Polar could have just created an IR emitting device that would transmit your training statistics and been done with the process. They, however, opted to set their USB adapter apart from the rest by making it to IrDA standards which means they adhere to the strictest requirements for infrared technology so that your data gets where it was intended to go - your PC.
IrDA stands for Infrared Data Association which was created to mandate communication standards for infrared over small distances. This organization started in 1993 to oversee a large group of infrared products. Bi-directional infrared devices are substantially more complicated than one-way emitters, and so IrDA formed to help maintain a set of standards everyone could stick to.
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