Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
17
↓
Any talking heart monitors out there? (self.Blind)
submitted by RJHand
I'm completely blind and I cross country ski. I train a lot as I'm hoping to one day make the paralympics.
One problem I've had so far is I can't track my heart rate in real time. On treadmills and rowing ergs sure you can, but not if you can't see the screen lol.
Does Anyone know of any heart monitors that will speak your heart rate in real time as it changes? Is such a thing possible with an apple watch perhaps? I've thought about that, but I then wonder if that would be a waste of money as personally that's really all I see myself using the watch for is working out. I'm not sure if it even can do this either, so that would be even worse if I bought one and then found it couldn't do what I was hoping for. Any ideas?
One problem I've had so far is I can't track my heart rate in real time. On treadmills and rowing ergs sure you can, but not if you can't see the screen lol.
Does Anyone know of any heart monitors that will speak your heart rate in real time as it changes? Is such a thing possible with an apple watch perhaps? I've thought about that, but I then wonder if that would be a waste of money as personally that's really all I see myself using the watch for is working out. I'm not sure if it even can do this either, so that would be even worse if I bought one and then found it couldn't do what I was hoping for. Any ideas?
jrs12 7 points 3y ago
Oh boy! I can help with this one! I had the same concerns about blind athletes and the ability to check heart rates during a workout. So many workouts now a days ask for you to be in a certain zone. At our work we have old talking heartrate monitors from the 90s, but I wouldn't reccommend them. What I've been using with clients is workout apps on their phones that can announce metrics. Two good examples are Runkeeper and RunGo. Both these apps are started when you start a workout and can announce the metrics you want to know. For example, they can tell you your pace, distance, heartrate, and time elapsed. They can give this information at predetermined distances or minutes so you don't have to touch your phone. In order to get heartrate information, you need to pair it with a device that can collect heart rates, like the Apple watch, or a Garmin sports watch. I'm not sure if the Fitbit can connect live like that, but you can try. Does this information help?
ErtaySh 2 points 3y ago
Yep, this is what I'm doing to track my heart rate. You don't even need to buy an expensive smartwatch just for tracking your heartrate, you can use a chest strap monitor Wahoo, Polar, or Jarv.
RJHand [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Yeah, I'll check those out if I ever get an apple watch.
Out of curiosity why do you not recommend the talking ones from the 90s?
Out of curiosity why do you not recommend the talking ones from the 90s?
jrs12 1 points 3y ago
I might not have been clear. These apps go on your phone. You don't need a watch to use them. You just need something that can track heartrate if you want those metrics. You can still use it for distance and time without any additional devices.
The problem with the stand alone talking systems is that they can't be purchased anymore and they aren't very reliable since it's old technology. They also have headphones that go from the heartrate strap to your ears and that's the only way to use it. Overall they aren't really user friendly or versital.
The problem with the stand alone talking systems is that they can't be purchased anymore and they aren't very reliable since it's old technology. They also have headphones that go from the heartrate strap to your ears and that's the only way to use it. Overall they aren't really user friendly or versital.
RJHand [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Ah ok makes sense about the stand alone stuff.
Regarding those apps though, is an apple watch the best option for checking your heart rate? Or would a fitbit work as well?
And can you set what workout your doing? Or is it purely based on movement and such from the phone itself to track distance?
Regarding those apps though, is an apple watch the best option for checking your heart rate? Or would a fitbit work as well?
And can you set what workout your doing? Or is it purely based on movement and such from the phone itself to track distance?
ErtaySh 3 points 3y ago
You probably missed my reply above. Mini chest or wrist heart rate monitors that work via Bluetooth work with those apps.brands to look at are Wahoo, Polar and Jarv.
jrs12 2 points 3y ago
I'm not sure what the best option is for heart rates. My personal phone is an Android and I use a Garmin multisport watch to track my activity so the two are connected and everything gets pushed to the app I use, which is Strava. I should be getting an iPhone next month and will be able to tell you more then. Another commenter mentioned they do this and they just use a heartrate strap. No watch needed.
All the apps mentioned have different modes for different activities. I saw cross country skiing on many of them.
All the apps mentioned have different modes for different activities. I saw cross country skiing on many of them.
blind_cowboy 2 points 3y ago
I used the zyzlemeter app on my phone while riding a tandem. It gives you what ever stats you want at a predetermined time interval or when you double tap the play button on headphones.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.