Workout tapes and spring-loaded novelty gadgets are still around, but digital fitness tools may soon be taking their place. So far, three main product offerings are leading the charge.
Interactive fitness gamesThe first true breakthrough in fitness gaming came in 2008 with the introduction of Wii Fit, which has since sold more than 20 million copies and spawned two sequels. Nintendo's movement-sensing controllers and companion pressure-sensitive balance board allowed Wii Fit to track effort in a whole new way.
Competitors Sony and Microsoft wasted little time introducing physical-feedback controllers of their own. Another step forward came in 2010 with the introduction of the Kinect device, a camera that tracks complex human movement. It allows Xbox games like Nike+Kinect to assess exercise technique and offer real-time feedback with no other controller besides your body. There are many similar games and each can store your results to encourage progress.A new generation of home consoles arrived recently that introduced upgraded fitness games, and made fitness games and hardware of the past generation vastly cheaper.
Wearable fitness trackers With recent buzz about Google Glass and the Samsung Galaxy Watch, it's clear the tech industry sees wearable devices are a future growth sector. Here in the present, the wearable fitness device is already a marketplace hit. These clip-ons, wristbands, and watches monitor steps taken, distance travelled and locations travelled to, calories burned, heart rate, activity level, quality and quantity of sleep, and much more.All fitness trackers, such as the Nike+Fuel, Fitbit Flex, Jawbone Up writstbands and the Misfit Shine medallion wirelessly transmit well-organized data to be accessed, analyzed, and shared online.
Mobile fitness appsAlthough we often use apps as time-wasters, did you know a number of great fitness apps are also available?Most are free with the option to pay a small fee for added features. These apps can be used for monitoring your diet (MyFitnessPal), connecting with fellow fitness enthusiasts (Fitocracy, Gympact), designing exercise routines (Workout Trainer, iMuscle) and tracking the distance, elevation change, pace, and path of outdoor runs (GarminFit).
There are even apps to help you prepare for specific goals like completing a five-kilometre run (CouchTo5K). Now that's what I call personalized innovation. When used in conjunction with a well-designed exercise and nutrition routine, digital fitness aids can elevate your fitness to a new level and into the current millennium.
Written by contributing writer Shaun Karp, who is a certified trainer and owner of Karp Personal Training in Vancouver. karpfitness.com.
