Wearables is becoming a huge industry especially in the areas of Health and Sports. Instruments like wristbands and watches which were previously strictly bought to create a fashion sense are now morphing into things that people can use to track body data.
The 800 Garmin Sapphire GPS-enabled watch can map your location, display your fitness schedules and results, connect to your personal computer, and give you readouts on everything from pulse, altitude, and barometric pressure,
And just like every other forms of technology, those who are in the fitness business are seeing this new wave of tech products as a threat to their business.
Between the watches, the scales, the body scanners and other sorts of software and biofeedback tech , there are people who are prophesying an apocalypse for those in the fitness business.
But is this so ?
Heart rate and calories burnt are just few of the wide range of data a wearable can help organize.
But no matter how many wearables that floods the market, there is none which will be able to replicate Human algorithm.
There will still be a need for Human contact and evaluation
These data can be of great use to fitness instructors, as it will help them better fine tune training activities for athletes.
Each athlete is unique in their own way and it makes sense for them to have variations of training regimen.
Data from wearables can help fitness instructors discover and analyze where the strength and weakness of the athletes are, power metrics their level of endurance and other factors that can help them know where to focus more in training.
And when it comes to data, more is Important. The wider the range of data, the more possible it becomes to make better decisions.
In my opinion this is not a threat to the fitness business, but a huge advantage. It is one thing to have data and it is another thing to interpret.
Even if athletes buy this wide range of wearables to help their body data, I believe that they will still need professional opinion on what to do with the data.
So when you think about it, you will discover that the wearables are actually helping the fitness instructors do a better job of advising athletes, it can also open them up to more business depending on their level of expertise and personal branding.
If you are a fitness instructor, no matter your location you can always track the data of your clients online , chart their progress and give them training advice online via email or video call. This gives you more options and wider reach.
I say more options because the wearable industry in opening a whole new world of business for those in the fitness business.
Wearable devices which were previously high end and built explicitly for professionals are now being modified and sold in the market to everyday people who are interested in monitoring their health.
Bankers and Engineers who have daily jobs, run off early in the morning with these devices strapped to their arms for a one hour jog before work and most times they will always need professional advice on steps they need to take based on the data they receive .
So I believe that wearables are not a threat to the business of fitness instructors, however depending on their level of personal branding, they can leverage their skills to serve a wider spectrum of clients.
Online communities like LiveStrong has shown what's possible when you leverage the power of the Internet.
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