DESIGN NAME: Kyto Grit
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Multi-sports tracking system
INSPIRATION: Our client, Kyto, was the inspiration for this project. Kyto is a Chinese company with years of experience in manufacturing fitness technology products for other companies. In 2013 they decided it was time to create their own products. So they asked Studio Dott to design a smart skipping rope.
We started by analysing various smart sport devices and soon came to the conclusion that they all used similar sensors. That’s how we came up with the idea to not just make 1 product, but a multi-sports system. The goal was to create a smart central element that can be exchanged between different ‘dumb’ sport-specific products. This way we only needed 1 set of sensors for a range of equipment. And with 1 central tracker should also come 1 central platform to give a clear overview of all exercise data. These are the foundations of Kyto Grit: 1 app, 1 sensor, multiple sports.
It was not possible though to generate the entire system all at once. To keep the project feasible, we decided to start by developing the central tracker, the app and 1 sport-specific product: the skipping rope.
Once these core elements were thoroughly designed, we could start building the Grit by creating other sport-specific equipment. So far we added a clip for running and walking, and we are currently working on a hand gripper.
To launch Kyto Grit and fund further development, we will be running an Indiegogo campaign during March and April 2016.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: When it comes to sport trackers, there seems to be only 2 options. You can either use a generic one that tries to estimate the type of exercise you are doing. Or you can buy different sport-specific trackers, each with their own app and data.
Kyto Grit combines the best of both world: 1 app, 1 sensor, multiple sports.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Kyto Grit uses accelerometers to track movement. You can track different kinds of activities by snapping it in the different products of the Grit range. The tracker identifies each product using contact points and knows what type of exercise is performed. With a magnetic hall sensor it also tracks device-specific movements, for example: rotations of a rope.
You can see all your training results on your smartphone by connecting the unit wirelessly via Bluetooth.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in 2013. It is designed in Belgium (Antwerp) by Studio Dott. The electronic development and production are done by Kyto in China (Dongguan). The product is launched in 2016 with an Indiegogo campaign.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Digital and Electronic Device Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: We used injection moulding (materials ABS and TPE) to manufacture all the Grit hardware. The handles of the skipping rope are made with 2K injection moulding, to create a strong core and a soft-touch grip. The clip is also made with this technique. It has a strong hook and a flexible soft-touch case to hold the tracker.
The interaction flow of the app and the Track interface were designed and evaluated using sketch before translating them into code.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: To launch Kyto Grit, we created a starter kit which includes the sensor (Height 48 mm x Width 26 mm, Depth 11 mm) , app (for Apple and Android), clip (Height 55 mm x Width 30 mm x Depth 22 mm) and the skipping rope (2 x handle of Length 180 mm x Diameter 25 mm , 1 rope of Length 3 m). The packaging of this kit had the following dimensions: Height 75 mm x Width 170 mm x Depth 230 mm.
TAGS: sport, track, sensor, app, fitness, smart workout
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: -
CHALLENGE: When we designed Kyto Grit, the challenges were in the details. All products have to work together seamlessly, and the user interaction should be intuitive and ergonomic. To achieve this we used techniques such as usage analysis and rapid prototyping, and evaluated the products throughout all the stages of design and production process.
We also put quite some effort in designing the look of the product family. It was a challenge to create clean lines without compromising on functionality.
ADDED DATE: 2016-02-25 15:41:21
TEAM MEMBERS (11) : Studio Dott. design team: , Pieter Lesage, Alexander Crolla, Stefanie Mertens, Jingjie Guan, Michiel Van Laeken, Lisa Apers, Kyto production team, Mr. Sunsky (CEO), Zhonglin Zhang (technical designer) and Delong Li (electronics designer)
IMAGE CREDITS: Studio Dott.
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