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Hands on with the Samsung Gear Fit and more: Quantified Self weekly links

1. Samsung Gear Fit

Mashable takes a look at (and recommends) the Samsung Gear Fit:

There's no denying that the device is beautiful, largely thanks to the 1.85-inch curved Super AMOLED display — the first time we've seen a curved screen on a wrist wearable. It makes brilliant colors come to life, and sliding your finger over the display feels as smooth as a smartphone's touchscreen. Using the device is seamless and satisfying.

The Gear Fit excels more in some areas than others, but overall, it's the sexiest wearable on the market and well worth the extra $50 you have to pay over competitors.

2. Unfitbit

Yet another story about the problems with relying on technology to help us lose weight and keep fit. I like the way this one is told, though. Stuart talks about his success in losing weight with the help of gadgets and apps, but also his struggle to stop from sliding back into bad habits.

3. Health insurance and fitness trackers

The Affordable Care Act now lets employers charge employees different health-insurance rates, based on whether they exercise, eat healthful foods and other “wellness” choices they make outside of work.

A 2013 survey by Aon Hewitt consulting found that motivating employees to change health behaviors is a “significant focus” over the next three to five years at 69 percent of employers.

4. Wearables are growing on us

The novelty of wearables isn't necessarily a bad thing:

Patrick Bertagna, president, CEO and founder of GTX Corp., which makes wearable devices that track people with a tendency to wander off — including children or adults with cognitive disabilities — said he has no trouble with the success of less-practical applications.

"The entertainment aspect of (wearable) technology is what's going to drive this," said Bertagna, speaking Monday on an auto show panel sponsored by Connected World magazine. "When people see it in their cars, and when they see all the fun things they can do with it, I think then (wearable technology) will really transcend into a must-have for other problems out there."

5. SleepRate

This iPhone app and heart rate monitor promises to help insomniacs discover and treat sleeping problems using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI), licensed from Stanford University.

If you're outside the U.S. you can purchase the app alone for $79.99, whereas U.S. customers can get the Polar H7 heart rate monitor included for $99.99 total.

6. Novelty of the Internet of Things

A short roundup of some amazing uses of Internet of Things technology, and a call for more like these:

The key for smart sports makers will be moving past the basic idea of the “quantified ball” and adding real value. For example, tackling the serious issue of concussions in football, a graduate student from Brigham Young University created a foam that can be put inside a helmet and works with motion sensors to relay information to a sideline computer about the impact of each tackle on a player’s head.

More:

• Gym Game: an app to help you compete with others in your gym routine [iOS]
• Wit: Natural language processing for the Internet of Things
• Pavlok: A forthcoming wristband that will shock you (literally) into forming better habits
• What Nicholas Felton uses to track his life
• Did you scar me for life?: A graphic Fitbit Force rash story
• Why Intel shouldn't get into the fitness-tracker business
• Reporter and the iWatch: imagining a future match-up of the Reporter app and Apple's rumoured smartwatch

Image credit: Mashable