Our alum Janne Kallio: Advanced measurement technology and AI will revolutionise wellbeing measurement

Wellness technology impacts millions of people

Janne Kallio is responsible for the digital product portfolio at Suunto, a Finland-based manufacturer of sports watches, dive products and precision instruments. Janne’s remit covers the continuous development of hardware and software, new functionalities and additional services.

The solution scope is broad, in addition to which Janne’s role requires bridging time zones and cultural differences across two continents. The company’s headquarters are in Vantaa, but most of the product development now takes place in China.

Janne is an active sportsman himself and describes himself as a sports enthusiast. As a young adult, he even dreamt of a career as a professional athlete. For the past decade, he has had his own coach for his main sport, triathlon.

“What inspires me most about this work is what technology can help us achieve – the kinds of new features we can create for consumers. It’s great to work for a company that makes global products for hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people. Our products encourage users to experience the great outdoors, and in doing so we’re doing our bit to make the world a better place,” Janne says.

Is everything worth measuring?

The sports and wellness tracking sector is an extremely competitive industry, where even major players come and go. In addition to fierce competition, political changes and economic fluctuations pose further challenges.

Today’s operating environment demands constant innovation.  AI, for one, is currently a huge opportunity and also a challenge. It involves plenty of nuances and things to consider: how do we prepare for what lies around the corner?” 

Janne Kallio

Measurement technology is also constantly becoming faster, smaller and more precise. Changes may occur both in how data is used and who supplies the devices and services.

With these technological leaps, it is possible to measure an increasing number of factors about the human body. Many people ask, however, whether everything is worth measuring. Janne also points out that the device is a means, not an end.

“There’s a lot of psychology involved in encouraging users: how do you convince them to go for a walk instead of sinking into the sofa? A device can be a way of inspiring and motivating people to, say, count their steps. The user experience determines whether the information empowers or discourages the user,” Janne notes.

Student years were formative

Janne graduated from Tampere University with a Master of Science in Engineering degree, specialising in biomedical engineering. After upper secondary school, applying to studies in Tampere was a natural choice for Janne: a large group of his friends were coming to study in Tampere, and it was also closest to his hometown, Noormarkku.

Biomedical engineering studies included both theory and practical tasks, such as ECG measurements and 3D brain modelling. Janne had a summer job at the Department of Biomedical Engineering for a couple of years, and as a natural progression, he also completed his master’s thesis for Tampere University Hospital.

In recent years, Janne has been in contact with his alma mater regarding a new method to facilitate the determination of sports thresholds. The technology developed at Tampere University is now used in Suunto ZoneSense measurements. Janne describes this real-time measurement as a revolutionary step forward for athletes who want to find just the right intensity for their training.

Janne says that whenever he drives past his former area of residence in Hervanta, he always stops to take a look at the neighbourhood.

It's fair to say that I spent some of the most important years of my life in Tampere. I also have fond memories of the year I spent as an exchange student in Brisbane, Australia, with a friend."

Janne Kallio

“It's fair to say that I spent some of the most important years of my life in Tampere. I also have fond memories of the year I spent as an exchange student in Brisbane, Australia, with a friend,” Janne reminisces. 

Janne says that his studies, the people and his group of friends left a deep impression on him, one that he still carries with him today.

“It’s been ages since my student days, but at the same time it feels like it was only yesterday.”

Text: Tiina Leivo