Samsung has unveiled a new prototype wristband that could be used to measure and collate a range of health and fitness data.
The Simband device and Sami (Samsung Architecture Multimedia Interactions) platform were unveiled at a press event in San Francisco, with the company revealing it has also been working with nanoelectronics research centre Imec and software firm TicTrac.
Among the vast array of functions, Samsung discussed the possibility of the wristband working with third-party sensors to collect metrics in relation to heart rate, respiration, galvanic skin response, blood flow, hydration and gas and glucose concentrations in the user’s blood.
The Simband may also feature wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, with a magnetic clip-charger being used so that the user would not have to remove the device during sleep.
The Sami platform would potentially serve as a cloud-based system to store all of the collected information. Using a number of digital display systems, Sami would then be able to present its user with a number of different readings related to their health and fitness.
The technology giant hopes to have a beta version of both the Simband and the resulting digital interfaces used for Sami by the end of the year, in order to give other developers the chance to help progress ideas toward collecting and sharing health-related data.
The announcement follows the unveiling of a follow-up to the company's Gear device at the February Mobile World Congress. The company is battling with rivals Apple for supremacy in the lucrative smartwatch sector, carrying over their tussle from the smartphone market.
A recent report from consultancy firm IHS Technology forecast that the worldwide market for fitness, sports and activity monitors is predicted to rise from US$1.9bn (€1.4bn, £1.1bn) in 2013 to US$2.8bn (€2bn, £1.6bn) by the year 2018.
