Intelligent goggles ensure swimmers don't lose count

Called Inview, the innovative design incorporates an electronic device, which houses a compass, at the back of the head strap. When a swimmer enters the pool, they press a button on the side of the goggles that activates the device and signals to the compass the direction the swimmer will be travelling.

Once the swimmer takes their first stroke, the goggles display the total time spent swimming, the number of laps completed and the time it took to swim the previous lap in a tiny heads-up display inside the goggle lens.

Each time the swimmer makes a turn, the compass automatically detects that the co-ordinates have changed and registers the lap and time.

Katie’s past experience as a lifeguard exposed her to the difficulties that swimmers face when keeping count of laps and a focus on their time.

Swimmers frequently alter their swimming style to look at a wristwatch or a clock on the wall to check their time. This slows them down and disrupts their rhythm.

Inview will eliminate the need for this and therefore ensure that the swimmer can concentrate on developing their technique and stamina to maximum effect. 

“I was aware that there was a gap in the market and that my interest in the sport, coupled with my interest in applying innovative technology to enhance the design of products, would enable me to design a product that was appealing to the mass market,” says Katie Williams.

Paul Turnock, Design Director at Brunel’s School of Engineering and Design, commented:

“Katie’s Inview design is another great example of the kind of talent that we produce every year at Brunel University. Our students are tasked with designing products that have a real social impact in today’s world and attract interest from the wider public and commercial investors alike.”