Two Whiting School alums are grabbing headlines with a new fitness tracker prototype called Atlas, which is expected to hit the market by the end of 2014.
“We’re targeting the fi t consumer. It’s for those people who want to take it to the next level,” says Peter Li MS ’13, who has partnered with computer scientist Alex Hsieh ’11.
Atlas made its debut in January, when it was selected as one of 15 startups showcased at TechCrunch’s CES Battlefield in Las Vegas. TechCrunch, CNN, and Fast Company have given the product a thumbs-up.
Why the buzz? Atlas sets itself apart by using sensors to combine data from three axes along with your heart rate to determine which exercises you are doing, and how they are helping you burn fat, build muscle, and get leaner.
“Not only will Atlas say, ‘You did 12 bicep curls,’ says Li. “But it will be able to say, ‘Good job! Those first two sets were A to A-minus. But on that last set you started cheating, your form was off.’”
What’s more, the tracker includes a crowd-sourcing platform that enables users to tap into a treasure trove of data from other users and fitness experts.