Smart Devices and Fitness

If you’re a fitness beginner like i am and looking for some advice on how technology can improve your activities then you have come to the right place.
Devices these days can analyze your breathing, your heartbeat, and various other bodily functions to ensure you’re getting the most out of your workout. However, I would like to pose a very important question to myself and all of you: are they necessary? Do I need something telling me every statistic as I run or hit the gym?

First, I had to do some research. What kind of devices exist, and what information can they provide that would be helpful to my fitness regimen? Watches are the most common, though advanced pedometers and scales exist as well. If biking is your thing, bike computers can help you find your sweet spot in terms of speed. Even when you’re resting, devices can track the quality, length, and efficiency of your sleep! I’m not sure if that’s too far or not, but I do like to get the most out of every workout. Wearables are probably as far as I’d like to go, but I like multi-functionality. Where does that leave us? Smart watches!

Smart watches come in a variety of flavors, the most familiar of which might be Android and iOS. Despite not coming out until 2015, the Apple watch will provide a variety of apps that help with fitness and keeping track of the rest of the world while on the go. Android, however, has several entries into the watch market that all have their individual points. The Moto 360 is one particular watch that caught my eye, considering it has a traditional face. Android Wear is a bit young for an OS, but it’s definitely a solid option that I’ve considered. Samsung and Sony also have smart watch options, though their entries seem a bit less polished.

Smart watches are probably the best fitness accessory I can think of right now, since they allow me to track my progress while not being too intrusive. The problem that I see is choosing the right one. With many options ringing in at $200 or more, I definitely support doing as much market research as possible to find the right option for my workout. However, whether the Apple watch reigns supreme or not upon arrival, I can definitely see myself picking up a smart watch to track all of my fitness stats!