The Ultimate Sports Bra: OMbra and the OMrun Platform by OMsignal at CES 2016 in Las Vegas
Geschreven op 6-1-2016 - Erik van Erne. Geplaatst in Sport
OMsignal launches the ultimate sports bra at the CES 2016 in Las Vegas. Achieve your inner greatness with our maximum-support, high performance smart bra that adapts to your body and workout. Be the boss of your fitness with real-time biometrics and innovative fitness features.
Developed by bra designers, scientists and smart textile engineers. The OM bra is a product of science and engineering as much as it is the product of design and creation.
Over the course of a year, OMsignal developed 1633 prototypes and used software development methodologies and approaches throughout the development of the bra to test and optimize every parameter methodically.
The evolution and growth of the OMbra came to fruition through exhaustive scientific research, ensuring that only the most sophisticated and premium of sports bras was built. A great deal of our research was focused on biomechanics (the study of the mechanical aspects of human exercise) and support – key features of the OMbra that sets it apart from the rest.
Some other equally important findings during the course of our research included: 70+% of women do not pick the right size bra. Straps are the most common complaint about sports bras. The way a woman runs will change depending on how the breasts are supported
Armed with their findings, intense ambition, and the resources to achieve the first goal, OMsignal was finally able to produce the bra that they had always set out to make by combining these key design elements. Stretchable fabric: The four-way stretchable, light fabric ensures the bra conforms to the body’s shape while in movement. The bra can easily adapt to any breast shape as it is made from a blend of polyester, nylon and elastane. It also serves as an absorbent to pressure, and reduces stress on the back and shoulders.
Mesh: Breathability is of paramount importance in sports bras. Mesh panels are integrated on the front and back of the bra. The fabrics and meshes are antimicrobial with sweat-wicking properties to keep you dry.
Adjustable straps and closure: To make sizing easier, the bra can be adjusted depending on the sport being practiced, the top worn over the bra, or simply one’s mood. During sports, but also in running, the breast does not only move up and down, but also left and right. These movements are less apparent but have a huge impact on comfort. The OMbra limits movement of the breasts by securing the movement in 3 dimensions with adjustable straps, lateral stitches and double-layered compressive sides. The OMbra also has a special racerback that dissipates the straps’ force to the side of the bra instead of the back. This stops the straps from slipping onto the shoulders as well as blocks the elastic band from moving upward.
Cups: A high support bra doesn’t mean poor aesthetics. On the aesthetic front we found it exceptionally important to integrate padded cups, as a high support bra should not result in a flattened chest. The OMbra comes with removable padding to adjust to different cup shapes and sizes, and to accommodate different climates.
With the OMbra comes a revolution in sports tech: OMrun. OMrun is OMsignal’s revolutionary running platform created to help runners of every level manage their running performance. On top of all the basics such as distance, cadence, pace, heart rate and calories, our scientists have developed additional metrics exclusive to OMsignal. While the basic metrics are important markers, OM’s exclusive insights help you push for optimal performance, speed up progress, and see results faster by tracking your:
Running economy: Think of running economy as fuel economy in a car. It’s a measure of how much fuel (O2) it takes for you to travel a certain distance - the less O2 your body needs to consume while running, the better your performance will be.
Breathing rhythm: Breathing rhythm refers to the number of footsteps you take with each foot while breathing in or out. For example, a 2:2 rhythm would mean you take two steps (one with your right foot and one with the left) while breathing in, and two steps while breathing out. Use breathing rhythm to help you focus on keeping your breathing rhythmic and in-sync with your steps. The more rhythmic your breathing is the less you’ll tire out your respiratory system, which can use up to 15% of your energy expenditure when exerted.
Fatigue: Your Fatigue gauge is an indicator of what state of cumulative fatigue your body is in, based on the last 14 days of training. It is calculated by assessing your state of rest before, your biometric effort during, and your state of tiredness after each run in the last 14 days. It uses your heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and proprietary breathing algorithms to assess each state. Most technologies only use HR to estimate a state of fatigue. Few technologies like OMsignal, can also measure HRV. Only OMsignal adds an additional layer of accuracy by factoring in your breathing, a biometric that can vary (relatively) just as much as your heart rate when exerting yourself.
Biometric effort: Biometric effort is the level of effort your body put into each run, quantified on a score of 1 to 10 (max effort). It is calculated using your heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR) and heart rate variability (HRV) measured throughout the run. Your biometric effort will give you an accurate and objective assessment of how much you pushed your body. It ties into your fatigue to help you avoid overtraining.
Biometric Coach: Your body doesn’t lie, so who better to tell you how you performed than your own body? The Biometric Coach aligns your biometric effort with the target effort you set for yourself before your run. You might have been gunning for a hard run but the effort your body actually put into it was only moderate. The OMsignal Biometric Coach will tell you that you could have pushed yourself a little harder. It also gives tips on your other metrics like cadence and breathing rhythm to help you digest the information more easily.
