Sony is trying to get runners to ditch their smartphones and fitness bands with a motivational headset device it calls the Smart B-Trainer. On the surface, these look similar to many other Bluetooth workout headphones, but Sony has developed them to include a host of features for those doing more rigorous workout training.
The new device is much more advanced, packing in GPS, heart rate monitor and (likely) 16GB of space for your music. From the companion Android or iOS app, users can load specific workouts over to the headphones and also store music locally, so you can go for a run without bringing along your phone. And as you run, the headphones can measure your heart rate and then give you voice commands for your training program — it’ll also change the music to slower or faster songs, depending on whether you’re below or exceeding your recommended heart rate threshold.
“Not only does it keep your running log, it also selects a tempo that guides and supports you through your preselected training menu to achieve the goals that you set such as fat burning or improving endurance,” Sony Electronics President Mike Fasulo said during a Sony press event Monday evening at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Smart B-Trainer is part of Sony’s SmartWear lineup that includes the Google Glass-style Single-Lens Display Module, which was unveiled in December.
