4 ways technology changes exercising at home during lockdown

Against the backdrop of the new normal of working – and living almost exclusively – from home, certain technologies in sport, fitness and wellness are becoming increasingly prevalent, as some of them make it easier to work out and enjoy sports in general from your house or neighbourhood.

No doubt, the major trends in fast-growing tech such as IoT and AI, in general, have made a big impact on the industry of sports and fitness. Along with now common fitness trackers and mobile apps for different sports activities, we see new technology in sports being tested and adopted with high enthusiasm.

In this article, I will discuss the current state of sports and technology, and how they can still give us the opportunity to enjoy a good work-out in, and around, your home.

Innovative wearables

The time when wearables in sports and wellness have been associated only with Fitbit bands and basic pedometers has passed. Today, the variety of wearable products so as the versatility of their functionality are astonishing.

There are smart glasses for cyclists that build and show routes in real-time and goggles for swimmers that collect important metrics on the go. Sensor-enabled shoes for football players and runners that track speed, force, motion, traction, etc. There are even full-body suits that enable performance monitoring during training and enhance the experience with different AR and VR effects. These wearables are suitable for professional athletes, hobbyists, as well as those who undergo rehabilitation after traumas.

Telefitness technologies

The new reality of home office and mass quarantine has certainly boosted the concept of telefitness and associated technology and fitness combos that make home workouts and remote coaching possible. This category also includes a wide range of solutions from popular video conferencing tools and mobile apps for instructors and students to futuristic fitness technologies like smart mirrors.

The best thing about these technologies is that they have a great chance to stay relevant even after the lockdown and mass quarantine are over. Telefitness services are particularly important for such groups of consumers as the elderly, people who recover from injuries and those who can’t access gyms or workout outside for other reasons. There are already plenty of health and wellness applications in this area.

5G and Internet of Things

Other booming innovations that will impact sports from many different perspectives are the emerging 5G technologies and Internet of Things. Now, wearables are just a tiny part of this technology, whereas the huge opportunities Internet of Things and ultrafast connectivity bring to this sector are truly fantastic. To learn more about this category, read my blogs on technologically enhancing the sports fan experience, technological innovation in ice-hockey and how sports and AI create a winning team.

eSports

Finally, when talking about the most recent sport technology advancements at home, it would be unfair to miss the whole new market in this industry that emerged thanks to digital technologies. eSports, which includes eRacing, fighting games, shooters, etc., is a fast-growing sector built around mobile and PC gaming, AR and VR, as well as AI technologies and even autonomous vehicles.

Just like any profession in the 21st century, sports are moving online. An obvious change to sports culture is the addition of video games. Before you argue that video games aren’t a sport, consider the following: they require an insane amount of skill at the highest levels, and many are team sports. Hundreds of top sports teams even sponsor their own eSports teams. Twenty-five NBA teams sponsor a team for the NBA2K League, and FC Barcelona sponsors teams for Rocket League and other competitive video games.

In a time when people can’t go to their local gyms or sports clubs, physical – and mental – exercise is luckily getting more digital and accessible. Technology and science are finally giving the nerds a chance to beat the jocks at their own game.