Physi-Cal Enterprises Named CES Innovations 2013 Design And Engineering Award Honoree

NEW YORK and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - Physi-Cal Enterprises, maker of the world's first strapless heart rate monitor watch, today announced it has been named an International CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its MIO ALPHA, the world's first continuous heart rate monitor wristwatch. Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a pre-eminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 29 product categories.

Designed for performance athletes and professional competitors, the MIO ALPHA is the first product of its kind that records accurate heart rate continuously during a workout event at performance speeds up to 12 mph. With no uncomfortable chest strap to wear, and no need to stop and hold a fingertip to a sensor, MIO ALPHA is the only sport and fitness heart rate monitor of its kind to leverage Philips advanced electro-optical sensors to detect blood volume in the wrist for continuous heart rate monitoring in a sleek, comfortable, casually-styled wristwatch

Where most other similar devices are plagued by interference from movement and perspiration, MIO ALPHA incorporates Philips onboard motion detector and built-in noise filtration software to compensate for these variables.

"It is an incredible honor to be recognized for our outstanding industrial design and sensor engineering that makes the MIO ALPHA a truly innovative performance heart rate monitor," said Physi-Cal CEO and MIO developer Liz Dickinson. "No other heart rate monitor in the world rivals the accuracy and comfort of the ALPHA even during an intense workout."

"Accurate, continuous and unobtrusive measuring of body vital signs is key for a large number of applications," said Giuseppe Coppola, Sr. Director Emerging Business and Strategic Partnerships at Philips Group Innovation, "Combining our heart-rate sensing technology with Mio's stylish sports watch gives all sport enthusiasts and professionals a far easier and more comfortable tool to improve their fitness and performances"

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®, the producer of the International CES, the world's largest consumer technology trade show, and have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976.

The MIO ALPHA will be displayed in The Venetian at the 2013 International CES, which runs Jan. 8-11, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Honorees will also be displayed at CES Unveiled: The Official Press Event of the International CES from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6 in the South Seas Ballroom C at Mandalay Bay.

The Innovations entries are judged based on the following criteria:

• Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials used
• Aesthetic and design qualities, using photos provided
• The product's intended use/function and user value
• Unique/novel features that consumers would find attractive
• How the design and innovation of the product compares to other products in the marketplace

Products chosen as an Innovations honoree reflect innovative design and engineering of the entries. Examples may include the first time various technologies that are combined in a single product or dramatic enhancements to previous product designs.

Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on http://cesweb.org/Awards/CES-Innovations-Awards.aspx, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

About MIO and Physi-Cal Enterprises

MIO is a line of patented strapless heart rate monitor wristwatches and calorie management systems by Physi-Cal Enterprises that collect and record personalized biofeedback to make reaching weight-loss and fitness goals simple and comfortable. The first strapless heart rate monitor sports watch on the market, MIO provides accurate heart rate data without uncomfortable chest straps. The company's complete line of wellness, fitness and performance products are designed for anyone seeking a more active, healthy lifestyle, from beginner exercisers to dedicated athletes. For more information, visit www.mioglobal.com.

SOURCE: Physi-Cal Enterprises

Emily Rothwell, MIO Global, [phone], [email protected]

http://www.mioglobal.com