Carve Your Own PATH - Wearable Fitness Technology For Those Seeking A Personal Approach To Their Workout
Losing weight can be a struggle. More often than not, it takes a dedicated approach to fitness. With each individual carving out their own fitness regimen. It can take countless hours on the treadmill, weight lifting, and finding that perfect combination of cardio and strength training. It’s exhausting, and for those individuals juggling a hectic workload, school, and family life…it can be overwhelming. But, what if there was a device that could tell you exactly how many minutes you’d need to run or walk a day to meet your fitness goals? We’re talking right down to the seconds, and it could tailor your fitness routine specifically for your body’s needs? Thankfully, there’s a device that aims to do just that. Now you can carve your own fitness path with PATH.
Currently pending funding to get manufacturing under way, “PATH is a learning fitness wearable that tracks your metabolism and predicts the exact minutes you need to workout to lose weight.” Intrigued by the promise of a fitness routine that would not only meet my personal fitness goals but time restraints as well, I knew I had to get to the bottom of this. I mean, If there was a magical device that was going to tell me how many steps I needed to take so I could eat more GF donuts…then this wasn’t only a quest for myself, this was a quest for readers as well. That said, I went straight to the CEO for answers. Gaurav Shukla is a young entrepreneur looking to shake, I mean shape things up in the wearable fitness industry, and I think he’s just the man to do it.
1) In your own words tell us about PATH - The initial idea, design, and development.
“We started out with a problem. Fitness trackers today recommend 10,000 steps to every body type. Because everybody is not active enough to take 10,000 steps every day, we often try it for a few days and end up dropping off from the fitness program. At Path, we wanted to create a non-intimidating experience for everybody. Hence, we looked at the current technology available to do that. We cannot read everything from the wrist—that’s just not how our bodies work. We found out about the VO2 tests and how athletes use it to personalize their fitness regimen. We decided to create a breath device that we could provide everyone to use in the comfort of their home. That’s how we created Path.”
2) Can you walk us through the technology behind PATH and how it works with a user’s body to translate and predict how a person’s body fat and sugar is burned?
“The idea behind everything stems from your muscles use of oxygen, and it’s release of carbon dioxide as a byproduct. If we could measure the ratio of the oxygen inhaled and the carbon dioxide exhaled, we get something called Respiratory Exchange Ratio or RER. And with this information, we can tell if your body is using fat as an energy source or carbohydrates."
3) What is the initial price point that users/customers can expect if they choose to purchase PATH?
"The first 300 orders go out for $279. The Kickstarter price is $299. We retail at $349.”
4) Can you talk about the design a bit more? How did you design, create, and manufacture the prototype?
“We wanted to keep the user experience of the product easy to learn and easy to use. But it had to be elegant. This drove the whole design process. Our designer, Bill Webb, who previously worked with Nike and Google on wearables, looked at different form factors that exist already for the wrist, and different ways we could tie the device to the wrist. We went through various iterations with our factory in Taiwan, re-anodizing and retouching the metallic finish to get it just right."
5) There’s a separate piece (the breathalyzer) is there going to be a way for users to store this component? Do you have to carry it on you/with the device at all times even during strenuous workouts?
"That was our biggest concern. That’s why we built a magnetic charging dock where the device could just rest for a month. You only need to use the device once a month and not carry it around with you for every strenuous workout.”
6) How will users be able to access their data? Will there be an APP developed to coincide with the product?
“Yes. There is an App. It is the app that will provide your recommendations. For example, it may tell you to walk at 3mph for next five mins to be on track to lose a pound this week.”
7) Will there be the ability to sync via Bluetooth with other devices such an external alarm clock/radio, car, computer?
“We tried to create a simple user experience and decided not to integrate our device with any other device outside our ecosystem. The band, as well as the Breath device, runs on Bluetooth 4.1 so that they talk to each other as well, without having to talk to the phone every time.”
8) What are are your goals for PATH?
“PATH can finally help those who are intimidated by fitness to follow the approach requiring the least effort possible. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Can’t you think of someone who desperately needs this device?”
9) Where can customers donate/share/and get involved?
Go to http://www.choosepath.co, for now, and leave your email for updates. We’ll be launching a Kickstarter soon.
10) Do you have any last words you’d like to share with us and your future customers?
“PATH works with any activity you do. It’s not just meant for people trying to lose weight or run a 5k. If you want to be just a little more active throughout the day, PATH can tell you what is the minimum minutes of exercise you need to keep your metabolism up.”
With our questions met, we know you’ll agree this device will be life changing for so many. If you’d like to learn more, get involved, and stay up-to-date make sure to visit: http://www.choosepath.co/ follow PATH on Instagram: @pathdesigninc, Facebook:@PathDesignINC, and Twitter: @PathDesignINC and hopefully, we’ll all be able to carve our own PATH to greater fitness, health, and life goals.
