Many mobile apps and devices have been created to monitor health or track fitness goals, but a new device takes it a step further and provides specific, isometric exercises that users can do from anywhere.
The device, called the TAO WellShell, was demonstrated at the 2014 International CES tradeshow. It’s about the size of a smartphone and can take users through exercises in a matter of minutes.
“We want the vast majority of Americans who do not currently exercise to get some time in,” said Philo Northrup, president and co-founder of TAO Wellness, to Mashable. “I used it while flying for 24 hours from Philadelphia to San Francisco during the recent snowstorms and was able to exercise on the plane — it saved my sanity and my lower back.”
TAO uses isometrics, a form of exercise that works muscles by having them oppose each other without moving, like pushing against a wall. The device can measure how much pressure a person is using through internal sensors and lets users know how long to hold pressure and how much pressure to exert.
Different muscles can be targeted by different exercises, so pressing the device between the palms in front of the chest will work the pectorals, while sitting with a straight back and pressing the device against the knees will work abdominal muscles.
To help users monitor their progression, TAO also can keep track of how often a person exercises and how many calories were burned each time. It can also be used to track steps like a pedometer and monitor heart rate.
Through mobile apps, TAO will also let users compete with their friends, making the exercise into a game.
“You can use the TAO device as a game controller, varying the pressure you exert to control an avatar,” said founder TAO-Wellness, Dr. Kostadin Yanev, on the product’s website. “Currently you control a downhill skier and guide him through his flag gates. We are also creating a multiplayer sumo wrestler game using TAO.”
Now that the product has debuted at the 2014 International CES tradeshow, TAO plans on running a crowdsourcing campaign to raise money for development.
No price has been determined yet. The product launch is expected to be in the fall of 2014.
