Filed under: Technology & Exercise = ???
Ok, so one of the area’s I find interesting is how modern technology impacts on the way we access exercise. Gone are the days where staying fit meant putting in loads of loanly hours running round the neighbourhood or trying to find enough motivation to visit the gym 2/3 times per week.
It is scientifically proven that exercisers put more effort into a workout when listening to music. With the arrival of the iPod/iTouch generation and advances in sensory technology one can now listen to their up tempo tunes and have all their hard work recorded.
One of the more popular partnerships is that of sports epuipment giant Nike and Apple coming together and creating Nike + iPod . Basically the scientists over at Nike developed software that runs on iPods and a sensor that slips into Nike sports shoes and transmits information direct to a receiver in the users iPod. This allows users to track distance, time, calories burned and it even lets users program a “PowerSong” to kick in when they need instant motivation.
It doesn’t stop here however, and why should it.
By signing up with the likes of nextfitness, trailguru, iTrain and nike+, fitness fans can have workouts specifically taylored to help them achieve their own personal exercise goals.
Of all that I have looked at nikeplus for me, is the most impressive offering users the ability to set goals, create personal challenges, take part in group challenges, join running clubs, see progress charts, enter and communicate with a community of likeminded people online.
How well does it work?
To get a real insight into how well the product performs I needed to put the technology through its paces. Now i’m not much of a runner so I did the next best thing, I found a runner that uses Nike+ and asked him all about it and the outcome was pretty interesting.
Marcus is a 36 year old designer, who runs 2/3 times per week, plays football twice a week and gets out on his mountain bike every other weekend.
MG: What drew you to Nike+ technology?
M: I’ve always kept fit and I like to keep up to speed with new technology. When I heard about Nike+ I was very interested.
MG: Has Nike+ improved your exercise experience and if so how?
M: Definately, it allows me to access instant feedback after a run. I am able to go online and compare my stats over periods of time and most importantly see my times getting quicker. This encourages me to be competitive and push myself.
MG: Anything you would improve?
M: At the moment it only responds to information that has been generated i.e. tells me how close to my target my last run was. What I would like is for the technology to know when I am slacking during a run and promt me to run harder and up the pace. There is the “powersong facility”, but that rely’s on the user recognising that they are flagging and purposefully selecting it. I want the software to be more of a virtual personal trainer for me.
So it seems that this is a product worth having and I’m sure that with a little time Nike and Apple will find a way to introduce heart rate monitoring ability in order to enhance their product.
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