Danie van der Merwe

Withings BeamO is an all-in-one thermometer, ECG and stethoscope costing US$250

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:27:34 +0100

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The device is still waiting for US FDA approval, but is planned to be shipped from June 2024.

Dubbed a “multiscope,” the $250 device will tell you how warm (or not) you’re feeling, measure your blood oxygenation, run a one-lead ECG and even act as a digital stethoscope. Put this to your chest, and you can listen to the sounds your chest is making, or send the file to your physician for further analysis.

I have to say that compared to Fitbit (bought out by Google), Withings does appear to be innovating on the smartwatch, smart scale, and other health devices on a regular basis.

So, it will be interesting to see what the testing shows once the various reviewers have had a chance to test this device. There is nothing groundbreaking per se, but it is a compact and convenient device, and it is always useful to be able to have automated readings over time to determine trends.

The big question will be whether it has any relevancy as a telemedicine device. It could help doctors for the evaluation of conditions such as asthma or COPD. But their website does state that the BeamO has not been clinically/medically validated yet. The plan is to clinically validate the device and obtain CE marking and FDA clearance to bring BeamO to market as a medical device.

See The Withings BeamO is an all-in-one thermometer, ECG and stethoscope

Withings' latest health device is a multi-use wireless thermometer that'll check your heart health and even listen to your chest.

#technology #health #Withings

technology health Withings

The Withings Scanwatch Light is a smartwatch for those who don't want one: It's a watch first, a health and fitness tracker second

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:32:32 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

I see Withings has a few of these hybrid watches. Another quite popular one is their more rugged looking diving watch with 10 ATM water resistance (Withings Scanwatch Horizon, looking more similar to a Seiko/Rolex). The Scanwatch Light has an IP rating of 5 ATM.

They are all aimed very much at those who primarily like watches, with some smart functionality. Usually these functions are exercise, health, and notification type functions. But there will be no actual apps that install or run on the watch, so if like using a shopping list app on your smartwatch, that won't be possible with the hybrid watch. The same goes for not having music controls or navigation directions.

So apart from looking like a real watch, the other big plus is a good 20 to 30 days of battery life between charges.

Not a lot gets said about the analogue watch hands, but if the time of day causes either the hour or minute hands to obscure the LCD window when the crown is pushed to wake the LCD display, the hands instantly revert to 10:10 so the full LCD display is clearly visible. The app also has a setting to "true" them to the correct position.

See The Withings Scanwatch Light is a smartwatch for those who don't want one

Activity, sleep, and heart rate tracking, plus phone notifications, and 30 days on a charge. Read more in our Withings ScanWatch Light review.

#technology #smartwatch #Withings

technology smartwatch Withings

Withings Body Scan review: A smart scale that tracks cardio health, body comp and more

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:53:24 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Given all the ongoing issues that Google Fitbit Aria Scale users have been experiencing, I see many had moved to Withings scales. So, it was interesting to read this review as I'm considering a similar move in future.

The review certainly shows some issues, some of which can be explained through reliability of algorithm reasons, but it does seem that Withings users have generally been happier than Google Fitbit users (many of whom can only now get readings for one person on their scales).

When a scale reads done to 50g of accuracy though, it is true that you can't get too hung up about the change of measurements throughout the day, and you need to look at the trends over days whilst keeping the measurement conditions as constant as possible.

Withings relies on sending a tiny electrical charge through the user’s body to measure arterial stiffness, too. It does this by tracking the time it takes for a wave that’s created in the blood as the heart beats to arrive at the foot — a measure called Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). The app records and tracks a speed value for PWV, to monitor changes over time. It also provides a comparative rating for “Vascular Age” (vs the user’s age) — charting whether it falls in the normal, not normal or optimal range.

Another flagship feature of Body Scan — one of two that’s been approved by medical device regulators in the US and Europe — is a 6-Lead Electrocardiogram (ECG) which can detect AFib (aka atrial fibrillation), a common cardiac rhythm disturbance that can cause stroke and heart failure.

See the review at Withings Body Scan review: A smart scale that tracks cardio health, body comp and more | TechCrunch

French health tech brand Withings has been around the block and some. These days it offers a range of fitness wearables and monitors. It was also an early Withings' top-of-the-range smart scale packs a range of health assessments into a single stand-to-scan experience, with a focus on tracking cardiovascular health and body composition.

#technology #health #Withings

technology health Withings

Withings’ New Health Monitor Belongs in the Toilet

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:44:47 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Withings, the popular health and fitness company that makes everything from smartwatches, sleep analyzers, and weight scales, just announced its latest product at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. The new Withings U-Scan is a smart urine lab for your home and belongs in the toilet.

The U-Scan is a sophisticated new miniature health lab and a breakthrough for in-home biomarker analysis. The Withings U-Scan is a hands-free (thankfully) internet-connected urine device. It’s hygienic, sits inside any toilet bowl, and can help users track all sorts of health information.

Withings’ new pebble-shaped reader with replaceable analysis cartridges can quickly gather information during each session without external samples, strips, or anything else. Then, the system can access specific biomarkers and read more than 3,000 metabolites to help monitor your health.

At first, the U-Scan will come with two different health cartridge options, each serving a different purpose. Each cartridge lasts about three months, and you can subscribe to automatic refills.

So as we have often seen before this will require ongoing payment for cartridges, and I really doubt you'll be finding any 3rd party competitive cartridges for purchase.

See Withings’ New Health Monitor Belongs in the Toilet

#technology #health #Withings #urine

Withings, the popular health and fitness company that makes everything from smartwatches, sleep analyzers, and weight scales, just announced its latest product at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. The new Withings U-Scan is a smart urine lab for your home and belongs in the toilet.

technology health Withings urine