Garmin has unveiled the Forerunner 225, a GPS watch for runners that measures heart rate at the wrist, and Garmin's first device with an integrated optical heart-rate sensor. Thanks to this technology, heart-rate tracking does not require the typical wireless chest strap. The optical heart-rate sensor on the back of the watch shines an LED light into the blood capillaries at the user's wrist. The amount of light returned is read by an infrared sensor. The optical heart-rate technology was developed by Mio, a Vancouver-based company that sells its own line of non-GPS enabled wearables. The Forerunner 225 is also equipped with an accelerometer that provides distance and pace data for indoor running with no need for a separate foot pod. The Forerunner 225 will be available in black/red starting the second quarter of the year.

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