Development of Heart Rate Monitor Using Colour-Coding System to Communicate Exercise Intensity

Abstract

Currently, many heart rate monitors or HRM have been developed with numerical digital displays providing indications of target heart rate. Such displays do not provide for ease of reading under most conditions of use, particularly when the user is exercising vigorously. This paper presents a prototype of a bracelet-like HRM which responds to the problem by integrating a colour-coding system. The HRM displays a uniform colour homogenously, enabling the user to tell at a brief glance the optimal exercise intensity range. The transmission medium of ANT+ was used to transfer heart rate data from the HRM chest strap to a mi- crocontroller which then processed to display the appropriate colour according to project specifications. The LED was programmed using Arduino to automatically suggest to the user their optimum heart rate zones in accordance with their per- sonal data and pre-set exercise goal. Analysis of the prototype demonstrated that the device is effective in communicating optimal training heart rate zone and would certainly help many athletes, coaches and the public to monitor and regulate their exercise training regime.