One of the most interesting developments in the realm of sports is the increasing utilization of technology. In our article ‘How Wearable Technology Will Transform Sports” published here in 2016, we delved briefly into how technology is being integrated into sports, noting back then how wearables were starting to make an impact in the sporting world. Now, there is more to this intersection of sports and technology where the latter is revolutionizing the former. It is even doing the same for fitness.
Technology and Sports
IMAGE: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8e/97/26/8e97265868e5a65cf0bea91713adf853.jpg
Image credit: Pinterest
Wearables have indeed become commonplace in sports. Athletes at every level are wearing fitness trackers of all sorts, using them to monitor vital biometric data for a variety of purposes. Chief among them is to track and analyze athletic performance and overall fitness. By doing so, athletes (and their trainers) can modify their training programs to enhance efficiency, performance and address deficiencies.
DeAndre Jordan, then playing for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA, infamously wore a wearable called Whoop during games, hiding it under a wrist band as league rules prohibits the wearing of wearables during play. Jordan told ESPN that the device had been helpful and taught him things he should and should not have done. Data gleaned from his Whoop also helped him with his sleep and recovery habits, as well as his diet.
IMAGE: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/12/69/98/1269982e935cc6e2ea6e05de1e998346.jpg
Image credit: Pinterest
Then there is virtual reality (VR), whose relationship with sports, while still in its infancy, is a potential game changer. Initially used only to provide fans an enhanced, immersive sports watching experience, VR is now being used as a training tool, notably in Formula 1, baseball and football. There are even training tools that utilize the Internet of Things, like Wilson X Connected Football and Connected Basketball. These high-tech products have embedded sensors that let the user monitor metrics such as throwing/shot distance, spin rate and arc. Data taken from these devices can then be used by athletes to make adjustments that will enhance aspects of their game. The goal of these innovations, invariably, is to give athletes an edge in their respective sporting disciplines. After all, sport is all about marginal gains; technology is offering athletes from a range of professional sports leagues — from the NFL to Formula 1 and the English Premier League — alternative means to improve not only their fitness but also their skills. As such, technology’s relationship with sports is one of positivity and improvement and its adoption is becoming more common.
Technology and Fitness
IMAGE: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ed/f3/da/edf3da12f5d80f3db95e05ad210901fa.jpg
Image credit: Pinterest
As mentioned, technology is also revolutionizing fitness and this is evident in the increasing use of wearables similar to Whoop; fitness trackers and fitness-centric smartwatches such as Fitbit Versa, the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Wearable Devices explain that these innovative gadgets give biofeedback and monitor physiological functions which allows fitness enthusiasts to keep track of their performance and their progress.
Innovations in clothing technology are also becoming game changers in the fitness industry. More and more, companies are rolling out connected apparel like smart shoes that track running-related data such as time and distance, and moisture-repellent garments that make working out a lot more comfortable and a lot less wet. Sportswear brand Under Armour even has sleepwear that helps fitness buffs and athletes recover from their training sessions. Developed in collaboration with Tom Brady of the NFL, this line of athletic apparel speeds up recovery by absorbing the body’s natural heat and reflecting “far infrared” heat back to the skin to aid muscle recovery.
These technology-driven revolutions in the worlds of sports and fitness are continuing at this very moment. That means the latest innovation is just around the corner, ready to improve sports and fitness with the future of both realms looking bright.
Article exclusively written for modelonamission.com
Alexa Paige
