The latest in wearable technology is the new Polo Tech compression shirt, which debuted at this year’s U.S. Open. A Monday morning release was set to coincide with the opening day of the tennis extravaganza. How is the Polo Tech compression shirt special you ask?
The compression shirt comes loaded with biometric technology embedded in a band placed right beneath the chest and has a Bluetooth transmitter, an accelerometer and a gyroscope provided by OMSignal. The instruments monitor movement and activity, breathing and heart rate and the bluetooth conveys the data to the connected smartphone.
And to top it all its a Ralph Lauren design.
“Our vision is that this will transcend sports to help us at every age and in every aspect of life,” explains David Lauren who is the Senior Vice President of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations and is also Ralph Lauren’s second son. “Reaching far beyond just the needs of elite athletes, Polo Tech will offer innovative technology for all ages and lifestyles to promote general wellness and quality of life.”
The black Polo Tech shirt with the signature Polo Player logo in yellow, was created by Ralph Lauren with technological contribution from Canadian-based OMsignal, known for making wearable fitness trackers. Out in the U.S. Open for testing where ball boys will wear it throughout the tournament, the compression shirt is still a prototype, and will probably be out for purchase in early 2015.
Lauren spoke of the long term intentions behind this product, “Our goal is to recognize the fact that this market is wanting a life that not only looks better, but actually feels better and is a healthier life.”
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(Image credit: Robert Spring)
