Yuhnke Commentary: A 'smart' scale that connects to your smartphone and PC

PHOENIX - When it comes to high-tech, Wi-Fi enabled gadgets, the bathroom isn’t typically the first place you would think of. In fact, most of what we use in our bathrooms hasn’t changed much in decades. The toilet flushes the same way it did 20 years ago, the straight razor has a few more blades but still shaves just like it did when our parents were growing up. One company thinks it’s time to make that bathroom scale a “smart” scale. I had a chance to test out the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale .

Hardware

The scale itself resembles a typical digital bathroom scale. It’s thin, made of glass and plastic and has a small display where you would normally see the needle. It’s a sleek, sexy looking scale available in black or white. If Apple made a scale, this is what it might look like. Packed inside the Aria is a digital brain and a Wi-Fi chip. It does much more than your normal weight measuring platform.

Connecting the scale

Setup was simple. Aria has to connect to your home network and the company has figured out a way to make it super easy. You don’t even have to use a computer, you can do it all on your smartphone. I had the scale set up and connected to my password protected Wi-Fi network within a matter of minutes.

How does it work?

Once connected, just step on the scale. It will measure weight, body fat and body mass index (BMI). The scale is smart enough to automatically decipher between different people in your household. It works with up to seven people. It will identify each person while they use it by displaying their initials on the screen. I’m not sure how exactly it can tell the difference between two people, especially if they have a similar body type. It worked well when both my wife and I used it on a daily basis.

Why does my scale need Wi-Fi?

The best part of the Aria scale is that it sends all of this data to the Fitbit.com website right after it displays your weight on the screen. This means you can track all of that information both online and on your smartphone. Don’t worry, it’s completely private. You can share it if you like but I would imagine most people would prefer to keep their weight and body fat on the down low. It’s nice to be able to see your weight loss (or gain) on a chart. It helps to put your overall progress in perspective. The Fitbit.com website also works hand in hand with the Fitbit body tracking device that I reviewed a few months ago . You can even enter food that you eat and exercise throughout your day to measure calories in and calories out. It’s a full blown fitness website and is free to use.

Conclusion

While the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale did everything it promised to do I can’t say it’s for everybody. Spending $130 on a scale isn’t going to make sense for some people. On the other hand, if you are trying to keep a close eye on your weight and body fat, this is the perfect way to do it. In fact, seeing this information on a chart online may help to motivate you to exercise and eat better. It’s a cool tool that uses technology to better connect us to information about our body but in the end, remember, it’s still just a scale. It won't make you skinny, that's up to you.

The Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale is available right now and sells for $129.95.