[caption id="attachment_81555" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Fenix 7 *PRO* With Elevate Gen 5[/caption] Garmin Elevate 5 optical HRM Sensor Garmin's ELEVATE-branded optical heart rate monitor has gradually improved its capabilities through various iterations in recent years. We have witnessed the support for optical HR (oHR) during swimming, the inclusion of resting HRV calculations, the implementation of 24x7 per-second recording, and the addition of blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring. At first glance, one might assume that the technology has reached its limits. It could certainly become slightly more accurate or save a bit more energy, and perhaps one day we could even obtain HRV data during exercise. But is that all there is to it? Well, no. These wrist-based optical sensors are set to enhance their capabilities in the years to come. While Garmin may never be at the forefront of the latest groundbreaking advancements in wrist sensor technology, it will remain competitive. We are on the brink of witnessing a wide array of new metrics being measured from the wrist and incorporated into a single LED (or laser) sensing unit, such as lactate, blood pressure, electrolytes, creatinine, hydration, blood glucose, and more. However, we are tantalisingly close to this point, but the market hasn't quite caught up, and Garmin certainly hasn't either. Garmin is still playing catch-up to some extent, and that is precisely what the ELEVATE GEN 5 embodies, which is scheduled for release within a month—a catch-up effort. Let's go through what we know. https://the5krunner.com/2023/01/02/next-gen-sports-sensors-for-2023-and-beyond-lactate-blood-pressure-hydration-creatinine/ New Hardware - new Elevate [gallery size="medium" columns="2" ids="81584,81585"] The new ELEVATE Gen 5 model sits wider on your skin than before. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1094"] Image via Reddit: u/ComplexUnit6798[/caption] Most strikingly, however, it features six green LEDs, four receptors, two orange LEDs, and an electrical isolation ring surrounding it. However, look closer and you will also see four silver areas adjacent to each of the four sides of the main LED module. We'll revisit all these points shortly. Note also that the Start/Stop button retains its appearance from the previous version. However, if you examine competitors' smartwatches, you will find that this type of button construction supports ECG/EKG functionality. Elevate 5.0 has Skin Temperature Measurement. Skin temperature is a health and sleep metric that can, for example, aid in the detection of sleep stages, ovulation cycles, and illness. So don't expect to be wowed by knowing your skin temperature but DO expect to see improvements to the accuracy of Garmin health and wellness insights. . https://the5krunner.com/2023/03/05/garmin-wrist-temperature-coming-this-month/ Skin temperature serves different purposes than core temperature, with the latter being more relevant to athletes during a performance. Athletes seek assistance in acclimating to higher-temperature environments and may desire insights into core temperature to prevent overheating, dehydration, and suboptimal performance. However, I am sceptical that such insights will be available from the beginning with Elevate 5. Skin temperature sensors can be used in conjunction with sophisticated algorithms to determine core body temperature accurately. These algorithms can improve their accuracy by incorporating HR data from a chest strap. They can be scientifically validated to measure core body temperature with a precision of within 0.1 °C to 0.2 °C, such as the GreenTEG Core. It's worth noting that the silver area, which is mentioned earlier, does not necessarily need to be made of metal to possess temperature measurement capabilities. Will Elevate 5 deliver More Accuracy? A: Yes, there are modest improvements reported (edit: and that I experience in my testing) Previously, issues with hairy skin, darker skin, and motion artefacts have caused accuracy problems with Garmin sensors. However, they can sometimes be challenging to pinpoint as they are specific to individual users and their exercise habits. More LEDs should be able to create more data points, which can then be cross-validated to eliminate the bad ones and improve accuracy. At least that's the theory; the reality will come down to how well Garmin implements its algorithms, and it's not always had the best record in that department. One interesting and very plausible suggestion from the suggestions below is that Garmin will fire up 2 or 4 of the six green LEDs during workouts for maximum accuracy, but only rely on 2 LEDs for the 24x7 HR monitoring. I like that idea but has Garmin already considered it? Will Elevate 5 need more power? a: No, probably not. Despite the increased use of LEDs implying a significant power consumption, there will be efficiencies elsewhere that will almost certainly reduce the overall energy requirements. For example, some components within the watch can be merged into one, resulting in energy savings. Will Elevate 5 be an ECG? A: Yes, it's been confirmed as an on-demand ECG Garmin has already released an ECG on a Venu 2 Plus earlier this year, following years of research and approval/patent processes. The new Elevate sensor will support ECG, although not at launch and pending FDA clearance. Will Elevate 5 support Afib? a: Yes, Garmin's ECG app supports the on-demand detection of atrial fibrillation (AFib) or normal sinus rhythm Will Elevate 5 support SpO2 A: Yes, v4 already does. https://the5krunner.com/2023/01/24/garmin-ecg-now-live-possibly-garmins-most-boring-ever-january-product-announcement/ Is Elevate 5 also a GSR? A: Probably not. But this would be the most interesting addition to a Garmin watch. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) sensors, also known as Electrodermal Activity (EDA) sensors, made their debut in Consumer Wearables in 2014. They are devices used to measure the electrical conductivity of the skin. GSR sensors are commonly used in fields such as psychology and neuroscience to evaluate an individual's physiological response to various stimuli. They operate based on the principle that the skin's electrical conductivity alters when a person experiences emotional or physiological changes. These changes primarily stem from the activity of sweat glands, which are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. While GSR sensors do not directly measure HRV/ANS changes, such data could serve as input for recovery/readiness algorithms, enhancing their accuracy. Will Garmin try a new sensor technology (GSR) on a new sensor package on its most important watches? A: Garmin is quite a conservative company, so probably not. Take Out Garmin's latest ELEVATE Gen 5 optical heart rate monitor (oHRM) sensor represents another step for the company's wrist sensor technology. With improvements such as ECG & skin temperature measurement, the Gen 5 sensor should offer enhanced accuracy and valuable insights for users. Supported by clever algorithms and potential integration with HR data from a chest strap, this oHRM sensor demonstrates Garmin's commitment to staying competitive and delivering comprehensive health information. While supporting features like ECG, the Gen 5 sensor may not include Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) capabilities. Nonetheless, it sets the stage for future advancements in wrist-based metrics and solidifies Garmin's position as a leader in sports and wellness. Expect to see it within a month on the Epix 2 Pro and Fenix 7 Pro series. https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/12/new-garmin-fenix-7-pro-new-elevate-new-features-new-epix/ More New Features Inbound https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/30/garmin-adds-red-shift-mode-to-fenix-epix-pro-models/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/30/confirmed-new-hi-res-watch-faces-for-garmin-epix-2-pro/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/30/garmin-epix-pro-and-fenix-7-pro-pricing-options-confirmed/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/30/official-fenix-7-pro-and-epix-pro-battery-life-specs/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/30/confirmed-new-hi-res-watch-faces-for-garmin-epix-2-pro/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/30/new-garmin-fenix-epix-map-features/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/19/garmin-fenix-7-pro-first-picture-reveals-ai-secret/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/17/garmin-ant-profile-changes-in-advanced-beta-new-features-soon/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/14/garmin-fenix-7-epix-2-pro-wrist-temperature-coming-soon/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/14/fenix-7-pro-and-epix-2-pro-get-add-enhanced-hill-score-as-a-notable-new-feature-to-forerunner-watches/ https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/30/garmin-fenix-epix-new-pro-models-get-improved-dispalys-and-improved-flashlight/
