Why the Microsoft Band 2 could be a sleeper hit
Microsoft's first notebook computer and its smartphones that double as PCs may have snatched the headlines at its October 6 hardware event, but it could well be the company's second-generation health and fitness tracker that makes the biggest contribution to the quality of people's lives.
The Microsoft Band 2 arrives as health and fitness trackers are getting more scientific and health-related scrutiny and, according to research published this week by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), they're having a positive impact on sleep.
Just over half (51%) of consumers that use some form of sleep-tracking technology say that they're sleeping better as a result, and 49% feel healthier. "That's an encouraging number for a still nascent technology," said David Cloud, CEO of NSF. "The pace of innovation in this space is astounding. The devices are getting better and better, as is the value they provide to healthy consumers looking to improve their sleep."
The Microsoft Band 2 can track sleep and automatically input the data into Microsoft's health and well-being platform and the device plays nicely with iOS and Android smartphones, but at $249 when it goes on sale at the end of the month, it might seem like a pricy way of getting a good night's rest.
That's partly why this particular wearable is attempting to be so comprehensive in terms of health and well-being. It packs an unmatched 11 sensors and is capable of being able to measure elevation -- be it climbing the stairs or Mount Everest -- and VO2 (the wearer's maximum rate of oxygen consumption), which could make it invaluable for serious athletes, among other functions. It can also correct your golf swing, handle text and phone call notifications, conduct a web search and count calorie intake -- features that Microsoft believes can be useful for helping anyone on any rung of the health and fitness ladder to take the next step.
"Health and fitness technology has advanced considerably in recent years, thanks in large part to the wide deployment of sensors and ubiquity of smartphones -- and the progression of sleep technology is no different," said Chris Ely, senior manager of industry analysis, CEA.
Beyond sleep patterns, most research conducted on the subject of fitness trackers has highlighted their benefit as a motivational tool, finding that people with trackers do more exercise as a result of owning them with fitness goals staying front and center.
