Is there a fitness advocate in your family or circle of friends? If so, you might have personally seen that cool wrist-worn device that keeps tab on almost all things related to health – from step counts to pulse rates to blood pressure levels.
That gadget that has been sending fitness buffs abuzz is called an activity or fitness tracker. And just in case you’re wondering how this phenomenon came to be, or what’s the fuss is all about, you’ve landed on the right page. Give our quick read a try and school yourself about the fundamentals of this innovative wearable. In this article we will walk you through on deeper understanding what is a fitness tracker is all about.
Tracking down history: What is a fitness tracker
Finnish Professor Seppo Säynäjäkangas is credited as the father of fitness tracker. Being an avid skier, he was curious enough to invent a proto fitness watch that would give him an accurate heart rate measure while training. This was back in the mid-1970’s.
But while this happened only over four decades ago, the concept of man keeping track of his step counts actually dates back to around 1470s. It was the time historians claim when renowned painter Leonardo da Vinci started to make sketches, which is considered as the earliest phase of pedometer’s history.
When 1788 arrived, the first ever pedometer was introduced by Thomas Jefferson to the United States.
It was in 1921 when the use of “lie detector” was first recorded. This device was designed to use sensors in measuring galvanic skin response, blood pressure and pulse rate. These factors were then used to predict whether the person was lying or not. In the modern day, this kind of technology is now ubiquitously used in the fitness community.
Another breakthrough happened in 1938, when a Chicago-based Aurex Corp. developed the world’s first wearable hearing aid. This point was pivotal in the advancement of the fast-growing wearables industry.
As a new millennium was welcomed, the invention of more and more health monitoring-devices exploded. The year 2003 witnessed the birth of the world’s first fully digital pacemaker, and by 2006, Nike and iPod had launched a wireless network that would allow even the layman to keep tab on their own running and workout experience.
Today, many firms have jumped on the bandwagon in extending the health-tracking technology beyond the realm of medicine. Now, fitness trackers have established themselves as must-have gadgets of anyone who wants to have a fit and sound lifestyle.
Basic features
The health-and-fitness market is a battleground for fitness tracker manufacturers. Catering to the demands of fitness freaks, these companies research and toil hard to dish out the best activity trackers possible. Hence, it is indeed a tricky task to pick one among this plethora of choices.
However, there are some basic features that you need to watch for before concluding that what you’re eyeing to buy is a great and dependable fitness tracker.
Distance tracker
Basic fitness bands count and record your steps while doing a workout or an exercise. Nonetheless, there are more top-tier models that can log this data over a longer period of time. These devices will give you a broader view and assessment of the distance you’ve covered.
Sleep tracker
As you might already know, getting enough sleep is essential to living a healthy life. Fitness trackers are equipped with technology that can help monitor both the length and quality of your sleep.
Calorie tracker
The number of calories you’ve burned is another indicator of how successful your exercises and workouts are. Fitness trackers provide you with the ability to keep tab on this factor. There are also models that let you monitor your weight and the amount of your calorie intake.
Heart rate monitor
Another concern among fitness advocates is heart rate. As most companies are now incorporating a heart rate-monitor feature in their products, you can now get easier access to the status of your cardiovascular health. Through this feature, you can also gauge and control the intensity of your exercises and workouts.
Wireless technology capable
As you live in a world where everyone likes everything to be connected, you will find a lot of fitness trackers that have wireless technology. This allows you to conveniently connect, monitor, record and store your data in your other mobile devices.
Display size and band adjustability
Comfort should never be excluded in your list of priorities. Display size helps you easily navigate the different functions of your gadget, while band adjustability lets you find the perfect and most comfortable fit to your wrist.
Water and sweat resistance
This is a great feature because you might want to keep your fitness buddy durable. Making it last for a long time will also save you money in the long run.
Summing it up
You must admit it – you are now living in a society where more and more people are working harder to get and stay fit. And as you belong to a generation where high-tech gadgets are very much accessible, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that devices like fitness trackers are continuously increasing in popularity.
Whether you’re on the fence of getting one or not, this article can be of help in getting to know the fundamentals about this phenomenal wrist-worn fitness gear.