Tag: Heart Rate Monitors

Despite High Awareness, Consumers Reluctant to Buy Fitness Gadgets

There’s never been a better time to get fit. Technology and the Internet have combined to make it easier than ever to record and track your health. From advanced pedometers like the Fitbit to wearable bracelets like Nike’s Fuelband, we’re living in an era where tracking your day-to-day health is as easy as updating your Facebook status.

However, a new study from New York-based NPD Group shows that while consumers are highly aware of all the latest health gadgets, many are still reluctant to purchase them. For instance, of the men and women polled for the NPD Group’s digital fitness study, only 9% have ever used a heart rate monitor. Making matters worse, nearly half of those who have used one have borrowed it from a friend or relative. Continue reading Despite High Awareness, Consumers Reluctant to Buy Fitness Gadgets

Woo Hoo, Wahoo Brings ANT+ to Android

From insect to robot, or rather ANT+ to Android, that’s the news that hit last week as Wahoo Fitness announced the release of the first ANT+ application program interface (API) that connects Google Android smartphones to Wahoo Fitness products as well as any ANT+ compatible equipment. This ain’t just for iPhone anymore, as Android API joins Wahoo Fitness’ line of products tailored for the iPhone, broadening the pool of users able to use their smartphones as a fitness training and tracking tool.

“Wahoo’s technology is a perfect complement for anyone interested in better understanding the true results of their workouts, whether they are a casual exerciser or an elite athlete,” said Chip Hawkins, CEO, Wahoo Fitness.  “The availability of our Android ANT+ API allows a new wave of fitness enthusiasts to benefit from Wahoo Fitness products by enabling them to them to monitor and manage their workout information on a device they use every day.” Continue reading Woo Hoo, Wahoo Brings ANT+ to Android

Best Buy to Get Into Health and Fitness

It is hard not to love Best Buy. As a guy I love everything Best Buy, from the huge TVs to mobile phones, computers to even the appliances.  But the truth is that Best Buy has also sort of been one of those stores that made me feel a little guilty too. It has so much stuff that I love; but yet very little “active” type products for on the go. While there are plenty of digital cameras, GPS devices and now tons of video games that claim to inspire fitness, the truth is that Best Buy remains about those big, big TVs that draw you in, where you just want to sit back on a couch and let the day pass you by.

However, the retailer has announced a new national rollout of health and fitness products at 600 Best Buy stores across the country as well as online at Bestbuy.com. This is truly a good thing, as it should help inspire – dare we say “guilt” – visitors to do something besides sit on a couch whilst enjoying Blu-ray and HDTV. This also comes just in time for all those New Years’ resolutions that we hope readers will keep.

“We were encouraged by the enthusiastic response we saw from our customers during the initial pilot of these health and fitness products,” said Chris Koller, vice president of the Portable Electronics Solutions Group at Best Buy. “We clearly tapped into a desire for Best Buy to provide the latest and greatest technology to enhance health regimens, and to help people discover how they can integrate these devices with other personal technology to monitor and share their progress, and to stay motivated.” Continue reading Best Buy to Get Into Health and Fitness

Iowa Congressman Introduces P.E for the 21st Century Act

Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa)

While lawmakers in the United States looks to improve education in this country, one congressman has introduced a new pilot program to improve physical education as well. Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) has introduced the P.E. for the 21st Century act, with the goal to establish a competitive pilot program for physical education classes in elementary and secondary school systems. Under this program fitness technology would be introduced to help students reach fitness goals. These would includes devices such as heart rate monitors and body fat testing, and would be part of a core curriculum of physical fitness in American schools.

The congressman introduced this legislation last week after several tours and meetings with physical education leaders at Grundy Center Community Schools in Iowa. Currently the school district’s PE 4 Life program already incorporates interactive technologies as part of its own physical education curriculum. This includes using heart rate monitors to track activity levels and progress, and gives students the ability to track personal health goals, to ensure that they are maintaining and improving their own fitness levels.

“We must utilize all available technologies to encourage physical fitness among our nation’s children,” Boswell said. “The equipment that will be available from the grants are proven tools toward not only improving physical education curriculum, but also encouraging children to remain physically fit outside of the P.E. class.”

IowaPolitics Press Release: U.S. Rep. Boswell: Introduces physical education legislation

Congressman Leonard Boswell Official Site

Polar and Nike Partner Up for New Heart Rate Monitor

 

These are two companies that just go together so well, Polar and Nike. What’s not to like? So we’re quite pleased to note that Polar and Nike have introduced the Polar WearLink+ heart rate monitor, which will work with Nike+ SportBand and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit.

The kit will improve the training experience of the Nike+, devices, such as Sportband or iPod. After training, runners can have their heart rate data transferred to the Nikeplus.com website, where it can be tracked to see how long they ran in their target range, and see how their heart rate progress over time. The WearLink+ is also compatible with most Polar training computers (those using 5kHz transmission technology), and this allows for monitoring from both Nike+ and Polar computers to be used at the same time.

The Polar WearLink+ will be available later this month in the United States, and in Canada and Europe in July through Polar retailers, Nike stores and even the Apple Store.

 Polar website

Nike website