Mio Slice - fitness bracelet with personal activity index

Mio: from sports to fitness devices bracelets

IT-industry veteran Liz Dickinson Mio founded in 1999 to design for amateur sports community popular heart rate monitor without chest strap. The Canadian company is best known for the fact that released the first sports watch with an optical sensor and a constant heart rate tracking mio Alpha.

Since the market could change, and a fitness bracelets have become the main and most sold types of portable gadgets. The progress of Fitbit and Jawbone companies followed by several generations of mass fitness tracker Xiaomi Mi Band.

During this time, Mio has developed and released several new sports heart rate monitor: mio Link, mio Velo, mio Fuse and the second generation mio Alpha. In 2016, when it became clear that consumers prefer the fitness bracelets, Canadians have announced just such a device - mio Slice.

To stand out from the motley field of competing gadgets, new heart device made optical pulse sensor. And in order to make the Mio Slice clear and accessible, the manufacturer has added its new activity control technology called Mio PAI.

What is a PAI

PAI an abbreviation simply: personal activity index, that is a personal activity index. Its formula is based on the results of the HUNT Research Series, which conducted the Norwegian Institute of natural sciences and engineering. Scandinavian scientists for over 20 years examined tens of thousands of people and found an association between longevity and constant physical activity.

PAI is calculated on the basis of gender, age, weight, height, physical condition of man, but varies mainly due to increased level of cardiac activity.

For the user, the system is extremely simple: you need to dial and keep score PAI at 100 a week.

Compared with the measurement of counting steps PAI seems much more logical system. In most cases the target is 10 thousand steps every day. This account of the activity does not include the exercise without steps, but considers a slow stroll, do not make your heart to really work. And it was the condition of the main muscles of the body and determines how long a particular person will live and how well his body will cope with physical exertion.

In addition, PAI laid a very great flexibility as 100 points allocated for the whole week. For example, in some day, you can not have time to work out because of the huge number of fallen cases. Nothing wrong! Several short high intensity workouts on the weekend - and you're back on the horse.

Results and activity data can be monitored in a special supplement. Mio Slice works with individual enhanced application and displays the current score points on the display.

Mio Slice: appearance and battery

From a design standpoint Slice continues the tradition of other heart rate monitor Mio. This is an easy fitness bracelet, made of polyurethane. It is rounded aluminum body of the device to reliably adhere to the hand. The gadget is protected from dripping water, but not waterproof: wash hands with them as possible, but to swim - absolutely not.

The strap does not change, but is available in two sizes: the small wrist circumference of 14 to 17 centimeters and more - up to 21 centimeters. Available colors: black, blue, gray and brownish-orange.

The data is displayed on the OLED-display. Normally it is off, but it responds to the lifting arm and turned on. Since the screen is not touch-sensitive, large button is used to switch statistics. With just one press will be shown expense PAI week, two - for the current day, and after three clicks displayed pulse. exercise recording mode is a long retention button.

The bracelet is worn on the arm and firmly fixed on two fingers above the wrist. This is to ensure that the optical sensor is properly against your skin and make precise readings of the pulse.

Everyone has different hand shape, so some users may experience discomfort, so that Slice should try before you buy. Discomfort is the least visible in the process of training, the bracelet reminds himself only in the rest of the time. Cases of skin irritation caused by the gadget has not been fixed.

Dimensions bracelet with comparable Fitbit Charge 2 and Garmin Vivosmart HR. He is a bit thicker than the Fitbit Alta, and is characterized by greater rigidity. As with all of these trackers, Slice blends well with sportswear and casual style.

mio Slice designed for everyday wear, so it is equipped with long-playing (by today's standards) battery. A full charge will last for 4-5 days of work, and recharging is done via the included USB-cradle kit.

Slice: application and settings

Bracelet is quick and easy. To start a new happy owner will need to download the mobile application PAI 2.0. At Mio has other applications that can work with a Slice, but the functionality will be limited, so it is important to find the right version. PAI 2.0 will work on smartphones with Android 5.0 and above or with iOS 9.0 and above.

Note the Russian-speaking users: for them a localized version will be released in late May.

Sync with your smartphone comes via Bluetooth. Mio Slice also supports standard ANT +, which allows you to connect other sporting devices. The gadget is equipped with a built-in memory, which holds data collected in seven days.

Set up a connected and bracelet should be on hand 24/7 (or 24/5 if we take into account the need for recharging). What metrics it tracks? In addition to PAI and heart rate, this distance and steps, calories burnt, duration and REM sleep. Individual training can not be separated by type, record length and the number of points earned for each.

Of course, of PAI system comes to the fore, as for the sake of it and created Slice. One tab in the application entirely busy schedule with the statistics activity. The resulting "Flower" illustrates progress over the week and serves as a motivating mechanism. In those days, when the activity is low, "petals" Get short, and especially good - long.

Additionally Slice shows a notification of incoming calls and messages. Since the screen is small, only the icon of the application. To answer, it is necessary to get the phone.

Slice: accuracy

Mio Company proudly presents its development as "comparable in accuracy with ECG", and it is far from the truth. Slice measures the heart rate is very high quality, at the level of the chest heart rate monitor Polar H7. While an optical sensor adheres to the skin, to doubt the findings do not have any at the time of cardio, either at rest.

With steps to assess the situation more complicated, because the gadget is not even trying to claim the laurels of racing hours. If we compare with the device in the same category, then the testimony of distance on both Slice and wearable Fitbit Charge 2 differ. The reason, most likely, are different algorithms.

For new users often doubt is counting PAI. For example, as a result of moderately intense exercise, they are gaining only a couple of dozen points.

The situation is simple: as the PAI is calculated individually, for the trained human strap is automatically increased. So no need to take time off, and how to disperse the heart and laid out on the full.

This tough assessment rather than, say, Nike Fuel Band. Nike tracker can be easily fooled, waving his hand in the air, for which he was happy to get points Active Fuel Points. Slice with this trick will not work.

To suitable Slice

Mio has positioned Slice as a fitness tracker for any person, not indifferent to the state of his own heart. In fact, the bracelet is especially good for people with an interest in fitness, sport considering tool to maintain physical fitness and health, rather than an end in itself.

Gamification pulse monitor seems a good idea. heart rate zones for the uninitiated can seem intimidating and confusing concept. PAI makes this information available to such an extent that even the elderly relatives will not have questions on how to use the device. The flexibility of the approach allows to incorporate fitness into everyday life without sacrificing work and leisure for the sake of high achievements.

Generally mio Slice - accurate and easy-to-use heart rate monitor.

Until May 15 in the online store Madrobots.ru 20% discount on the entire line of Mio heart rate monitor on the promotional code MIO4LIFE.

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