At CES 2015, Epson showed their new series of Runsense exercise watches. As we mentioned last fall, Epson has shown signs of making a serious foray into the wearables market, and these new products expand on that effort. The company showed three models of the Runsense watches, but the one of particular interest is the top-of-the-line SF-810, as it is the only one of the three to include a heart monitor feature.
The watch uses an optical sensor to measure heart rate, which could make it of interest to users beyond just fitness enthusiasts. The SF-810 also has an on-board GPS system, providing location and speed information. According to the company, the watch can use the GPS data to automatically calibrate to your stride, which should give you more accurate results. You can also customize the display screens if you want, and you can switch between screens simply by tapping the watch. It connects wirelessly to your smartphone or tablet using a Bluetooth connection.
The watch is energy efficient. The company estimates that if you have both the heart rate and GPS systems activated, you should be able to go 20 hours between recharges. The Runsense watches are schedule to start shipping in the second quarter of 2015, with the SF-810 carrying a list price of $350.
