The First Watch that Measures and Manages Stress Launched by a Canadian-Russian Startup

Ottawa, Canada, March 19, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Emvio uses heart rate variability and a proprietary algorithm to calculate stress levels, and is meant to be used all day, every day. It is this algorithm and the sensitivity of the optical sensors that make Emvio unique among other stress wearables that have come onto the market.

Emvio can help leaders and people working in fast-paced environments. It can also help people with busy family or personal lives, so that they can moderate their responses in the heat of the moment.

Emvio is the first watch that measures and manages your stress.... It can help leaders working in fast-paced environments. It can also help people with busy personal lives, so that they can moderate their responses in the heat of the moment.

Valery Kuryshev, CEO of Darta Systems

So, how does Emvio measure stress?

After Emvio measures heart rate variability (HRV is not just pulse but the time between pulses), the watch uses its patented algorithm to convert these HRV measurements to calculate stress level on a scale from 0 to 10. If one’s stress level stays in the yellow zone (4-6) for several hours, or veers into the red zone (7-10), Emvio will vibrate and show a yellow or red indicator light. Emvio also notifies users as stress levels return to normal. Its scratch-resistant display shows data discreetly, so that only the user can see it.

In addition to measuring stress, Emvio also tracks pulse rate, physical activity, calories burned, and steps taken.

How does Emvio manage stress?

Even without a smartphone, users can use just the watch to monitor stress by using the simple touch sensors for navigation. However, the Emvio app offers stress-management tips when stress levels are dangerously high. The app also encourages users to record their stressful experiences so they can use their personal data in the future to uncover counter-intuitive stress triggers. Users can also use the app to share their experiences through social media, for status updates that are rather more accurate than usual.

“I’ve always been interested in creating biomedical technology that is for everyday use,” said Valery Kuryshev, CEO of Darta Systems and co-creator of Emvio. “But as I moved from the research side to the management side, I became fascinated with measuring my emotions because I found that having more self-control would be a key to success as a business leader. This is why my team and I were motivated to find a concrete way to measure stress.”

Technical Specifications and Design

Emvio was designed in conjunction with Italian firm Simplicity Design, and its physical design ensures that it is comfortable and stays securely in place for consistent measurement. Aside from the high-quality optical sensors for measuring pulse rate, Emvio also uses an accelerometer to both compensate for a user’s movement in calculating stress and measure physical activity. The watch uses a Bluetooth Low-Energy connection to relay data to one’s smartphone, and all data will be synced automatically. For now, Emvio will be iOS compatible, with an Android app available at higher funding levels.

Emvio will be first available with a plastic body in men’s (dark gray) and women’s (white) versions, both with a slate gray band. The second and third waves of Emvio watches will feature more color options for the bands (white, black, lime green, fuschia, and cherry red).

About Darta Systems: Darta Systems is a biomedical start-up with offices in Ottawa and Moscow that has been working on Emvio for 2 years now. Their research team is composed of both established biomedical engineers and doctoral candidates from the Ryazan State Radio Engineering and Ryazan State Medical Universities. CEO Valery Kuryshev is the co-creator of the Emvio Watch; before Emvio, he managed biomedical engineering businesses for eight years and earlier was a key player in developing other biofeedback devices. This will be their first Kickstarter campaign. More information about EMVIO can be found on their homepage.