Motiv Fitness Ring Gains NFC Payments and ECG Tracking
Motiv announces NFC-based mobile payments and ECG readings for its tiny fitness ring, utilizing biometric security to protect financial transactions.
Motiv introduces NFC-based mobile payments to its compact fitness ring at CES 2019, allowing users to make purchases directly from their finger. The company secures these transactions through existing biometric authentication methods, which previously utilized a wearer's unique gait to unlock connected devices.
In addition to contactless payments, Motiv reveals plans to add electrocardiogram (ECG) readings to the wearable device next year. This medical feature puts the small ring in direct competition with much larger smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch, which recently adopted similar heart-monitoring technology.
Integrating complex ECG sensors and NFC chips into the ring's tiny form factor presents significant hardware and battery life challenges. The company does not yet disclose how it manages these physical space constraints or whether it actively pursues FDA approval for the upcoming medical tracking capabilities.