DEVICE FOR MONITORING AND SHARING HEART RATE DATA
Disclosed herein is a device for continuous physiological monitoring as well as systems and methods for interpreting and sharing data from such a device. The device may include a wearable strap that automatically and continually determines a heart rate of a user and provides continuous heart rate data. In addition, the device may include a communication system for transmitting and sharing the continuous heart rate data subject to a privacy switch operable by the user that can restrict such communication. For example, the privacy switch may include a shared setting where continuous heart rate data is available to a shared data repository, and a private setting where continuous heart rate data is not shared by the user.
1 . A device comprising:
a wearable strap configured to be couplable to an appendage of a user;
one or more light emitters for emitting light toward the user's skin;
one or more light detectors for receiving light reflected from the user's skin;
a processor configured to analyze data corresponding to the reflected light to automatically and continually determine a heart rate of the user, thereby providing continuous heart rate data;
a communication system configured to transmit the continuous heart rate data to a remote data repository; and
a privacy switch operable by the user to controllably restrict communication of a portion of the continuous heart rate data to the remote data repository.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch includes a shared setting where continuous heart rate data is available to a shared data repository.
3 . The device of claim 2 wherein the shared data repository is maintained by an administrator for a sports team.
4 . The device of claim 2 wherein the shared data repository is maintained on a social networking website available to one or more members of a social network of the user.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch includes a private setting where continuous heart rate data is not shared by the user.
6 . The device of claim 5 wherein continuous heart rate data is stored locally for private use by the user when in the private setting.
7 . The device of claim 5 wherein continuous heart rate data is not saved when in the private setting.
8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch toggles between a private setting and a shared setting.
9 . The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes a display with an indicator of a current privacy setting of the privacy switch.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch is located on the strap of the device.
11 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch is located on a local computing device associated with the user.
12 . The device of claim 11 wherein the local computing device includes a mobile computing device.
13 . The device of claim 12 wherein the mobile computing device includes one or more of a laptop, a table, and a smart phone.
14 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch is hosted on a website accessible to the user through a web page.
15 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a schedule configured to automatically change a setting of the privacy switch on a predetermined schedule.
16 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch provides three or more different user-selectable privacy settings.
17 . The device of claim 1 wherein the continuous heart rate data includes summary data for a continuous heart rate of the user.
18 . The device of claim 1 wherein the privacy switch is operable by the user to controllably restrict communication of other fitness data obtained by the device.
19 . The device of claim 18 wherein the other fitness data includes an activity of the user, the activity selected from a group consisting of exercising, resting, and sleeping.
20 . The device of claim 19 comprising one or more sensors, wherein the other fitness data includes data from the one or more sensors.