Google recently officially released the physical design blueprint of its new wearable tracker Fitbit Air, allowing various creators, ranging from independent designers to handcraftsmen to custom accessory brands, to design straps and other accessories based on official size and structure specifications. Google said that accessories that meet the requirements can also receive the official "Made for Google" (Google Certified Accessories) logo to prove that they meet Google's high standards for Fitbit Air in terms of performance and compatibility.
According to a three-page PDF document released by Google, the blueprint includes detailed 2D CAD drawings of the Fitbit Air host "capsule" and the adapted Performance Loop sports wristband sleeve, with key physical parameters accurately marked. The engineering team set the body length of the screen-less tracker to 33.5 mm and the width to 14.36 mm, and also stipulated the force range required for assembly and disassembly: the connection force needs to be between 10 and 25 N when inserting the strap, and the pulling force of 12 to 45 N when removing the module is required to ensure that the device can still be worn securely during strenuous exercise.
According to the report, more requirements for hardware accessories also appeared on relevant pages of the Google Store, which recommended that third-party manufacturers use skin-friendly materials to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. The document clearly states that the optical sensor and blood oxygen (SpO2) sensor on the bottom of Fitbit Air must be fully exposed and cannot be blocked by any accessories to ensure continuous contact with the skin. In addition, Google recommends that the wristband be designed to maintain a stable and gentle pressure of at least 35 mmHg (approximately 0.68 psi) on the skin in the sensing area, so as to more accurately collect physiological data such as heart rate in sports scenarios.
For brands interested in becoming official partners, Google stated in the description that they are welcome to join the "Made for Google" certification program through the designated contact form. In addition to receiving official logos and highlighting their official compatibility with Fitbit Air in marketing, certified accessories can also be involved in the pre-release phase of new devices before they are released, so that supporting accessories can be launched simultaneously when the devices are launched.
Fitbit Air is a new screen-free health tracking device officially released by Google last month. It is regarded as a lightweight solution to similar products such as Whoop and Oura. The product is compact and lightweight, and does not have any display. It is currently available in four colors: Obsidian, Lavender, Berry and Fog. In terms of functions, Fitbit Air can continuously track heart rate, monitor heart rhythm and provide atrial fibrillation (Afib) warning, record blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and detailed sleep staging and other indicators. The Stephen Curry special edition previously launched on May 26 has enhanced waterproof performance on this basis, making it more suitable for use in sports and training scenarios.
Google has taken the initiative to open up the physical design blueprint of Fitbit Air to the outside world, and to support the certification system and material and structural suggestions. This not only provides clear technical specifications for creators and accessory brands, but also is expected to lead to a richer selection of personalized watch straps and accessories at the ecological level. For third-party manufacturers who want to carry out differentiated designs in the field of wearable devices, this move undoubtedly lowers the entry barrier and also strengthens the open nature of Fitbit Air as a health and exercise monitoring platform.