As more people embrace an analog lifestyle, favoring offline experiences that get them off their devices, it would seem technology is following suit.
On March 31, Google implied that it will release a new screenless wearable reminiscent of fitness trackers like the Whoop 5.0, known for its recovery insights, and the Luna Band, which uses your voice to track your health. By forgoing screens, you can view your data only in the wearables’ accompanying apps, which can be a game changer for those with health anxiety or anyone tired of staring at screens.
Now, it appears Garmin is joining the screen-free party.
On Thursday, news and reviews site Gadgets and Wearables reported that Garmin filed a trademark for a device called Cirqa with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 25.
The trademark filing describes Cirqa as nonmedical, nontherapeutic wearable devices and instruments that use electronic sensors and monitors to measure and analyze the body’s bio-signals and behavior. Specifically, Cirqa would collect data on recovery from physical and emotional stress, human alertness level and performance.
With a focus on recovery and performance, Cirqa sounds a lot like the Whoop health tracker.
In its filing, Garmin also describes Cirqa as an instrument for storing and sending data, which could mean it doesn’t display that data itself and instead relies on an app, as with other screenless wearables.
A Garmin representative declined to comment, saying it’s against company policy to comment on any rumored or unannounced products.
The wrist-based Whoop 5.0 health tracker
Whoops: An accidental leak
This isn’t the first time the Cirqa device has made news. In January, Garmin accidentally launched a Cirqa smart band product page and accompanying support pages, which have since been taken down. However, screenshots are still available on Reddit.
The leaked product was seen in Garmin’s online stores in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Chile. The band was shown in two colors, black and French gray, and two sizes, small-medium and large-extra large. One of the aforementioned Reddit screenshots shows the latter as wrist sizes.
The page included an “add to cart” option with the caveat that shipping would start in four to five months, meaning it would launch in May or June.
The lawsuit look of Garmin’s Cirqa
While there haven’t been any leaks showing what Cirqa will look like, based on current lawsuits, it’s unlikely to resemble the Whoop band.
On Oct. 14, Whoop filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Polar Electro Oy, the maker of the screenless Polar Loop, a health- and fitness-tracking band. Polar told MobiHealthNews that it denied the claim that its Loop copied the look of the Whoop band. On Friday, Polar filed an official response to Whoop’s complaint.
But that wasn’t the last time Whoop went after alleged copycats. On Jan. 22, Whoop filed another trademark infringement lawsuit against Nexxbase Technologies, maker of the Luna Band. Nexxbase Technologies has until May 19 to respond to the complaint.
As of now, Garmin does have its own Index Sleep Monitor, a smart armband worn on the upper arm that tracks breathing, recovery, women’s health and other bodily metrics while you sleep. So perhaps Cirqa will simply move that technology down the arm with 24/7 health insights.
Garmin’s Index Sleep Monitor armband
Based on the shipping date listed in Garmin’s own leaked product page, we may have the answers to all our questions in a month or two.
Read the full article here