Asus introduces watch with blood pressure monitor and battery life of almost a month
Asus has announced the VivoWatch BP, a watch with built-in sensors for measuring blood pressure. The watch has a reflective screen, which means that the wearable will last four weeks with normal use, according to the manufacturer.
The VioWatch BP has a sensor for an electrocardiogram and an optical heart rate monitor, Asus says. The Asus watch merges data from both sensors. The sensors measure on the index finger and that takes about fifteen seconds. The manufacturer warns that the values are indicative only and that the device is not intended for medical diagnosis.
In addition to the sensors for measuring heart rate and blood pressure, the watch is equipped with a pedometer. The wearable can also track sleep and stress thanks to the software. The watch can pass data to a smartphone app.
The screen is reflective, so that the ambient light reflects back to the lighting and therefore consumes less power than a screen with its own lighting, such as an LCD or OLED screen. Partly because of this, the wearable can do 28 days with a battery charge, claims Asus. The resolution and manufacturer of the screen are unknown. Pebble watches from several years ago, for example, used a screen with reflective properties; those were Sharp memory LCDs. Pebbles also have a battery life that is longer than that of competing watches with LCDs or OLED screens.
The VivoWatch BP will be released in Taiwan next month for about $170. It is still unknown if and when the device will appear in the Benelux.