PowerWatch: Revolutionizing Wearables With Body-Heat Powered Technology

In the second quarter of 2016, industry leaders in smartwatch technology shipped approximately 3.5 million units, a significant decrease from the 5.1 million units circulated just one year prior. The dominant player in the market, Apple, accounted for almost half of the shipments numbering 1.6 million. As smartwatches continue to evolve, mirroring the capabilities of our smartphones, users’ expectations rise especially when it comes to battery life, a known pain point in wearable technology.

Addressing this emerging need, Matrix, a pioneering tech startup from California, has devised an innovative solution. The team introduced PowerWatch, a unique smartwatch that remarkably harnesses the power of body heat to run. According to MIT Review, the genius behind this creation lies in its application of thermoelectric generator technology. Simply put, the difference in temperature creates a shift in the electrons within the watch, leading to an electric current generation. The major milestone achieved by the Matrix team involves maintaining the temperature gradient without overheating the device, as Matrix’s lead engineer Anne Ruminsk explained.

The Technology

Building on principles of the Seebeck effect, identified back in 1821, PowerWatch’s thermoelectric technology transforms heat into electric power. In essence, without an applied voltage gradient, an electrical current can still be harnessed if a temperature gradient exists. The efficiency of such technology is largely dependant on the unique combination of a low thermal conductivity and high electrical conductivity in the material used. The wonders of thermoelectric technology are not new though, as it has famously powered NASA’s Voyager spacecraft and the Mars rover, Curiosity.

At the heart of a thermoelectric module, many compact semiconductor ‘legs’ collectively create a large voltage. Douglas Tham, the co-founder and CTO of Matrix, informed CNET that this technology efficiently works off any temperature gradient- be it cold to hot, or vice versa. He also noted that Matrix’s tech is currently being used in industrial applications such as powering IoT sensors in rooms and being examined for potential use in medical implants.

Interestingly, Tham shared that they are not skipping on solar energy, rather they aim to incorporate it in their future models. By combining solar power with temperature gradients and kinetic energy storage, they aspire to significantly improve the overall efficiency of the wristwatch.

This innovative gadget, tagged as a fitness watch, now competes directly with prominents in the field like Fitbit and Apple. Adding a new dimension to fitness wearables, Matrix’s technology gains in efficiency as you work out due to the increased body heat generated. Price initially set at $129, the PowerWatch was anticipated to start shipping in July 2017 with an estimated price increase to $170 thereafter.

Contributors to projects on crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo, the current platform selling PowerWatch, are advised to carefully review the site’s policies concerning refunds before and during the campaign.

PowerWatch undeniably represents a remarkable leap in wearable technology, reaching beyond traditional paradigms and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. By taking an issue as persistent as battery life and turning it effectively around, it has set a new standard for smartwatches to follow.