Having been in and around the health and fitness world for many years, and being a self-confessed technophile, I think that the gym world needs widespread innovation in both technology and service provision. As digital technology marches toward a seemingly obvious convergence of the human mind and digital information, how will our exercise activities change, if at all, from their current state? That’s a question I’d like to answer, but will likely throw up more questions! Consider the basic stage of readiness model: [COUCH] Pre-contemplation-one has no thoughts to undertake exercise. Doesn’t feel a need to change [GOOGLE] Contemplation-starting to think about change; does some research on gym locations and prices, reads health articles [PHYSICAL ACTIVITY] Action-Joins a gym, tries a boot camp, attends a slimming club etc. [MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY] Maintenance- Has been exercising regularly [STOPS] Relapse “” Due to boredom, lack of motivation, no results, or perceived and actual barriers such as time restraints.
Aside from the contemplation phase where the internet is likely to be used in making choices, technology (aside from an iPod or heart rate monitor) could be used at more stages to give a better chance of starting exercise and adherence. Surely technology should have a bigger impact on our exercise activities. A good example of inspiring hi-tech is the KiFit monitoring device designed to be worn 24/7 that captures every move you make and turns it into easily understood visual graphs. With the data uploaded to the internet you have your very own virtual scientist telling you precisely how much energy you used, what you consumed (you have to tell it though) and how close you are to achieving your targets. This type of device could be the precursor to a symbiotic future where human and machine meld into one “information processing system’.
Technology shouldn’t stop with just information processing. You can: Get yourself a personal trainer on your mobile phone watching your session live via your phone cam; download exercise videos to your iPhone and follow the instructions; get an email giving you your weekly programme and teaching tips from a personal trainer (real or artificial intelligence!); virtual instructors giving indoor exercise classes (with or without 3D glasses). Some will say “we’re in a service industry; it’s all about the people, not machines or technology’. Tell that to the 90% of the population who don’t go to the gym. And of the 10% that do go to the gym, attrition rates are high across many operators because members don’t get enough attention from instructors. Digital technology could help reduce attrition rates (or improve retention depending on your glass half full/empty opinion). Technology such as email reminders, text alerts, intelligent data collection systems such as Technogym Wellness System Key, Ki-Fit, Nike Plus and others are already available to send updates on progress, suggest new exercises and book appointments.
What about the other 90% who don’t go to the gym but are likely to have a phone and/or internet connection? If the health and fitness industry invested more in researching that “killer app’ to educate the masses in fitness it would benefit us all. In PART 2, I’ll continue the article by looking at various technologies such as WiiFit and EA Personal Trainer that show the potential of introducing exercise and technology to the mass market.
Simon Bubb 2010