These days technology is being used in all sorts of ways to help us improve our lives. In most cases electronics are implemented make everyday life move faster, with convenience being the main. Nearly every modern product, in some way, is designed to make things easier for the consumer. But despite all the innovations, one area that remains relatively consistent is that of exercising. Let’s face it, running, in and of itself, is a rudimentary aspect of exercise and short of having a machine work those muscles for you, it isn’t getting any easier. Well, that isn’t precisely true…
Take the Nike+ SportBand, for instance. This watch-like device gets strapped to your wrist and monitors distance, pace, time, and the amount of calories burned. The SportBand accomplishes this feat by using a detachable LINK that is then placed in the Nike+ ready footwear. The LINK itself can be plugged directly into your PC via USB. The running data can then be uploaded to the Nike+ community where further options become available, such as progress tracking, either against oneself or others. The website offers dynamic graphs that depict runner’s stats and can display weekly and monthly totals. You can tell already that Nike really wants to become your digital coach and trainer. So it comes as no surprise that in conjunction with the release of Nike+ SportBand, Nike is also launching Nike+ Coach.
Nike+ Coach will offer a variety of tools for your disposal, for beginners to more advanced runners. For those just starting out, the coaching system provides training programs for 5km, 10km, half-marathon and full-marathon. For those looking beyond introductory training, the system also provides editable training programs that allow advanced runners to tweak settings to optimize results.
Other features of the online system include the ability to set virtual goals which other community members, friends or otherwise, can compete towards. Over the next few months Nike plans to introduce team-oriented programs that allow members to monitor the performance of others within their team as well as providing a system for competition between teams.
All in all, Nike is asserting itself as a powerful ally in any exercise routine and the SportBand further integrates itself into your running lifestyle. And while it won’t make running any easier, it will keep your goals in sight, giving you the motivation to work harder and run faster.
