You had a good run, stopwatch
A new wearable wristband is aiming to help sprinters and athletes track their speed. The Jawku Speed, a wristband which harbours a speed sensor and syncs with iOS devices, will allow athletes to measure their sprint speed, agility and reaction time off the blocks.
All users have to do is select a desired distance through the companion app, set their smartphone onto the Jawku tripod at the finish line and try and run as fast as possible while wearing the band. Within the app, those chasing their fastest time can also view their activity history, reaction time assessments and a training programme.
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In its bid to replace traditional methods, Jawku indicates its technology has been tested against professional timing systems and stopwatches over 10,000 times — with everyone from track and field athletes, NFL players, college athletes and amateurs taking part.
JAWKU SPEED from DRVN Partners on Vimeo.
It’s not yet clear if the Speed will be heading to Android devices further down the line, or has the capacity to offer any kind of smartwatch or fitness tracker integration, but it would appear to be providing those with a professional focus on their speed another avenue to explore.
The big question, of course, is whether it’s able to prove convincing enough to remain in the hands of professionals on a day-to-day basis. If so, and it can provide a simpler and consistent go-to, it could even wind up breaking into the the likes of the NFL.
Not only is speed already rigorously tracked through the yearly NFL Scouting Combine’s 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill, but being able to log the likes of reaction times could also prove useful for coaches seeking an objective look at the get-off of lineman on both sides of the snap, as well as receivers and defensive backs.
It appears that sprinters would be the most immediate group to benefit from this technology for now, but we won’t begrudge you for paying the $129.99 for Jawku Speed, setting it up outside your work and racing your colleagues like you’re back in the playground.
