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    Smart Belt Tattles When You’re Overeating

    Sept. 7, 2016

    The battle of the belly bulge may soon get easier as Samsung expands its wearables portfolio.

    As someone addicted to their FitBit, I definitely get why many are going gaga over wearables. But this latest Samsung effort—a smart belt that tattles when you’ve had one too many cookies or over indulged in pizza—might be taking the whole craze a bit too far.

    According to an article in the UK’s Daily Express, Samsung is set to introduce the WELT smart belt, what it dubs as a stylish-looking device that can also improve your health. Made of leather and available in a variety of colors, the smart belt connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth much like a FitBit, tracking data such as steps taken, calories burned, and how long you sit at your desk (or on your couch). Like traditional fitness trackers, the WELT is charged using a micro-USB port and connects using a custom-built mobile app.

    Where the WELT treads new ground is that it incorporates a magnetic sensor in the belt buckle that measures waist size—not exactly what I’m looking for. Based on what you eat, Samsung says your waist can expand or contract over the period of even a half hour so WELT tracks those patterns to flag when you are over eating. (Like you need a smart belt to tell you that!)

    The WELT will be priced from $99 to $199 depending on size and options and be available in January 2017.

    About the Author

    Beth Stackpole, contributing writer | Contributing Editor, Automation World

    Beth Stackpole is a veteran journalist covering the intersection of business and technology, from the early days of personal computing to the modern era of digital transformation. As a contributing editor to Automation World, Beth's coverage traverses a range of industries and technologies, including AI/machine learning, analytics, automation hardware and software, cloud, security, edge computing, and supply chain. In addition to her high-tech and business journalism work, Beth writes an array of custom editorial content and thought leadership pieces.

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