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Wearable technology has been around  for a number of years and one of the most prominent fitness wearables is the Fitbit range. The American company was founded in early 2007 and has released a number of active smart trackers over the years. One can measure many relevant health metrics through continuous wearing of the tech. I have used a Fitbit for a considerate amount of time, appreciating a quick glance or two throughout the day to keep track of my activity including steps, heart rate and sleep quality all synced into a hand application on my phone. Admittedly the Versa has had a number of issues with syncing over Bluetooth and I had my eyes on a replacement for a while, enter the Versa 2.

For those who don’t know, Fitbit have released several lines of fitness trackers to suit budget and style. From the Flex all the way to the premium Ionic, the company has worked hard to capture a market that encompasses a wide demographic. Not everybody has time and resources to invest into a wearable tech but an entry level model that doesn’t overly complicate things serves a great purpose for a moderate price. Running, gym and other sports have been part of my life for years and my first plunge into the Fitbit ecosystem was with the Versa, a compromise between premium display space and minimal functionality, a sweet spot in the middle. The Versa 2 was announced a few months back and didn’t spark much enthusiasm. Featuring an OLED screen, slight battery improvement and Amazon Alex integration via a microphone.

Jumping forward, Google announced it’s acquisition of Fitbit for a whopping $2.1 billion. A hefty sum and perhaps a strategic move that will bolster Google’s non-existent health centred eco-system. It does mean that the headline feature of Alexa in the Versa 2 will be dead and gone. One may even wonder if Google had swiped Fitbit from Amazon’s grasp in a move that will capture and enhance a growing market through seamless integration. While it spells great opportunity for Fitbit users to get more from their favourite tracker, it’s not all bells and rainbows. Data ownership concerns and general integration of Fitbit may lose an existing base but it remains to be seen how everything will play out. Fitbit has a dedicated ‘Fitbit OS’ and perhaps this may be the end of that too with WearOS being at the top of the prioritized development chain.

AI, analytics and everything else that makes Google tick will of course be available for the newly acquired data set as it’s created. Suddenly Google know just a little more about you, specifically, your health data and several other metrics. Scrutiny of data protection during the buy was raised but Fitbit have shown commitment to protecting it’s users. The world of targeted ads gets a little more tailored as tech develops and new sources come into play. It seems to be an exciting time for wearables, but the impact of Google’s entry is yet to reveal itself and will probably take a while to manifest.

 

Lockhart Tech Blogs   

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2019/11/02/google-to-buy-fitbit-for-21-billion-what-about-privacy-concerns/#6ae76ba71489

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/05/fitbit-google-acquisition-health-data

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitbit

https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/28/20835187/fitbit-versa-2-oled-screen-alexa-voice-wearable-aria-air