Three Tech Innovations That Elevate Exercise
Exercise is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, particularly for older adults, but one of the challenges of any fitness routine is the monotony that comes with doing the same thing over a long period of time. However, as in many industries, there are innovators around the world thinking about how to tackle this problem and finding ways to use technology to enhance and (re)invigorate the experience in the gym.
Zygo: Aquatic & Audio Immersion
The repetitive, back-and-forth of laps and the isolation of the pool turn some people away from swimming, which is otherwise an incredibly effective and sustainable form of exercise. A great example of innovation in the space, Zygo transforms the experience by enabling the wearer to listen to music, podcasts, and other audio content as they swim. The headphones deliver impressively clear audio underwater via bone conduction and a purpose-built transmitter, eliminating the sensory deprivation of the pool and bringing motivation and dynamism to swim workouts. Zygo is different from its competitors in that many/most of them rely on Bluetooth which is susceptible to underwater signal loss. Zygo is more reliable underwater and opens up a wide range of new workout possibilities such as live coached sessions delivered via monthly subscription to the company’s app.
Price: $329. Available at https://shopzygo.com/
Form Swim Goggles: Track Your Performance in the Water
Form swim goggles tackle the visual experience using augmented reality technology to display real-time metrics directly within the swimmer's field of vision, providing instant feedback on pace, distance, stroke rate, time, and more. The goggles eliminate the need for repeated wrist checks or post-swim data analysis as they provide an in-lens, heads-up display that enables swimmers to optimize their technique and track their progress in real time. A particularly useful feature for outdoor/open water swimmers, Form’s premium offering (subscription required) includes SwimStraight, a digital compass that displays the swimmer’s direction of travel and ensures they stay on path.
Prices start at $179. Available at https://www.formswim.com/
Whoop 4.0: Performance and Recovery Optimization
Unlike traditional fitness trackers that emphasize daily step counts or calorie burn, Whoop 4.0 helps its users understand more about their body’s response to their training sessions and focuses on optimizing recovery. This allows users to train smarter and reduces the risk of overtraining. The tracker collects and analyzes data points like heart rate variability (HRV), sleep quality, recovery pace and, during workouts, the level of strain the user is putting on their body which helps to guard against injury due to overexertion. Another interesting differentiator is that the device does not have a screen, which removes the temptation to refer to it during activity. There are also no interruptions from notifications which ensures the user remains focused on their exercise performance and not distracted by repeatedly checking their wrist.
Prices start at $199 (1-month free membership trial offered.) Available at https://www.whoop.com/us/en/
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Important note: Amevida has not been compensated by any organizations mentioned in this post.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service mentioned herein.