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They can also be hard to market.
He created theSmartRings community on Reddit, which is dedicated to sharing news and holding brands accountable.
One of the big problems with smart rings is licensees, or clones.
This happens much more commonly than you might think across various industries, including consumer technology.
Art calls these licensees clones and tells me hes dedicated to weeding them out.
This has had mixed reactions from people loyal to one of these devices.
But, most of the time, they have not even compared the gear they own to another.
Theyve just taken a new brands word for it.
Why would a company sell a clone?
A whole load of rings that look the same with slightly different branding.
Licensees do not always have access to the data in their companion apps, he explains.
This is a concern for users who may think their data isnt being stored on-gadget or on company servers.
Health data is extremely valuable, and should remain confidential.
Most legitimate companies take data privacy very seriously.
But, accuracy should be the foundation.
Instead, its algorithms paired with heart rate data.
Yet that may not account for other non-stressful situations that might increase heart rate, leading to misleading results.
Not considering things like non-traditional sleep schedules, shift workers or mothers tending to babies.
Not how your personal baselines contrast with arbitrary baselines that don’t factor in these variances, he explains.
But this doesnt always come across in the big, bold ways theyre marketed.
Smart rings are not medical devices, Art says.
But that doesn’t mean they should get a free pass on accuracy.
Delivery dates slip and devices dont always look the same as early press photos.
Those who are the most vocal critics just don’t understand how crowdfunding works.
Or they only have limited experience with it, Art says Crowdfunding platforms are not stores!
The same goes for marketing claims.
“Many of these products are being developed by people who don’t have experience with communications…
But the better theyre able to communicate honestly on a regular basis, the more people trust them.
Its a disturbing reality and part of the reason that I created the SmartRings community, Art says.
He tells us that many companies have dedicated communities, which he says have become echo chambers of praise.
In contrast, he tries to make his community as honest as possible.
Dont take marketing hype at face value.
Dig deeper, and you might find your way to your ideal unit.
