Everywhere we look, the influence of smart technology is plain to see, from social media and the most popular leisure activities to the influence of remote working on the way we do our jobs.
Some might say that the digital revolution has turned us into couch potatoes, spending more time in the virtual world than the real one. Yet that would be to overlook the significant impact that technology has had on health and fitness. Wearable technology is big business, and new tools are being developed every day to better optimize and monitor our fitness.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways that modern innovations in technology help to keep you in top shape.
Getting the most from wearable technology
Wearable technology helps you to keep your fitness regime focused and on-track. It is almost like having your very own personal trainer watching your every move. The latest fitness trackers measure a whole raft of metrics, from your heart rate to your sleep patterns.
Tempting though it is to strap it on and get going, it is worth reading the instructions and taking some basic preparations before you dive in. Make sure that your tracker is properly calibrated, and enter your vital statistics into it before you start in order to get the most accurate figures when it comes to aspects such as calorie burn rates.
You will also need to set some baseline figures so that you can use your tracker to set realistic goals. These preparatory steps might sound boring, but they will help you to get the better benefits in the long run.
With your goals set, link up your tracker with online platforms so that you can crow about your achievements on social media. This is another great way of incentivizing yourself to bigger and better achievements, so don’t be shy!
Hi-tech compression clothing
Wearable technology means more than just the gadgets that you connect to your wrist. These days, the tech is also applied to the clothes that you wear, and recent innovations in compression clothing from companies such as tommiecopper.com use the latest technological advances to help every aspect of your fitness regime by maximizing comfort, support, and flexibility in every part of the body.
Compression clothing certainly means that you look the part, but the state-of-the-art technology behind its manufacture means that the benefits go far beyond appearances. Exhaustive research has gone into the design, in order to provide the optimum support and improve circulation by delivering targeted pressure at just the right points.
Independent studies have proved beyond doubt that by wearing compression clothes, athletes benefit from enhanced oxygenation of the muscles, better blood flow and, as a result, improved overall performance.
Smart gym equipment
The march of technology in fitness is by no means restricted to wearables, however. Visit any modern gym and you will be able to take advantage of smart equipment that can link up with your tracker and log your reps and performance on each machine. Having the devices linked in this way means that your tracker can even set your workout regime for you, and tell you what machine to move onto next – further evidence that it is like having your own personal trainer!
Even if you opt not to wear a fitness tracker, you can still use the smart technology at your local gym for a more effective and structured workout. A New York gym was the first to introduce a barcode system, whereby members log themselves in, and a software program creates a bespoke workout just for them on the basis of their vital statistics and metabolic profile. There can be little doubt that in the years to come, this will be a standard feature at every gym and health club.
Fitness and the Internet of Things
There is no doubt that technological innovations have revolutionized the way we go about enhancing and monitoring our health and fitness, and while today’s technology might have looked like science fiction 20 years ago, it will probably pale into insignificance compared to what the future is likely to bring.
The major trends in technology as a whole currently center on the Internet of Things, in which different smart devices are interconnected, cloud-based apps can coordinate them all from any location, and voice technology is used as the interface through which we access them.
In all likelihood, that “personal trainer” will soon be able to shout encouragement to us via our smartphone as we approach a new personal best, or tell us off when we switch on the popcorn maker – the future could be a very interesting place!