Harnessing the Galaxy S10 to Get to Safety

In June of this year, Australian couple Jessica and Lindsay were enjoying a trip out on their family boat 38km off the coast of Cairns, Queensland, an area most famous for its iconic Great Barrier Reef, when their boat’s motor became entangled with the anchor rope and led to them getting swept up by the waves. With the boat then overturning, the stranded couple were tipped into the water with no time to retrieve their lifejackets or their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), a device used to alert rescue services in emergencies.

The couple managed to remain afloat by grabbing hold of the anchor float after the boat overturned – but their ordeal was far from over as they had concerns about what marine wildlife might be nearby given that they had caught a six-foot shark right before capsizing. While floating overturned and in the water, the stern (rear) of the boat was weighed down as the anchor line was wrapped around the motor while it faced the sea swell.

However, Jessica was able to use her Galaxy S10 to contact the emergency services via phone and text after capsizing.

After having spoken with the local Chief of Police, she shared screenshots of their location with the rescue team using the Galaxy S10’s GPS and Google Maps functions. This information then helped guide the helicopter and boat emergency teams dispatched to find them.

Able to maintain contact with the authorities as they patrolled the ocean to find them, Jessica was also able to draw the attention of the rescue boat upon its arrival thanks to her Galaxy S10’s flashlight – the couple had spent several hours in the water and night had since fallen.

Jessica and Lindsay’s experience is a sobering reminder about the importance of water safety and conduct, and furthermore, it is also a unique example of the power and endurance of Galaxy smartphones, even in unusual or difficult situations; Jessica’s Galaxy S10 is still functioning as normal.^*

^*The Samsung Galaxy S10 has an IP68 rating, meaning that it has been tested to withstand submersion in fresh water for up to 30 minutes up to a depth of 1.5m. If the product is submerged in water other than fresh water, it is recommended that the device be immediately rinsed with fresh water and dried with a soft cloth. Samsung recommends reviewing the user manual for care instructions.

The Gear S3 offers two bold, refined designs with sophisticated features such as standalone wireless network connectivity*, a built-in GPS, MST technology and IP68 dust and water resistance. Furthermore, enhanced personalization features, such as customizable watchfaces and interchangeable bands, allow users to make the device their own.

So, whether you’re an adventurer, an on-the-go professional, Superdad or a gearhead, the Gear S3 adds both convenience and fun to your everyday life. See how in the videos below.

*LTE support will be available on the Gear S3 frontier in the U.S. and select countries.

**All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Featuring automatic activity detection and support for a variety of exercises, the Gear Fit2 GPS sports band keeps track of vital fitness data without breaking a sweat. But how exactly does it work, and how can it help you reach your personal health goals? Here are a few common questions and answers to help you get better acquainted with the versatile fitness tool.

Q. What kinds of exercises can the Gear Fit2 track?

Experts advise taking a well-rounded approach to personal fitness, which is why the Gear Fit2 was designed to be game for a wide range of sports and activities.

Automatic activity detection means that the Gear Fit2 can automatically sense a number of aerobic exercises as soon as the user engages in active movements for 10 minutes—the minimum amount of time for these exercises to be effective. The Gear Fit2 can sense up to five cardio exercises, ranging from running, walking, cycling as well as workouts on the rowing machine and the elliptical trainer.

As for anaerobic exercises such as crunches, lunges, and squats, users can manually set the Gear Fit2 to count the number of reps on behalf of the user.

Q. I’m trying out a regular exercise routine for the first time. Can the Gear Fit2 help me get started on the right foot?

The Gear Fit2 was designed for both fitness enthusiasts and casual exercisers alike. The Super AMOLED display allows you to check your performance, track reps and monitor your progress toward fitness targets while also providing feedback to help you better understand what that data means in terms of your overall health.

The curved, hi-resolution screen also serves as a highly effective visual aid, displaying, for certain exercises, handy animations illustrating proper technique to help you master their form and exercise more efficiently.

Q. How does the HR monitor help me exercise smarter?

As you exercise, or simply carry on with your day, the Gear Fit2’s heart-rate monitor automatically measures your heart rate at regular intervals, providing insight into your daily patterns of exertion.

During workouts, such monitoring allows you to keep track of how strenuously you’re exercising so you can adjust accordingly. The Gear Fit2 displays your current heart rate and helps guide you to reach your vigorous-intensity zone—your body’s optimal heart rate range for effective exercise— keeping you focused and motivated by ensuring maximum efficiency in your workout.

Q. What else does the Gear Fit2 monitor?

While your personal fitness is the Gear Fit2’s main focus, its function extends beyond the scope of gyms and morning runs.

The Gear Fit2 also boasts sleep tracking capability, automatically analyzing your sleep status whenever you doze for an hour or more and displaying relevant data on screen.

Additionally, the Gear Fit2 is capable of displaying your friends’ daily step status. Syncing the device with the S Health app allows users to engage in friendly step challenges with rivals. Graphs of both parties’ daily step progress can be displayed on screen, keeping you up to date on how far ahead—or behind—you may be, and adding healthy motivation to your daily exercise routine.

Q. How accurate is the GPS?

With built-in accelerometer and GPS sensors, the Gear Fit2 allows you to keep track of both how far you travel and at what speed, completely independent of a mobile phone.

GPS operates on satellite signals, and connections are sometimes obstructed by environmental variables such as an abundance of buildings in an area or particularly cloudy skies. The Gear Fit2, however, benefits from updated software that streamlines your GPS connection during outdoor exercise.

Q. Can the Gear Fit2 store my music as well?

Absolutely. The Gear Fit2 offers Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to seamlessly navigate your phone’s music library as you power through your workout. But it also features a standalone music player and 4GB of internal storage, if you’d rather leave your phone at home.

And with the Samsung Gear app you can even transfer songs between your smartphone and your Gear Fit2. Just go to the Gear Fit2’s Music Player app, change the setting to Gear Music mode, choose the playlists or songs that best suit your exercise, and you’re good to go.

Q. Which strap is best for me?

The Gear Fit2’s strap comes in two sizes: small and large. For those with rather thin wrists, measuring anywhere from 125 to 170 mm, the small strap will suit you just fine. For bigger wrists, measuring anywhere from 155 to 210 mm, go with the large strap.

Both are light and easy to wear, completing a sleek and unobtrusive aesthetic that’s suitable for both the gym and everyday use.

Manager Dongmyung Lee and Assistant Manager Jieun Suh of the Mobile Enhancement Team, Senior Designers Jonghwan Shin and Kyunghoon Han of the UX Innovation Team, and Manager Bumsung Cho and Principal Engineer Seongho Cho of the Service Development Team discuss how they made the Gear Fit2 optimized for fitness.

(From left) Dongmyung Lee, Jonghwan Shin, Jieun Suh, Kyunghoon Han, Seongho Cho and Bumsung Cho

Q. What inspired the development of the Gear Fit2?

Jieun Suh: Just about anywhere you go—whether it’s New York’s Central Park or the banks of the Seine River in Paris—you can find people exercising with their smartphones, arm bands and earphones in tow. Recognizing that exercisers tote around these items to listen to music or use GPS tracking, we decided to develop a wearable device that fulfills these needs, and makes exercise more convenient.

We also noticed these people tend to closely monitor their general health and fitness activities. So, we put a great deal of thought into its concept so they can wear it all day to accurately track their fitness patterns and progress.

Kyunghoon Han: Because it’s a fitness product, there were some limitations in realizing the concept and testing it in the lab. Ultimately, the best way to really get a feel for it was to take it outside.

Honestly, I wasn’t interested in working out before the project, but started cycling regularly during the development of the device. After the product function was stabilized, I cycled halfway across Korea, which was an opportunity to check if the intended concept worked, and to see what needed to be improved.

Q. What makes the Gear Fit2 different from other devices on the market?

Dongmyung Lee: We’ve improved upon every aspect of the previous model. In particular, the calculation of speed and calories burned is more accurate due to the better measurement of distance by the GPS. The course can also be indicated on a map.

There aren’t many fitness bands equipped with a GPS, and the few that do have the feature are generally heavy and unsophisticated. Also, the functions of the Gear Fit2 are more extensive than other products, as one can receive all the notifications you would normally receive on your smartphone. You can even reply to texts with simple preset messages and emojis.

Q. What was your major focus when designing the UX?

Jonghwan Shin: Our top priority in designing the UX was to keep the user experience simple. To do this, we followed a few basic principles. First, we focused on fitness, and reduced unnecessary functions. We planned to have the user wear the device every day. Next, we made frequently used functions such as “Start exercise” or “Record” automatic when the user engages in a prolonged session of exercise.

We also aimed to make the device a lifestyle product. So, we studied consumer lifestyle patterns during the early production development stage to ensure that the device reflected individual preferences.

Kyunghoon Han: To maximize the identity of the Gear Fit2 as a fitness product, numbers and infographics were a big focus. The number font is thick and clear compared to previous products, and was developed especially for this device. Geometrical graphics not commonly used before were incorporated so that the user can intuitively check their daily activity by simply swiping the fitness widget screen.

Regarding user behavior, we focused on striking a balance to satisfy both beginners and advanced users simultaneously. While some beginners might have just begun to develop an interest in fitness, there are also more professional users who need a device that will record more advanced activities.

One way we did this was by allowing them to initiate the “Stop workout” function with a hard key. It prevents the “ghost touch issue,” in which workout data is not recorded as a result of accidental screen touch.

Q. What features did you incorporate to motivate users?

Kyunghoon Han: We designed the UX so that it doesn’t propose unattainable goals in the initial stages of use. Instead, it improves a user’s fitness capabilities gradually over time.

For example, if the user doesn’t move for an extended period of time, a notification reminds the user to get up. Or, should the user walk at a certain pace for more than ten minutes, the screen displays the “Healthy steps” notification and records the workout time.

The “Number of floors climbed” function is also the result of contemplating how to increase the intensity of daily activity rather than just the frequency of it.

Q. The Gear Fit2 can automatically detect certain activities. How did you select these particular exercises?

Dongmyung Lee: Based on our research, we understood that the three most common exercises are running, walking and cycling. So we decided to make recording these specific exercises more convenient by creating an automatic recognition feature. If the user engages in one of these activities for more than 10 minutes—the minimum amount of time for aerobic exercises to be effective—the device records the activity. Elliptical trainer and rowing machine sessions can also be automatically recorded.

Q. Why did you incorporate a standalone music player in the device?

Jieun Suh: Research suggests that more than 75 percent of joggers listen to music while they run. Even when out for a casual walk at the park, most people prefer to listen to music. So, a music player is an essential function for a fitness device.

The Gear Fit2 has its own storage space—a feature that differentiates it from other products, which generally play music via a synced smartphone. Music can also be sent from the phone to the Gear Fit2 through Wi-Fi Direct.

We also considered the fact that it’s not necessarily the music player that influences one’s workout, but rather the function of music itself. Knowing that upbeat music can help create a steady exercise rhythm, we made it possible for more rousing songs (those with tempos ranging from 120-140 beats per minute) to be automatically detected and saved to a separate “Workout” playlist when a user sends music to the Gear Fit2.

Q. Tell us about the new features of the updated version of S Health, which was released at the launch of the Gear Fit2.

Seongho Cho: It’s common knowledge that exercise is more effective when its intensity varies. So, we loaded an exercise pace function on the Gear Fit2 to enable users to exercise more effectively.

Users can select “Pace” when setting target goals and receive feedback to keep the right pace during their fitness routine. Although this function is available on the mobile version of the app, it’s more effective when used in real time with a sports band.

Also, we added new exercise categories to S Health. The Gear Fit2 can measure a total of 14 standard exercises, such as cycling or Pilates, in addition to various other types of exercises.

Bumsung Cho: Numerous studies have revealed that social elements and competition can spark motivation in sports. Thus, we included functions that let users share their stats on social media, or participate in Together.

Counting steps is the most frequently used function on S Health, and Together lets users compare their step counts to those of their friends. The Steps Challenge is another feature that encourages friendly competition and better health for all involved.

Also, considering the biggest role of S Health is to accurately collect and display data from sensors, we added the “Floor” function to better provide barometer-measured data.

Q. What are some advantages of using S Health specifically with the Gear Fit2?

Bumsung Cho: In short, the Gear Fit2 provides seamless tracking in a way that smartphones can’t. There are times when we are without our phones, but with the Gear Fit2, not a single step goes uncounted.

Sleep monitoring is also possible with the device, making it useful for users who don’t exercise much. It’s particularly useful when one isn’t sleeping well, as it provides a lot of information about one’s quality of sleep, and differences in sleep patterns on weekdays and weekends.

Samsung Electronics today announced that its new Gear Fit2 GPS sports band is now commercially available in select markets including the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Australia, and will gradually be launched around the globe.

Featuring an ergonomic and sleek design, the Gear Fit2 offers accurate and robust fitness tracking and measurement with an embedded GPS and heart rate monitor (HRM). Whether you’re walking, running, cycling, or even using an elliptical trainer or rowing machine, the Gear Fit2 automatically detects the type of activity you’re engaging in and tracks your progress. It also monitors 15 different activities including Exercise bike, Step machine, Pilates, Lunges, Crunches and Squats.

Users can easily monitor their workout status and check notifications with a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED curved display. In addition, its standalone music player, seamless integration with S Health and new “Steps Challenges” for one-on-one competition with friends provide enhanced motivation and enable users to work out more actively, even without a smartphone.

The Gear Fit2 is compatible with smartphones running on Android OS 4.4 and above with over 1.5GB RAM. It’s available in three colors (Black, Blue and Pink) and two sizes—Small (for wrist sizes 125-170 millimeters) and Large (for wrist sizes 155-210 millimeters).