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‘Augmented reality for the masses’: inside the new AR swimming googles with an Iron Man-style display

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Form is a smart tool designed to help swimmers with their, well, form in the water. The first-generation Form Smart Swim goggles have been around for a while now, but the second-gen Smart Swim 2 packs some big improvements, as smart glasses begin to really come into their own. 

The smart glasses category includes specialist exercise tools, such as Form Smart Swim goggles for swimmers and the Engo 2 AR glasses for runners, both of which use augmented reality heads-up displays to serve up essential information and workout statistics during your session. However, thanks to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, the latest iteration of Amazon Echo Frames (Gen 3) and others, the smart glasses world is getting considerably bigger and better. 

Form, as early adopters, has ridden this wave and come back to the table with a highly advanced pair of goggles. Unlike many other pairs of smart glasses, while these collects information about your swim, there’s no need to pair it with a companion wearable like a smartwatch to get health metrics – the Smart Swim even takes your heart rate itself, measured at the temple with an in-built optical heart rate sensor.

Form Smart Swim 2

(Image credit: Form)

“It’s an environment where you’re often guessing, and you have nothing to really rely on.” says Scott Dickens, ex-Olympian swimmer and Form’s director of business development. “By leveraging our magnetometer, we’ve been able to create a first of its kind in-goggle digital compass that provides real time directional headings. If I’m swimming towards that yellow buoy, for example, and I see that it’s at 270 degrees, as long as I’m swimming with my head down, and the arrow is pointing that way, I will be swimming as straight as an arrow.”

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Form’s smart swimming goggles get refined for 2024

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In 2019, Form launched a pair of goggles with a built-in display showing real-time data when you swim. Given how many things the company got right the first time around, the word of the day for its successor, the Smart Swim 2, is refinement. But a handful of incremental improvements also means there’s no scream-from-the-rooftops reason to upgrade.

Smart Swim is a pair of fancy swim goggles with a chunky box (the “tech pack”) attached to one eye cup and a crystal in the corresponding lens. With it, you can see your statistics like your heart rate, distance, split times and more on a waveguide display without ever having to break your cadence.

Plenty about Swim 2 is carried over from the first model, including the two-button user interface, display resolution (72 x 40) and many of the internals. The addition of the heart rate sensor (which the company says has been tweaked to work well in water) has shaved down the battery life down to 12 hours from 16. But I’m not sure that’s a real issue unless you’re planning on swimming the English Channel.

Instead, Form has nipped and tucked at the existing model, with the tech pack being 15 percent smaller than its predecessor. Comfort and fit have also been worked on, with longer, more adjustable straps and a broader range of swappable nose bridges. Oh, and there were a couple of features that Form built into the first-generation hardware that have, until now, remained dormant. More on that later.

History

Form founder Dan Eisenhardt was in on the ground floor of the wearables craze of the 2010s. His last company, Recon Instruments, was building head-mounted displays long before Google pushed Glass out of the door. After initially considering, and then abandoning plans to make a swimming-focused wearable, it launched a pair of smart goggles for skiing in partnership with Oakley before making Jet, a cycling-focused unit under its own name.

These early successes attracted the attention of Intel while it was looking for the next big thing in computing. It bought Recon, among other wearables companies, with the smart business strategy of… running them all into the ground before cutting its losses a few years later. Once Recon had been scuttled, Eisenhardt and his colleagues went back to the product they had originally founded Recon to pursue, a head-worn swimming display.

Form Smart Swim 2 side by side with its larger, older predecessor.Form Smart Swim 2 side by side with its larger, older predecessor.

Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget

In use

It’s not a complicated process to get started once you’ve downloaded the app and paired it with your goggles. Turn it on with a long press of the power button and cycle through the options menu with the other button. You can opt for a pool, open water or a swim spa — the latter available for specific partner gyms. If you’re in the pool, you can then select its length from a list of standard options and press start, with the headwear tracking your motion automatically.

If I’m honest, not a huge amount has changed from the first version in terms of operation and use. If you’d like more details, then you can head back and read my original review which will hold you in pretty good stead. The only differences, really, are that you get your heart rate on the display. And, if memory serves, the markers showing you when the headgear thinks you’re swimming and when you’re at rest are clearer and more regularly updated. But that’s it, really.

Now, remember when I referenced that the first-generation Form had some extra gear on board that was left dormant? SwimStraight is making its debut on the Swim 2 but will also come to the first-generation hardware — so long as you sign up for the premium app subscription. You see, there’s a magnetometer in the tech pack that can act as a compass, and will give you a live directional bearing as you swim. When activated, the bottom half of the display transforms into the compass view, showing you a relatively precise heading.

SwimStraight is designed for open water swimmers who would otherwise rely upon landmarks to chart their course. For instance, if you’re doing a lap in a lake or out at sea, you might be breaking your stroke once every few minutes to make sure you’re lined up with a buoy. But the company showed me GPS telemetry data showing that these intermittent corrections cause swimmers to veer off course a lot. Whereas, if there’s a live compass bearing in your eye at all times, you’ll be able to keep more or less to your intended path.

I’m not going to lie, this feature impressed me far more than it had any business doing, given the low-ish tech nature of the hardware. Thrash your head around and you might force a slight delay as the compass catches up to your orientation but otherwise it’s very quick.

HeadCoach, meanwhile, launched last fall on the first-generation goggles and is similarly held behind the Premium paywall. The system looks at various elements of your form, like the pitch and roll of your head, and how quickly you turn your head to the side to breathe. It then scores you out of 99 for each of these facets, with video lessons and suggestions to get better. You can then set these suggestions onto your goggles for the next time you go into the pool, so you can get a real sense of what you’re doing and how to improve matters.

Form’s Smart Swim 2 is available today across the world, priced at $249 in the US and $339 in Canada. Its predecessor now has a 1 appended to its name and will remain on sale for $179, offering a more affordable entry-point for wary would-be swimmers. Here’s the thing, I actually think that the Smart Swim 1 with Premium is probably a more compelling option for many people. That’s not a diss against the 2 so much as praise for how good the existing model already was. Look, if you’re a Serious Triathlete who cares about your split times and owns a Garmin the size of the Cullinan Diamond, get the 2. But if you’re a better swimmer than I am (and it wouldn’t be hard) but would like some real-time data in the water, get the 1.

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Thinking of building a swimming pool? Here’s everything you should know

building a swimming pool

Having a pool in your backyard is an exciting outlook and can make your backyard a haven of relaxation and pleasure that your family and friends will love. But before you take a plunge, there is a lot to know before building a pool, as you want to ensure the type you envision best fits your needs and property. One popular pool type that combines durability, easy maintenance and stylish design is the fibreglass pool. Before diving into your adventure, here is a closer look at everything you should know about fibreglass pools to build your perfect backyard oasis.

Fibreglass pools are made from fibreglass and reinforced plastic. The finished pool shells have a smooth, non-porous surface that is stain-resistant and more durable than other materials. The composite material is made with extremely fine strands of glass combined with a plastic resin, creating a robust material that can be moulded into complex shapes. 

Fibreglass pools have become the top choice for swimming pools among homeowners due to their durability. Unlike concrete pools, which are likely to crack and deteriorate over time, with proper care and maintenance, fibreglass pools can last for many years as the material does not corrode or degrade from sun exposure, making it a wise investment in the value of your property.

Choosing a fibreglass pool means great enjoyment and little maintenance, as the smooth and non-porous surface prevents algae growth. Thus, your pool does not require heavy cleaning and scrubbing and far less chemical treatment than concrete, making it an environmentally friendly choice. 

Another benefit of fibreglass pools is their quick installation time. Unlike concrete pools, which are built on-site and require extended construction time and many staff, the moulds of fibreglass pools are transported pre-fabricated to your home and can be installed on the premises in as little as 3-5 days. 

Fibreglass pools can be designed to create custom pool shapes and sizes to suit your individual preferences and backyard layout. Options include freeform designs or a more classic and elegant geometrical shape to complement your vision of an aesthetic backyard oasis. Consider incorporating features such as built-in steps and tanning ledges or mosaic tiles to enhance the visual and functional appeal of your new fibreglass pool even more.

Fibreglass pools have high insulating capabilities and can hold heat for an extended amount of time. Thus, you can extend the swimming season without worrying about your utility bills due to their low energy consumption. The shorter installation time translates to lower labour costs than concrete pools, and their low maintenance requirements make fibreglass pools a cost-effective investment.

To keep your fibreglass pool looking fresh for decades to come, ask your professional pool builder to inspect the mechanical systems annually. All you need to do yourself is sweep the walls and floor weekly with a non-abrasive brush, test and balance the chemicals according to usage and clean the filter monthly. By following these simple maintenance steps, your fibreglass pool will provide beauty, enjoyment and convenience for your backyard leisure for years to come.

While fibreglass pools come with a multitude of benefits, the key to ensuring your pool stands the test of time is a professional installation. Thus, working with a reputable pool builder is crucial. They have the expertise to prepare your site correctly, handle the delicate transportation and installation process, and provide guidance on pool maintenance and care. Reach out to a trusted pool builder to discuss your options and start creating your own slice of paradise right in your backyard today.