runScribe employs Nordic Semiconductor multiprotocol SoC to enable small form factor device and provide wireless connectivity to iOS and Android devices

runScribe employs Nordic Semiconductor multiprotocol SoC to enable small form factor device and provide wireless connectivity to iOS and Android devices

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Oslo, Norway

2015/07/01

Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OSE: NOD) today announces that Scribe Labs, a San Francisco, CA-based wearable sports technology company, has selected Nordic's nRF51422 multiprotocol System-on-Chip (SoC) to provide Bluetooth® Smart (previously known as Bluetooth low energy) wireless connectivity to runScribe, a wearable that captures the precise movements of a runner's foot, allowing them to analyze their running characteristics to improve performance.

The waterproof runScribe device weighs just 15g and is attached to the runner's shoe. Using a nine-axis sensor, it precisely captures the movements of the foot during the gait cycle to determine impact forces, stride characteristics and rotational attributes like pitch, roll and yaw. runScribe delivers an extensive data set that is uploaded to a web dashboard via the runScribe mobile app.

runScribe captures basic data such as pace and distance, but also provides an array of additional kinematic metrics including stride rate and length, surface contact time, foot strike type, pronation excursion, impact and braking G forces, and also calculates their runScore - a measurement of the intensity of their run based on all 13 captured metrics. This data can be used by casual runners, serious athletes, and coaches looking to improve performance and minimize injury.

During a run the data is stored locally on the runScribe footpod. Post-run the data is uploaded to the runScribe app on Bluetooth Smart Ready iOS and Android devices, thanks to the unique multiprotocol support of Nordic's nRF51422. The runScribe dashboard allows the user to analyze their data, compare runs, and track progress and performance over time.

The nRF51422 is a powerful, highly flexible multiprotocol SoC ideally suited for ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart ultra low power wireless applications. The nRF51422 integrates a 32-bit ARM® Cortex™ M0 microcontroller, 2.4GHz radio, 256kB/128kB Flash memory, and 32kB/16kB RAM on a single chip."Bluetooth Smart is fundamental to the runScribe experience. It enables us to have a small, lightweight footpod that the user isn't even aware of while running," says runScribe co-founder and CEO, Tim Clark. "We looked at both 'classic' Bluetooth wireless technology and also Wi-Fi, but both lost out to Bluetooth Smart because of our size and power constraints.

"We believe with smarter data, we can help both individual athletes and the running community. Our vision is to bring advanced kinematic metrics to athletes, while at the same time creating a crowdsourced database of metrics that will help us learn more about issues that plague the running community."

runScribe is currently shipping to Kickstarter early adopters and a wider group of beta testers, with production shipments expected in late Summer 2015.

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