The biggest trend in tech these days seems to be slapping “smart” on the front of any random object and then throwing it up on Kickstarter. Most fail miserably, but the Smart Rope—a simple jump rope with an electronic twist—is defying the norm by securing the entirety of its $60,000 goal with a full 33 days of funding remaining.
Looking at the Smart Rope, you’d never know it’s electronic, but the magic begins once you start your workout. Each time you swing the rope around your body, an LED strip embedded in the rope displays your current jump count right before your eyes. The rope actually writes the number in the air as it swings by at high speed, so you can effortlessly keep track of just how well you’re doing.
The rope also connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, and the Smart Rope app tracks total jumps over time, calories burned, and other stats that you can use to get a complete picture of your workout.
The cheapest donation level you can select in order to receive your own Smart Rope is $60, and its creator, Joen Choe, expects to be shipping them by September of this year. The rope is expected to cost at least $70 at retail.
Photo via Smart Rope/Kickstarter