The Last Word with Matt Cooper
Tech Thursday: The Pivot From Fitness To Wellness Gadgets
07 May 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main focus of the wellness tech discussed?
Andy O'Donoghue with us for Tech Thursday.
Andy, over the years you've told us a lot about smart devices which measure us at exercise. But you want today to look sort of in the opposite direction and look at the micro luxury wellness boom and look at the gadgets we use when we're almost relaxing. Tell us a little bit about this.
It's interesting, Matt, because you're right, over the last few years, we've talked about so many trackers and stuff to go in your runners and clothing to wear that measures heart rate and everything that pushes you towards performance and gamifies it. And there's a lot of tech out there. And there's kind of a trend that's sort of holding up its hand to this and saying, well, hang on a
I am and I really just want to look after my health. I don't need to be a superhuman athlete. And so we have been sold this endless parade of very enthusiastic or aggressive fitness trackers. That's kind of a Silicon Valley mentality. So instead of smartwatch notifications screaming at you to, you know, only 100 more steps to go this hour and that kind of stuff.
Chapter 2: How do micro luxury wellness gadgets differ from fitness trackers?
The pendulum has swung into the micro luxury wellness area. And there are some really great tools that I think still give you the tech to monitor and keep an eye on your health, but also to de-stress and do so, Matt, in a non-aggressive, in a passive way.
All right. The first one you have for us is a thing called the Ultra Human Ring Air. What's this?
So smart rings are really popular and you don't notice them because you don't tend not to look at somebody's wrist. People tend, if they're married, to wear them on their wedding ring finger. They're very discreet. There's a few makers and a lot of celebs sort of have been involved actually in even launching them, believe it or not. But the ultra-human rings are really cool.
If anybody's looking at these, they're worth a look at. They're expensive. They're about ā¬350 for the ultra-human. But it is the lightest biometric smart ring that you can get. But it tracks your sleep, it tracks your stress and recovery. And there's none of that kind of clunky buzzing and notifications that you get from your smartwatch.
So it is focused entirely on passive data collection, and it literally just weighs less than two and a half grams. But it does real-time recovery and stress tracking, no screen notifications, no distraction, built-in skin temperature sensor, so monitors early signs of illness or fatigue.
And you own your data, no recurring monthly subscription fees, and six days of battery life, which is something, say, that you certainly don't get from an Apple Watch.
Yeah, all the features reminded me very much of the Whoop, which of course is worn on the wrist. Okay, here's another one. Therabody Smart Goggles. Smart Goggles? Tell us.
Yeah, and these are also, I mean, we're really seeing more and more of these products. Therabody, many of your listeners will know them. They make really good massagers for kind of post-workout massage, that kind of stuff. But this is a blackout sleep mask that uses heat and vibration and a massage pattern tailored to your heart rate.
So the idea is it melts away headaches or screen-induced stress. They cost about 200 euros. You'll find them all over the country. I've seen these in loads of electrical retailers.
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Chapter 3: What features make the Ultra Human Ring Air stand out?
It sells for about ā¬350 in Ireland. And it emits this infrasonic resonance to kind of stimulate the vagus nerve. And the idea is that it syncs audio with these vibrations that ripple through your chest and The idea is that it calms the nervous system. And, you know, this is sort of people who meditate will say, well, that's what I get through meditation.
I suppose using the tech, people are saying, well, can I short circuit it? A lot of evidence that these devices do work when used properly and worn properly. But Sense8 too is another product that's doing really well.
Okay, a couple of products. One at the extremely expensive end and another one a lot cheaper to finish off. The higher dose infrared PEMF GoMat for ā¬1,500. What in the name of God is this, Andy?
Again, a company that I didn't know until I delved into the micro wellness. And these are really popular. So it is, I have to say, at that price, yes, it's a luxury recovery mat. And it uses this pulsed electromagnetic field tech and infrared heat to physically ground your body, reduce inflammation, and they say plunge you into a state of deep relaxation.
I'm not sure I'd be that relaxed after paying that much for it. However... The makers say that these low frequencies mimic the Earth's magnetic field, kind of recharges you, and it's a very fancy-looking mat, and it's got 20 pounds, I think, of amethyst and tourmaline for heat distribution. People I know, reviews I've read online, people love them.
I suspect it's very much a luxury item for those who really think they are worth it.
Yeah, absolutely. But then you've got something at the other end for ā¬20. The Loop Quiet 2 earplugs. Tell us about this.
And these really appeal to me because for so long, Matt, while I've been working during the day, I wear headphones, I'm listening to a podcast, I'm listening to you, I'm listening to something. But recently, to focus, I've said, okay, I want to... Sensory overload is now a thing for me.
And so the Loop Quiet 2 earplugs are essentially a way to muffle the world without making you completely deaf to it. So unlike the cheap little disposable foam earplugs that people will find in pharmacies... These have a flexible ring-shaped acoustic channel, sits flush inside the ear, lets some sound out. It's like the pass-through mode that we talk about on headphones.
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