Ok, so I misunderstood the thread. I came here to add my 2c because I saw the video, which sort of suggests that a decently engineered TEG would be able to provide the small amount of power, required to run the watch under all but most extreme conditions. So my conclusions follow from the faulty video premise, that I don't see as faulty. It's a good video in my mind, bit too emotional (for my taste), but with data and calculations to talk about.
What data? They have refused to provide data.
I was referring to the video by the admin of this wonderful forum, I was referring to his measurements and calculations. The video demos, that the watch perhaps generates way more power than it consumes. Sure it is that the video does not feature the actual watch and sure it is the setup was tested under favourable conditions and sure it is that the calculations are best case scenario for the watch. But I nevertheless used this well done analysis to draw my conclusions precisely because there is not enough data available from the campaign managers, which was about the first thing I said in my first post.
Or maybe if they just wear long sleeves?
Wearing long sleeves should still generate some sort of gradient. Of course, if one wears a fur coat in a 37 degree room, then no chance, however I have different preferences in clothing. We don't know the power output of the TEG under a sleeve. They did not release data, so there you either trust the developers that they thought about it, or you don't and you then raise suspicions. And in case it's not self-evident raising suspicions != accusing public people of a scam.
EDIT2: I assume no one argues that extra channel of info on calorie count in addition to accelerometer could potentially increase the accuracy of measurements - how is this a gimmick?
No, people have been too busy arguing the energy harvesting side to even consider that. To me, the calorie count stuff seems like pure BS, proof that the thing is a scam. How can you make a valid biological measurement out of a temperature reading? If that were really possible, they would make that into the product. (But first they would publish papers about it.)
Well, I came here to discuss if the watch is a gimmick - which was the message of the video. Mind you, the admin suggests in his video, that the watch is a gimmick, not a scam, which sort of suggests that your opinion is not the only one out there.
Basically, you are telling me that if some stuff seems BS to you, that is a proof. May I inquire if you are an expert in the field of calorie measurement? Something tells me you are not an expert, though, because no expert would put out something that SEEMS as a proof for whatever. A valid biological measurement from temps? Well, that is how any system (including, but not limited to a living one) is measured.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/04/health/la-he-calorie-counters4-2010jan04Of course, the TEG would not cover the entire surface of skin, so it would only get a glimpse of what's happening. Could it be better than nothing? A good balance between practicality (TEG + accelerometer + a complex model to draw conclusions on the data they provide) and precision (a person locked in a huge calorimeter of room size, or wearing a gas analyser to monitor O2 consumption)?
I hope we all agree that calorie measurement based solely on accelerometer is imprecise, so it would be great to squeeze out a bit more precision. Having extra information on the amount of energy that a TEG generates can be helpful in this regard. Of course there are complications. The response to exercise is not immediate and is not linear, clothing and ambient temperature should be a factor as well. I am not saying, it would be easy for the team to get that extra precision out, in fact, I don't think they have the right expertise for that. However, extra way to measure whatever is not a gimmick, assuming that without the extra way the measurement is not precise enough. It is that way by definition - if extra ways to measure are required, than a measuring device (TEG in this case) is not a gimmick. Period.
P.S. Do you have any connection with Matrix Industries?
No, apart from what I indicated already. Do you think, if I bothered to write a disclaimer, I would have omitted that?
On a side note, do you understand that publicly calling an active public fundraising campaign a scam with no evidence whatsoever could be a criminal offence in some countries?
_VWV_