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Apple Granted Patent for Weightlifting Tracker That Utilizes Watch-Like Device
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Yes, the trackers can't make one do anything or cause one to lose weigh or get stronger by merely wearing them. The will to change and improve has to come from within. But, as you experienced they help motivate to get off the couch. Once that reaction is starting the rest just follows like dominos falling.
Since less than 10% of fitness center members continue their program of membership more than 3 months, it looks like Apple will see a lot of these products to people that will not use them much.
I look at all the well intended fitness and health apps I've purchased, and never used. At least I had good intensions.
I look at all the well intended fitness and health apps I've purchased, and never used. At least I had good intensions.
yeah, because some people can't count to ten.
You shouldn't criticize things you don't understand. Have you even lifted before. A lot of people keep logs. This just automates the process. People will still count lifts and reps as they do them. Duh.
To those who think this would just count reps:
I'm a Sport Scientist and i think this would be a big (and surprising) step by Apple. Sport scientists already use linear transducers and accelerometers attached to the barbells to measure velocity, acceleration, force development or mechanical power (among other variables) in weightlifting exercises. These technologies are like the heart rate monitors to endurance training: they help monitoring the intensity of the training and they really help to prescribe exercise programs. For example, there is a very strong relationship (in fact, bigger than the relationship between running pace and hear rate) between barbell velocity displacement and the intensity (%Repetition Maximum) of the resistance training.
These technologies are not widely used as heart rate monitors because of its high price (from 1000$ to more than 3000$), which make them unaffordable beyond labs or high-performance clubs. If Apple is planning to release a weight-lifting accelerometer for, lets say, 200$ or less, that methodology that we use with elite athletes would become popular.
So, no, Apple is not developing this for counting repetitions. I'm really excited with this patent, lets see what happens.
I'm a Sport Scientist and i think this would be a big (and surprising) step by Apple. Sport scientists already use linear transducers and accelerometers attached to the barbells to measure velocity, acceleration, force development or mechanical power (among other variables) in weightlifting exercises. These technologies are like the heart rate monitors to endurance training: they help monitoring the intensity of the training and they really help to prescribe exercise programs. For example, there is a very strong relationship (in fact, bigger than the relationship between running pace and hear rate) between barbell velocity displacement and the intensity (%Repetition Maximum) of the resistance training.
These technologies are not widely used as heart rate monitors because of its high price (from 1000$ to more than 3000$), which make them unaffordable beyond labs or high-performance clubs. If Apple is planning to release a weight-lifting accelerometer for, lets say, 200$ or less, that methodology that we use with elite athletes would become popular.
So, no, Apple is not developing this for counting repetitions. I'm really excited with this patent, lets see what happens.
Is that your excuse for not exercising? Apps can only help if you are motivated. Buying them is the easy part. Be honest with yourself, you'd rather couch surf because you'd start doing daily walks at a minimum otherwise. You don't need a gym. Have you tried Couch to 5K? I mean not just downloaded it but made an honest commitment?
The hardest thing was the first... 2-3 weeks. its so common today for people to expect instantaneous gratification.
Everyday I'd step on the scale. Everyday there was no change. I believe this is the greatest barrier to people getting into better shape. Seeing no change on your scale is a slap on the face. All that time, effort and pain (cause really, there will be pain, you just need to know what good pain v bad pain is) and seeing zero change at first is often the greatest de-motivator.
the fitness trackers give you some sort of empirical measurement that you're doing something outside of weight. Its something. better than nothing. Getting over that really big demotivationary hurdle was the hardest part.
Then telling myself to keep going.
Now? Now I feel like crap if I don't work out nearly everyday. I never thought I would be one of those people.
Fitness devices shouldn't be required to get people going. But I can see why they help.
However, What I really want now is a unobtrusive heartrate monitor. its one thing to track your heart rate. I would like to see what my heart rate is over a timeline when doing any physical activity. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found one I would be comfortable wearing while playing hockey for example. I'm a goalie, and I have yet to find one that wouldn't put significant danger to myself, or risk easily damaging. Last thing I want is a puck to hit my chest area and shatter a heartrate monitor and drive shards of plastic / metal into my flesh.
Well, right, I get that - but presumably this app would need to bypass the need for a trainer. Otherwise, it's just a counter. You don't need a separate gadget to count reps.
So they shouldn't put it in because you don't need it? Weird. Didn't know it should revolve around people like you.
This is fantastic. It would eliminate the need to manually track this info on paper to study your progrees. Though, I wish there would be an automatic way to tack weight.
Maybe have an app running on your iPhone or iPod programmed to your exercise rountine. As you move along the circuit, the device tracks weight and movement, while the app already knows the preprogrammed weight, which you can override at any time.
This would be awesome. It would really help people like me who are too lazy to try and track their routine. Everything would be handled automatically and all you would have to worry/think about is the actual work of weightlifting and cardio.
Awesome!
What's wrong with a counter? I wish I had a way to record my reps from my whole routine. I always intend to have paper or an app on a device to record my weight and reps....but I often forget or get lazy about keeping track. This would allow me to keep track without thinking about it.
Yeah, well, a personal trainer/coach/teacher is always best for any activity that you do (not just weight lifting)....but not everyone can afford that, money or time-wise. Sure, it's best to have an actual professor teach you in a classroom...but that doesn't mean I shouldn't therefore have text books available to read or videos to watch on various subjects.
This type of device will allow you to track your progress when a trainer is not available or when you cannot afford one.
Maybe have an app running on your iPhone or iPod programmed to your exercise rountine. As you move along the circuit, the device tracks weight and movement, while the app already knows the preprogrammed weight, which you can override at any time.
This would be awesome. It would really help people like me who are too lazy to try and track their routine. Everything would be handled automatically and all you would have to worry/think about is the actual work of weightlifting and cardio.
Awesome!
What's wrong with a counter? I wish I had a way to record my reps from my whole routine. I always intend to have paper or an app on a device to record my weight and reps....but I often forget or get lazy about keeping track. This would allow me to keep track without thinking about it.
Yeah, well, a personal trainer/coach/teacher is always best for any activity that you do (not just weight lifting)....but not everyone can afford that, money or time-wise. Sure, it's best to have an actual professor teach you in a classroom...but that doesn't mean I shouldn't therefore have text books available to read or videos to watch on various subjects.
This type of device will allow you to track your progress when a trainer is not available or when you cannot afford one.
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This thing wouldn't have to be just a rep counter. It could also detect how quickly you're doing the reps. Are you using inertia to cheat and powering through, or are you going slow and steady for maximum benefit? Depending on what exactly the sensors are and how good the software is, this could be very useful indeed, even for those who can count
For me, rep counting is only slightly useful, since it would reduce data entry and error when I'm a bit tired or dizzy after a set, or don't want to stop in-between when doing a circuit.
But what would really save some noticeable time, would be it recording for me the tempo info, and based on the lift velocity whether I went to failure etc. That all takes much more time to enter, and many apps don't fully support all those attributes. There's a huge difference between doing 10 warmup reps that I'm doing in a 4-1 tempo, versus 10 regular reps that I easily finished, versus going to failure on the 10th rep. The difference between the last two determines whether or not I increase the weight next set/workout.
Since I cycle between workouts, it would be impossible for me to remember all that a week later, so it has to be recorded.
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May Not Be A Stand-alone Device
It may be integrated into the iWatch (if there's one). Why would Apple want to create an additional device just to do one thing: calculate reps. Apple may just want to show it on the weight bar in the patent filling to throw Samsung off because they know Samsung will make something similar in the next few months. Then at the end, Apple just release an iWatch with all sensors included, everything in one device.
It may be integrated into the iWatch (if there's one). Why would Apple want to create an additional device just to do one thing: calculate reps. Apple may just want to show it on the weight bar in the patent filling to throw Samsung off because they know Samsung will make something similar in the next few months. Then at the end, Apple just release an iWatch with all sensors included, everything in one device.
Oh man. Could you imagine your iWhatever telling you that you're not doing full reps and you're going too fast?
Hilarious. Would certainly shape up a lot of people's form (mine included).
Hilarious. Would certainly shape up a lot of people's form (mine included).
Blakjack, I hear you on that. Also what I hope for here is a tracking of balance, consistency, and velocity.
Sometimes when we lift, we lift with more force on one side or at uneven rhythms. Something like this might be able to help weightlifters track the consistency of their lifts to help ensure they are using proper form and technique.
This would improve efficiency and decrease injury risk, ultimately leading to better results.
Within a year we will be talking about lifting cadence and the ideal decrease in velocity over reps. We will get warnings on our last lift when we have effectively burned out (before we attempt a pointless rep). Even better, for certain routines where you want to lift as much as possible WITHOUT burning out, this could estimate for us how far we are from burnout, helping to maximize return.
In short, THIS IS AWESOME!!!
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Olympic lifting
This could be pretty cool for Olympic lifting. I can see an accelerometer stuck on the bar tracking movement assist an athlete to see vertical movement of the bar. This would aid in identifying and repairing form. (And can also stop potential bad habits from forming.)
Something like that would be great for those who like to Olympic lift but cant find (or afford) a coach to help or just want to supplement training sessions while not sacrificing feedback.
I see some potential here. The only limit is a devs imagination.
This could be pretty cool for Olympic lifting. I can see an accelerometer stuck on the bar tracking movement assist an athlete to see vertical movement of the bar. This would aid in identifying and repairing form. (And can also stop potential bad habits from forming.)
Something like that would be great for those who like to Olympic lift but cant find (or afford) a coach to help or just want to supplement training sessions while not sacrificing feedback.
I see some potential here. The only limit is a devs imagination.
This would be better than a personal trainer. Reminds me a bit of the South Park Crème Fraîche episode for some reason
ok, i was wrong.... Apple can't create anymore, since just like everything else hey do, they bring patents out left, right and center, even if it sounds silly. It's a patent, what the hell right ?
However, people can't count ?
why not use technology to help up count to 10 instead....
The beacon stuff to transfer to an iWatch may be ok..
I just wish at some point Apple has limits to how far they can do, while still remaining in Cupertino ... Not drifting somewhere in the clouds. Since most of the crud that comes out lately, that''s what it sounds like
(FYI... I can't even believe spell checker uner-lined the word "Cupertino" as incorrect, that's what i can't believe..)
Apple has this all in tact, but refuses to check its own spelling ? That's like saying IE 10 crashed on millions of Microsoft's pages.
However, people can't count ?
why not use technology to help up count to 10 instead....
The beacon stuff to transfer to an iWatch may be ok..
I just wish at some point Apple has limits to how far they can do, while still remaining in Cupertino ... Not drifting somewhere in the clouds. Since most of the crud that comes out lately, that''s what it sounds like
(FYI... I can't even believe spell checker uner-lined the word "Cupertino" as incorrect, that's what i can't believe..)
Apple has this all in tact, but refuses to check its own spelling ? That's like saying IE 10 crashed on millions of Microsoft's pages.
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Someone has already been using a wireless accelerometer to enforce rep quality in weightlifting for over a year, and the idea was in development for a year before that. His name is Valery Fedorenko and the app is called Fixometer and available in the app store:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wkc-fix-o-meter/id625307920
The app is available for Android too and is based on the Node sensor from Variable Technologies.
In the kettlebell world, this is an anti cheating mechanism, preventing folks with wobbly reps from earning the same score as those who lift with stability. The comments here are funny and similar to what has been said about Fixometer for a long time, here is a blog post that even reacts to some of these common points:
http://worldkettlebellclub.com/antifixometerfuzzylogic/
Finally, here is someone using Fixometer, on their Apple device no less:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17upVjWGbAk
From what I understand, some of the engineers who helped develop Node also worked at Apple. So I doubt they got the idea from Nike =) I don't think this idea is novel, or that it should be allowed to be patented at all.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wkc-fix-o-meter/id625307920
The app is available for Android too and is based on the Node sensor from Variable Technologies.
In the kettlebell world, this is an anti cheating mechanism, preventing folks with wobbly reps from earning the same score as those who lift with stability. The comments here are funny and similar to what has been said about Fixometer for a long time, here is a blog post that even reacts to some of these common points:
http://worldkettlebellclub.com/antifixometerfuzzylogic/
Finally, here is someone using Fixometer, on their Apple device no less:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17upVjWGbAk
From what I understand, some of the engineers who helped develop Node also worked at Apple. So I doubt they got the idea from Nike =) I don't think this idea is novel, or that it should be allowed to be patented at all.
No, speed does not mean more muscle. But the speed at which you lift is highly correlated with your training intensity (r>0.95). So, if you know your lifting speed, you know almost exactly your training intensity. For example, if you lift 100kg on bench press at an average velocity of 1m/s, you are training at your 50%
Reading the comments, it seems than almost nobody understood what is the purpose of this patent. It's normal, since you are not sport scientists or elite coaches. The thing is, if Apple finally release that, would they convince people that they need this??