Garmin's VivoSmart wearable has an alarm for couch-potatoes

Consider the VivoSmart a bracelet concealing an OLED display, which hides unless smartphone notifications are incoming. Phone calls, emails, texts and calendar reminders will send a shuddering vibration to the wearable on cue.

Activating the OLED display otherwise necessitates the screen to be double tapped. Gesturing a swipe will alternate between different information panes, such as the date and time, a pedometer and the number of calories burned.

Garmin’s VivoSmart insofar differs little from the wearables from Jawbone and Sony; however, the wristband does add a little personality of its own.

The VivoSmart bears the unique distinction of a 5 ATM water rating, which means it can handle pressures equivalent to a depth of 50 metres. Individuals with a penchant for snorkeling, scuba diving and similar water sports will value these tough credentials.

Then there’s the VivoSmart’s ‘move bar’. Five segments of the move bar begin to fill during periods of inactivity. Walking around for a few minutes resets the bar, otherwise it will vibrate and generate activity alerts.

The VivoSmart will record sleeping patterns and present them as summaries on Garmin’s Connect mobile app. Garmin quotes the Bluetooth wearable as having seven days of battery life.

Gamin’s Vívosmart will be released in October for the recommended retail price of $199. The band will be offered in a small or large sizes and will come in berry, purple, blue, black, and slate. Garmin is also offering a black or slate heart rate monitor bundle for $229.