- 19/01/2017
- Category: Commentaries
In professional sports, the usage of technology is not a new story. However in the last few years, the implementation of technology into on-or-off-the court sports business has penetrated deeper and wider. Though intuition and hard work are the two most impactful factors in sport, technology serves as the component to reach the perfection. Andrew Gray, a trainer in Australian rugby club, emphasizes that technology helps coaches to provide athletes with clear descriptions on what they need to improve.[1] While ordinary people sees sports as a natural method to refresh their stressful mind or keep their level of health, those who earn their living from the sport industry are trying to figure out every possible ways to improve their performance, which eventually can lead them to gain more money, glory and fame. Unlike professional athletes, ordinary people have less time to exercise and sometimes, their level of commitment is quite questionable. Hence, sports apps are filling this blank space. In a modest explanation, the rise of sports and exercise applications technology allows ordinary people to exercise effectively and achieve a level of commitment that is almost as good as professional athletes.
Now, fitness and health technology devices are commercialized for amateur market and so far, there have been great responses from the society. The rapid development of smartphone user is being seen as a catalyst behind the rise of these user-friendly sports apps. Initially, wearable sports devices are exclusively designed for professional athletes, but then, several leading companies such as Nike and Fitbit have brought this beneficial technology to the market. Around 2011s, the fitness and healthy lifestyle world was shook by the innovation from Nike who introduced its Nike+ technology. Nike puts a sensor inside the sole of its newly introduced line of shoes, which is able to send real-time information about pace and distance covered by the runner to the connecting device.[2] Earlier in 2007, Fitbit had already trying to dive in the market. However, their popularity started to grow recently together with the rise of smart wearable devices, particularly smart bracelets.
With sport apps, amateur athletes and ordinary people can now measure their own needs for having a sustainable health and thus, making their exercise activities become effective in a limited time. Furthermore, the availability of such information itself have enabled individuals to be a personal sport trainer for themselves. Fitbit, one of the leading apps in this industry, are able to provide its user about data that cover several indicators such as heartbeat rate, track running or jogging distance and also measure the amount of calories intake and outtake based on one’s daily activity. A study by Judit Takacs and colleagues find out that the margin of error in Fitbit is relatively low and the data is reliable enough to be a basic health measurement.[3] Furthermore, the existence of such wearable sports apps also stimulate a positive change in its user’s lifestyle. A study by Joan Martine Dallinga and her fellow researchers found that those who use sports and health apps are experiencing a more active lifestyle and healthier body.[4] A story by one of the Fitbit users who intentionally put herself in an experiment mode by trying Fitbit device for one full month found out that the app helped her to have a more discipline exercise routine and furthermore, the health information collected through Fitbit were simply motivated her to train more and more.[5]
Then, will this shift of habit increase the number of participation in recreational exercise activities around the world? Until this point, this technology still receives numerous praises and critics from the society. However, looking at several moments earlier this year, more and more people have joined the campaign and start using their own sports app and device. During the Christmas Day 2016, Fitbit became one of the most popular gift worldwide and subsequently, the download rate of its iPhone apps have skyrocketed.[6] Around 80% of the Apple Watch users acknowledge that they use the device primarily for its health apps feature.[7] Furthermore, Sports Performance Tracking (SPT) – a Melbourne-based start-up company which focus on wearable sports device for amateur market – said that their market had grown to more than 40 countries.[8]
Given fast development and positive acceptance from the users, it is safe to say that today, the existence of such health and sports app is partially influencing the lifestyle of its user. The number of sales are constantly improving and it will only provide bigger influence as tomorrow will come. Although sports and health apps are not a precise solution that can cure one’s health problem immediately, the information that are being provided in health and sports apps are impactful to make someone more aware toward their health condition.
picture: pexels.com
[1] Smith, N.K., 2016, ‘The wearable tech giving sports teams winning ways’, BBC, viewed 7 January 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/business-36036742.
[2] Harris, B., 2011, ‘How Does the Nike Plus Work?’, Livestrong, viewed 7 January 2017, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/533191-how-does-the-nike-plus-work/.
[3] Takacs, J., Pollock, C.L., Guenther, J.R., Bahar, M., Napier, C. & Hunt, M.A., 2013, ‘Validation of the Fitbit One activity monitor device during treadmill walking’, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 17, 496-500.
[4] Dallinga, J.M., Mennes, M., Alpay, L., Bijwaard, H. & Faille-Deutekom, M.B., 2015, ‘App Use, Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyle: a Cross Sectional Study’, BMC Public Health, 15(833), 1-9.
[5] Fitzsimmons, M., 2016, ‘How a Month with a Fitness Tracker Changed My Life’, Tech Radar, viewed 14 January 2017, from http://www.techradar.com/news/wearables/how-a-month-with-a-fitness-tracker-changed-my-life-1329294.
[6] Maslakovic, M., 2016, ‘Fitbit gets holiday boost after app tops Apple chart’, Gadget and Wearables, viewed 7 January 2017, from http://gadgetsandwearables.com/2016/12/28/fitbit-holiday/.
[7] Whitney, L., 2016, ‘Apple Watch a year later: What owners really think’, CNet, viewed 9 January 2017, from https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-watch-survey-year-later-what-owners-really-think/.
[8] Baldassarre, G., 2016, ‘Melbourne startup Sports Performance Tracking is bringing elite-level stats to amateur athletes’, Start Up Daily, viewed 9 January 2017, from http://www.startupdaily.net/2016/11/melbourne-startup-sports-performance-tracking-is-bringing-elite-level-stats-to-amateur-athletes/.
