The celebrity ring is capable of alerting about a possible COVID-19
Actor Will Smith, athlete Shaquille O'Neal or Prince Harry wear this prodigy of design and technology. The Oura Ring is a diamond-polished titanium ring that houses a sophisticated system of sensors inside to monitor body temperature, sleep quality or heart rate.
These benefits outline what has become the fashionable ring, according to epidemiologists from the University of San Francisco, as an excellent system to alert about a possible COVID-19 contagion. Due to these types of abilities, Oura Ring is the most successful wearable device of recent times. With the added benefit of its small size, it is very comfortable and easy to carry. Such has been its success that even the NBA has reached an agreement with the Finnish company that manufactures it to use it in the health supervision of its athletes.
The story of this mysterious ring begins in 2013, when five young Finnish creatives founded Oura Health, with the intention of creating a monitoring system to study sleep quality. They thought of a device as compact and light as possible and, although at that first moment, few gave a penny for the idea, now important figures such as the former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal are part of the company's shareholding.
He has been joined by names of the relevance of Manu Ginobili, the cyclist Lance Armstrong or the NFL coach Jimmy Johnson. This support has allowed them to continue innovating, until reaching the third generation of Oura Ring, with an evolution that multiplies the number of sensors and memory, with the capacity to store up to a month and a half of data. Something that will rarely be necessary to use, since the management App that accompanies it links it via Bluetooth with any Android or Apple smartphone, to download the data or consult it on its screens.
Interestingly, today, one of the unfinished business of monitoring devices, such as watches and digital bracelets, is the correct measurement of heart rate. Both doctors and researchers relativize its reliability, especially because of how complex it is to analyze it accurately. Especially if you take into account the added difficulty of placing the sensor as close as possible to the arteries.
Most wrist-worn devices measure from the top of the arm, while the Oura ring measures from the bottom of the finger. Which translates into a more accurate reading of the arteries. In addition, this process is carried out with an infrared-based technology, and enhanced by an accelerometer, a gyroscope and an NTC temperature sensor.
For greater efficiency, the monitoring is continuous 24 hours a day, which offers a complete study of the behavior of the body according to each daily activity. Thanks to this comprehensive analysis, it is easier to balance both the moments of effort and recovery, with an SpO2 detection system that helps monitor blood oxygen levels even while resting.
The sleep mode in its menu enables an artificial intelligence process that prioritizes rest and recovery, while the predictive mode tracks 30 days in advance.
How is the Oura Ring
The third generation of the ring includes three times more sensors, the battery has a battery life of one week and the ability to fully recharge wirelessly in less than an hour and a half.
It is water resistant up to 100 meters of immersion and compatible with applications from other manufacturers such as Apple Health or Google Fit. Some athletes such as the swimmer Katie Ledecky or the windsurfer Kai Lenny highlight its ease of use, as well as the improvement in both battery life and memory capacity. Its minimalist design is now even more compact than the 2018 model. The dedicated application offers tips to improve sleep, recommendations for all kinds of sports practices and offers access to a database with interesting medical studies.
The Oura Ring is available in four colors: gold, silver, black or gray. The most affordable model is priced at 314 euros and includes six months of free coverage, as well as a size kit to adjust it to the thickness of each finger. A version with diamonds is also available at a price of around 900 euros. A limited edition, gold-plated, is even announced, prompted by the insistent demands of premium users. The monthly subscription of the service, once the six-month period has passed without cost, is 5.99 euros.
Technical data of the Oura Ring 3 Generation
Titanium Alloy
PVD coating.
Hypoallergenic interior trim without seams or metals.
Weight: 4 to 6 grams depending on the dimensions of the setting attached to the ring. Includes a kit of adapters for any size of finger.
Dimensions: 7.9mm wide and 2.55mm thick. Wedding ring type.
Battery: from 4 to 7 days depending on the activity carried out. The recharging time varies between 20 and 80 minutes.
Connectivity: Bluetooth Smart Low Energy.
Automatic firmware updates through the Oura app.
