availability of heart rate training to consumers,” said Liz Dickinson, CEO of Mio Global. “The more companies promote the benefits of heart rate training, the more consumers will be driven to find the easiest way to measure heart rate and utilize this data to reach higher performance levels.”
Adidas invested in Mio through its venture capital arm and the two companies unveiled the first Mio equipped sport watches at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show in January.
“We know that heart rate monitoring is the single most accurate way to understand how the body is responding to exercise,” says Corinne Vigreux, managing director, TomTom Consumer. “Now, with the launch of the Runner Cardio, all runners can easily use heart rate training to improve their performance.”
