ERI is a new fitness-tracking sports band that’s made in Hong Kong

The 21st century will end with everyone being horrifically obese or fantastically fit. It could go either way. With the number of fitness-tracking gadgets out there, in theory we’ll end up as lean, mean, ab-crunching machines. One of the newest fitness helpers out there is ERI (pictured), a smart wristband that also doubles as a simple digital clock.

I stumbled across ERI last week at the TechCrunch Shanghai event where the startup behind it, Hong Kong-based DigiCare, was exhibiting. It’s a nice-looking and sturdy yet very slim band (6mm thin, 20g in weight) that can recognize if you’re walking, running, swimming, cycling, or climbing, and will last a claimed half month on a single charge.

ERI is now up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo, where the startup is seeking $50,000 by December 31 to help it ship to customers in early 2014.

A bargain for early crowdfunders

DigiCare founder and CEO Jimmy Liao explains to Tech in Asia that the startup team of 10 people has experience in both software and hardware across firms like Nokia, Docomo, and Huawei. Jimmy says they wanted to do things a little differently from all the other fitness-tracking gizmos out there and incorporate things like a curved battery, route tracking without GPS, better movement recognition, and a nano silica unibody. Despite featuring all those things, it’s still a tough market.

ERI looks quite a lot like the new Fitbit Force, which was revealed back in October. It’s not clear which was designed first. But it’s a good form factor that also allows you to ditch your watch.

There’s an upcoming app for ERI that’ll show your movements and allow you to set challenges for your exercise routines.

ERI’s regular price will be $99 with eight colors available: black, white, wine red, pink, mint green, army green, blue, and gray. The earliest crowdfunders could get one for a bargain $39 via Indiegogo, but that option has now run out. But there are some black or white models available for $59 right now that will ship next month – earlier than the general launch.

(Editing by Enricko Lukman)