When should I expect Ionic's oxygen monitoring capability?

[DarkScribe]

Almost all reviews based on Fitbit press releases claim it has Oxygen Monitoring (SP02) as a new function. On the Fitbit Website there is nothing mentioned. What is going on? I would be prepared to buy one if the claims are true, but I'm not going to fall into the trap that I did when I bought a Surge with its claims re non-existent features. (Initially claimed it was Waterproof.)

[WavyDavey]

Hi @DarkScribe,

Where did you see that the Ionic has o2 sat. monitoring?

The Ionic has the sensor for it, but every review I've seen has been clear that the software to read the sensor is not here yet. So the potential is there, hardware-wise. We just have to wait for the app. When the app store officially opens, I think we'll start seeing some software for it.

So yes, it has the potential, but, just not today.

[SunsetRunner]

Or tomorrow.

[Rich_Laue]

As far as the Surge, yes there are ou tube videos of it being tested to 150' deep.

[bbarrera]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

As far as the Surge, yes there are ou tube videos of it being tested to 150' deep.

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Ah yes, the famous DCRainmaker video where he decided to play with his static pressure test machine. He had this to say about Surge and water resistance:

"The issue though is that traditionally speaking 50m was more than sufficient for swimming, so this is really the first company to say “No, you can’t swim with it either.” – which, I’d point out is lame.  A pile of cheap $10 watches I have from Target work just fine swimming, yet at $250 watch can’t?

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/01/fitbit-surge-depth-review.html

[racertempo]

From Forbes:

Advanced new sensor

The Ionic boasts a new and improved SpO2 sensor that Fitbit says is so advanced it can detect levels of oxygen in the blood and thus one day help us better detect and treat ailments, such as sleep apnea. This works by analyzing colour changes while shining a light in tissue. As the heart beats, the light in that tissue will change, and then using sophisticated algorithms it can track heart rate more accurately.

[WavyDavey]

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@racertempo wrote:

From Forbes:

Advanced new sensor

The Ionic boasts a new and improved SpO2 sensor that Fitbit says is so advanced it can detect levels of oxygen in the blood and thus one day help us better detect and treat ailments, such as sleep apnea. This works by analyzing colour changes while shining a light in tissue. As the heart beats, the light in that tissue will change, and then using sophisticated algorithms it can track heart rate more accurately.

---

Key words: "thus one day", and "spO2 sensor". It's talking about the potential of the sensor, not that there is any app to read it currently. I know, it's confusing.

[knightwingfire]

Hi I have just swapped my Charge 2 for an IONIC I to am interested in a SPO2 monitor app as I have COPD among other issues and CYCLE sub competitive I retired from amateur Cycling at 62 after I Fractured my hip. I have been off the bike since 2007 now I want to get back on and the O2 will prove to be an immense benefit to help me train for a Cycle tour of the UK next year. Ive got several Downloadable Chest strap HR monitors but HR and O2 on a climb would be a great Asset to us. I am now 72. My Last 100 km time thru SW BC was 3:10 and That's Attainable IF I can Do the more than 4000 meters of 8-12 % climbs, That's a tall order, but a target my Baseline is 47 And I am sedentary  at this time. Ill start indoor in feb. too soon and Ill peek too early. and the trip will be cancelled until 2020. LIFE line helping me . I truly do not give too much credence to that 47 to 53 number Knowing yours is only 41. And your Already Way ahead of me. I coached Cycling and Weights from 1986 to 2002. right now keep on pushing the bike as hard as you can the SP02 will rise. Its how I came from a sedentary to Race Competitive in under a year My typical TRUE 02 was 80-97 medicated and thru the night it would drop as low as mid 70's That's Serious sleep apnea. Now Unmedicated its seldom below 80 unmedicated. All you can expect is an improvement. make certain you have FLUE AND PERTUSSES VACINATIONS at our ages you may not have been but you will become susceptible.

Peter (Fraser Valley BC)  

[SilviaFitbit]

A warm welcome to the Community @knightwingfire! It's good to hear that you used to have a Charge 2 and now you're using an Ionic. I appreciate that you've shared your story with the Community and how this sensor could potentially help you. 

In the future, this sensor could give consumers the opportunity to identify potential health issues like sleep apnea. We are still exploring how this would appear in the consumer experience, but such technology would use this sensor.

If you have any other question, don't hesitate to get back. 

[knightwingfire]

Dear Friend 

I do have a serious case of Sleep Apnea and COPD the 2 issues and many more PRE Cancer indicate   Emphysema other reduced Lung efficiency issues CAN Benefit form STRENOUOS Aerobic exercise. I had to QUIT Smoking in 1082 after I had the Begging's of my NOW life with COPD Etc . at 65 % lung efficiency I found cycling ( the MOST strenuous Exercise I could find ) Was Only had for the first 6 months. on a 100 km ride I found myself PASSIGN a group from The Local Cycling Club . invited to join them I slowed to 38 Kmh and completed the ride in just under 2.5 hours. NOT my best but the hills were easier.  I subsequently joined the club and found myself Racing 11 months after Began my First 5 KM ride where I almost Overdosed on Ventolin.  I Have only 65% lung Capacity yet Able to be a viable Racer. ITS all very Possible for an Officially Disabled Person. When the first Heart rate monitors came onto the market , I found that I was reaching Rates 15% higher than medically advised. for a healthy man of my age. Easily on a 4KM 15% climb I was reaching 183 BPM for a 49 year old person this is THE Range of ridiculous Seeing a waterfall in my eyesight That was IT PRE Heart Failure. Just 2 beats into the ABSOLUTE danger zone for Exercise induced Heart rates.  THis device helped me Exercise Safer but not loose my Potential, in fact improving my times and max efforts. IN 1990 I was tested for sleep apnea and It like my COIPD was critical. I have a CPAP as a result . OXIMITER measurement is a valuable tool used by hospitals every time your admitted and post surgery. ITs now the most watched statistic of all. Heart rates are @2 however Exercise and static Heart rates pose different set of data. 

I had the great Job where I had to Drive an average of 500 miles to my Clients. I wore my HR monitor on all such travel . Start Rate 69  Rate after the first 200 miles thru the mountains 176 rates after the next 400 dropped to 165 the Overall average 168. Time to drive 5.5 hours distance 560 miles . OK it was a very fast drive but the car knew the way. on trips where I averaged 60 MPH were only a few beats lower . Under 5BPM MY use of Ventolin was about once per hour . Due to lung spasms .

What I am getting at is Static STRESS not Exercise is what kills Quickly and we do not feel this in a healthier set of lungs. Yet the O2 levels drop. I used the Oximeter on one trip Not on me but on my passenger  At the speed limits his O2 dropped to under 75$ from 98 and his HR was 185. Age was younger than I. Stress HR hits for no reason and ONE might watching tv MY HR reached 150 after a Lazy day Wearing my monitor was key to my living past that night. I went calmly to hospital; and by the time I waited for the Cab, it rosew tpo 175,  the 3.5 km 2.2 miles to the Er. it had risen to 185 I was first in line and MY HR was 190 them in the Cardiac room I watched the hospital Monitor rise to 215.  It was held at 215. the Doctor asked HOW I could remain so calm thru this while they nurses etc were all in Panic mode. As a healthy Cyclist I was used to 175 under POWER for 45 minutes a 20 Mile Time trial.

At age 55. 183 climbing that hill. I simply was awaiting to recover . Normally A sedentary person would have been in danger of Injuring his heart at 190 I made a full recovery yet over the past 3 months I have seen my Hr. rise unpredictably to 150 + I now have to Ask my Dr. to go back on medication to regulate this .    THAT IS WHAT MY CHARGE 2 has Indicated .  

ADDING the Data from a 24 hour OXIMITRY survey to my IONIC will add to me a LONG LIFE and Save But Fast Cycling. I am AIR POLLUTANT sensitive, and knowing in advance to a lowered HR about how my lungs are working is too mew THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY, not a mere interest in Data accumulation. It Could save my life . In recent years I have ( I know ) gone thru periods of danger and not listened to my body. Alarms set at 80 $ would indicate time to use my Inhaler. I know I have lived since I broke my hip at levels closer to 85 % . 70% while sleeping These levels are DANGEROUS. I am but 1 of a growing number of people that are now Joining the NON smoker Group and to a SMOKER it would be a way to inexpensively understand HOW serious SMOKING is to them no longer able to say I am OK I dont need to QUIT.  THE numbers Would not LIE. every PUSS alters SP02 by up to 5 % temporarily and by the days end 95 % in the Morning after 8 hours sleep the end result is 80 %SPO2  After years of smoking its at best in the 85% range. THE Future of the IONIC for SPO2 monitor is LONG OVERDUE and will be the key to Getting the Couch Spud OFF his couch. Provide a valuable data to Prevent Heart Injury amongst the general  public and those who have just quit smoking,  . and like me Found out the value of Pushing the lungs to the WALL. Every day .  Yet would serve to moderate the Upper limit of that Journey to new lungs .

This is the Most vital data any Wearable Can  give. Heart Rate SPO2, Mapping of exercise by GPS and Altitude  static. A better sleep monitor is needed one day I will not get a useable MAP of sleep stages. the nest say its OK.

The Heart rate Graphical is POOR not giving very good Scaling IE its 30 per graphs when its that time I want a GRID of 5 BPM and I want the GRIT TO BE LINED ACCROS the screen.  ALso I would like to see a GRAPH tghat can BE Expanded 

Click on the start of a ride and the end and this should give a segment study Full screen not the 24 hours compressing a 3 hour ride . I would be able to study my HR over a 6 km HILL climb Go back a year and see how I have improved.  See how I made an Effort post that hill and Rode away from the competition at the top of a ride. 

I coached the 1988 and 1992 BC Canada contribution to Our Olympic Squad of Cyclists. As it stands the FIT BITS are limited in data collection properties, improving this and I would recommend the watch to Ridders . the OXIMITER is vital but examination of 1 minute intervals in detail is critical My journey to hospital was less than 5 minutes . And a lot happened in that time.   the sport and I would Recommend a Watch that Gave then the chances to study how hard they pressed and How they improve over a season and to the next season. THE 25 hour and lack of grid lines is TACKY.  MAKE it EXPANDABLE and more accurate rather than a guess. THIS IS smiley adding a Accurate ZOOMING function.

Hope I have Providers some incentive directions for Fit bit to follow. and the importance of the inclusion of Oximetry for EVERY person Not just the Fitness Buff . 

Thanks for Reading 

Peter AKA * (knightwingfire)

I find the music simply a ok but all else is superfluous and unnecessary.                   .