How can two one-pound bracelets give you the same workout as a 50 pound barbell?

A new fitness innovation from a team of Korean graduate students could soon change the way we think about weight training by removing weights altogether. By substituting bulky weight racks with electromagnetic force, the O2 Magnetic Dumbbell allows users to work out their entire body without actually lifting anything.

Developed by Suhyun Yoo, Hongseok Kim, and Juhyeon Lee of Kookmin Univeristy in Seoul, South Korea, the two bracelet-like units can be adjusted to exert eight different levels of force, which all correspond to weight increments ranging from 6 to 53 pounds.

Users can increase and lower resistance by simply adjusting a small dial. By switching the polarity of the magnets embedded within the units, users can toggle between concentric and eccentric muscle movements, allowing them to access a wide range of exercises.

The Daily Mail reports that the wearable gym even keeps track of your progress throughout the workout, with a small display showing your repetitions and training sets.

Could the portable innovation soon remove the need for traditional weights and gym memberships? Or are there limits to the O2 Magnetic Dumbbell workout? Check out the concept portfolio below and decide for yourself.

Lightweight and portable without a current, the O2 dumbbells pack a lot of power when turned on.
By changing the polarity of the electromagnets, you can switch between eccentric and concentric movements.
You can change the magnetic force of the electromagnets, adjusting the weight of resistance up to 50 pounds.

Photo Credit: Suhyun Yoo, Hongseok Kim and Juhyeon Lee / O2 Magnetic Dumbbell