Polar Named A CES Innovations 2014 Design And Engineering Award Honoree For Its Polar Loop Activity Tracker

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Polar today announced that it has been named an International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for Polar Loop. Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 29 product categories.

Polar Loop, a stylish 24/7 activity tracker in the form of a smart bracelet, tracks daily activity and exercise levels, monitors sleep patterns, gives instant motivational feedback and provides alerts to help users achieve personalized daily activity goals. Building on more than 35 years of experience as the worldwide leader in heart rate and fitness assessment technology, Polar Loop brings precision and unmatched expertise to the activity tracker market.

Polar Loop is waterproof and accurately captures all movement and exercise. It can distinguish between various levels of activity. Polar Loop is also the first activity tracker to offer users the option of incorporating heart rate monitoring during workouts, which ensures that credit is given for all exercise, including activities such as cycling that an activity tracker alone will not capture. Combined with Polar Flow, a free online tracking service and app for iPhone that automatically syncs via Bluetooth® Smart, Polar Loop provides smart guidance on how to improve health and wellbeing by making small changes in daily activity.

"Polar has been a health and fitness innovator since 1977, and today's honor validates our newest product, Polar Loop, as the ultimate activity tracker," said Herb Baer, Polar USA president. "Combining waterproof and heart rate-compatible features, Polar Loop provides the most complete picture of daily activities. We're humbled to see how it's motivating users to rethink their day."

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®, the producer of the International CES, the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology, and have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976.

Polar Loop will be displayed in The Venetian at the 2014 International CES, which runs January 7-10, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Honorees will also be displayed at CES Unveiled: The Official Media Event of the International CES from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 5 in 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
• Why the product deserves the Innovations award, including specifics regarding its unique/novel features and features that consumers would find attractive
• How the design and innovation of this product directly compare 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 are combined in a single product or dramatic enhancements to previous product designs.

Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

Polar Loop ($109.95) is available now in black from leading sports retailers, online and at www.polar.com. The Polar Flow app is available for free from Apple's App Store and an Android version of the app is expected to be available in the coming months.

About Polar:
Headquartered in Lake Success, NY, Polar USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finland-based Polar Electro OY, which invented the first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) in 1977. Polar now operates internationally in more than 80 countries and its products are sold through 35,000 retailers globally. Polar heart rate and fitness assessment technology delivers unparalleled insight into the human body from valuable training guidance and feedback, to enabling individuals to improve their fitness level and sports performance. Polar technology is key to the success of leading fitness facilities, athletic teams, corporate wellness facilities, health insurance providers and thousands of physical education programs around the world. Today, Polar training computers are the number one choice among consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.polar.com.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Maria Martinez
CooperKatz for Polar USA
917-595-3059
[email protected]

SOURCE Polar