The A-Z of Wearable Technology

 

Unsure where to start with Wearable Technology? This A-Z of Wearable Technology will help you choose the best tech for your fitness goals.

Wearable technology has managed not only to improve the way we work out and take care of our bodies.  But equally brought in a variety of new tools. That can take our fitness and workouts to the next level!

If you are about to take the plunge in buying a fitness tracker or smartwatch. Or undecided and baffled by all the different terms used in wearable technology.

We cut through all the jargon with the A-Z of Wearable Technology. Which will take you through all the wearable fitness terms you’ll need to know.

Cut through the Jargon

The A-Z of Wearable Technology is a no-nonsense guide for anyone new to wearable fitness. It’s a resource to help you cut through (let’s face it) the wonderful world of wearable technology. If you are unsure what a Huawei is or think a Fitbit is an attractive person that you meet in a bar or equally if you are an early adopter of fitness technology, this is for you. If you have even the slightest interest in improving your fitness endeavor. Then let’s move onward and learn the A-Z of Wearable Technology!

Fitness Wearables A – Z

A is for

Activity Tracker

An activity tracker, also known as a fitness tracker. It is a wearable device that allows you to constantly monitor your performance.  And also the activities you perform.

As well as that, activities monitored are fitness-related metrics such as distance walked or run, calorie consumption, and in some cases heartbeat.

Essential Reading: Best Fitness Trackers

Amazfit

Owned by Huami a cloud-based health care service provider.  There are several trackers under the Amazfit brand.  This includes the Pace, Arc, Bip, Moonbeam, and Equator.  Huami provides the wearable tech for Xiamoi.  Gymwired favourite; The Amazfit T-Rex

Apple watch

Apple Watch is a line of smartwatches produced by Apple Inc. It operates primarily in conjunction with the user’s iPhone for functions. This includes configuring the watch, calling, and texting. As well as syncing data with iPhone apps. But equally can independently connect to a Wi-Fi network for some tasks. It tracks your daily activity with three “rings.” A prominent feature of the Apple Watch is its health and fitness tracking capability.  The watch also monitors your movement throughout the day. This includes workouts. And even reminds you to get moving

B is for

Burn calories

The number of calories that you burn in a day includes basal metabolic rate calories burned just to keep the body functioning. As well as additional calories burned in physical activity. You can check your calories burned per day with a calculator based on your height, weight, age, and activity level.

Bands

Smartwatch bands look stylish and give your watch an uplift.  They can also function as trackers in their own right.  We will cover them in the not too distant future.

Blazepod

Works on the principle of  Flash Reflex Exercise (FRX).  Blazepod uses Tap-sensitive pods powered by the BLAZEPOD app. Which provides visual cues to challenge your speed and reaction times. Also, uniquely different training modes measure your performance down to the millisecond.

Basis

Is a fitness device manufacturer

C is for

Cadence

Cadence is a term often used in running & walking.  But can also be used in cycling.  In running it is defined as the number of steps a runner takes per minute (SPM). Optimal cadence is considered to be around 180-minute strides per minute.

In Cycling Cadence is the number of revolutions your pedals make per minute as you ride

Introduce cadence into your running & cycling can help to speed you up, improve your posture and minimise ground contact time

Cardio Workouts

These workouts can be combined with a fitness device all so that you can improve your health and performance

D is for

Determination

You do need determination when you want to achieve your fitness goals, but fitness devices help you achieve that.

E is for

Elasticity

Many of the fitness devices have this property so that they can bend to your needs all the time

EyeGym

The EyeGym app is about how quickly you react. How quickly you perceive things. And how well you concentrate when you’re fatigued.

F is for

Fitbit
Fitbit is a company that makes a range of fitness bands, smartwatches, and accessories.  In addition, you can use to track your steps, exercise, heart rate. Fitbit is one of the most popular fitness wearables in the world. It was acquired by Google in 2019. Popular Fitbit models include; The Fitbit Versa 2, Fitbit Charge 3, and Fitbit Ionic.

Essential Reading: Getting Started With A Fitbit

G is for

Garmin

Gary Burrell and Min Kao formed GAR MIN out of the letters of their names. Garmin is known for offering some of the best fitness devices as well as a variety of GPS devices. Trusted by runners around the world Garmin makes excellent running watches catering for beginners to elite athletes. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro and Garmin Forerunner 935 are the two most popular models.  Whilst the Garmin connect app is one of the best fitness apps around.

Gym-Wired Recommends; The Garmin Forerunner 945

Goals

Setting and tracking your exercise goals can help you stay focused and motivated to meet your fitness objectives.

GPS

Stands for Global Positioning System. This technology offers good precision in performance analysis through position and velocity of motion. GPS has been incorporated into the training regime of almost every athlete in the world. GPS is championed by sports scientists.  And used in conjunction with other technology.  This helps collect vast amounts of data on performance; such as running speed, distance run, heart rate, and their body’s work rate.

In some sports, GPS can help coaches can predict and prevent player injuries by monitoring these patterns from the GPS metrics obtained, and can make the right decisions by knowing whether their player is overtraining, whether they need a rest or whether they are in peak condition.

Essential Reading: Best GPS Running Watches

Gymwatch

Whether you are using free weights or gym machines.  It will scrutinise and track your arms or legs.

Gym-Wired

The no 1 authority in wearable product fitness reviews and expert guides.

H is for

Heart rate
The heart rate is monitored constantly by many fitness wearables. You use a heart rate monitor to measure your heart. You can use Bluetooth monitors.  Or you can use a chest strap.

Essential Reading: How To Use a Heart Rate Monitor

Hearables Headphones.

Yes, even headphones are getting the wearable treatment. You can find ones that act as a music player, microphone, Bluetooth headset, fitness tracker, and heart rate monitor all in one.  Find out more here.

Huawei

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is a Chinese multinational technology company. It manufactures telecommunications equipment and smartphones, tablets, computer and smartwatches and activity trackers.

Gym-Wired Recommended Smartwatch is the hybrid Huawei Watch Gt2

I is for

Ironman
Ironman is a manufacturer of fitness products that focuses on quality and specific information.

Intensity

Exercise intensity is how hard you are exercising. Coupled with this, exercise intensity is described as low, moderate, or vigorous.  The harder you exercise or do physical activity.  The more you improve your fitness.

J is for

Jabbra

Jabbra

K is for

Key Workouts
The key workouts have to be monitored with fitness technology to see their efficiency

L is for

LG
LG is a major manufacturer in the industry and it offers everything from smartwatches to fitness trackers and all similar devices.

M is for

Mio
Mio is focused mostly on fitness trackers. In addition, it offers a very high-quality experience due to its dedication to always improve services.

Moove Now

Moov is a fitness wearable that offers connections in real-time to motivational coaching. Moove Now is a great budget alternative to expensive Fitness Trackers.

Myzone

Myzone is a chest strap monitoring system.  It tracks your heart rate, calories burned, and effort accurately in real-time.  Gymwired Recommends The MYZONE MZ-3.  A chest strap that focuses on social sharing.

N is for

Nike
Besides being a major manufacturer of sports items, Equally, Nike is also a very important name in the fitness tracker industry.

O is for

Omron
Omron is a beginner in the industry but it does offer some high-quality products that will help you boost fitness efforts

P is for

Pebble

Dead but never forgotten. Pebble introduced what is unquestionably the first sports fitness wearable. Sold through Kickstarter. Pebble we Salute you.

Pedometer
A pedometer allows you to measure the number of steps you perform within a determined period.

Polar

In 1982, Polar launched the world’s first wearable wire-free heart rate monitor, the Sport Tester PE 2000. Polar technology and devices are widely used in various fitness trackers, GPS sports watches, bike computers, and related accessories. Designed to help you monitor your training and meet. Popular products include;

Q is for

Quality

Quality is the main focus for any fitness wearable

R is for

RunScribe

RunScribe is a device created specifically for runners. And it allows them to determine how much they run the density and other important information.

Runkeeper

Launched in 2008. Runkeeper is a fitness-tracking app for iOS and Android.  It tracks fitness activities such as walking, running, and cycling. And uses a device’s GPS sensor once an activity has started.  On completion, Runkeeper provides basic statistics of that activity. Runkeeper also offers the Runkeeper Challenge. This requires completing defined workout within the time limit.

Runkeeper offers premium subscription Runkeeper Go which provides more detailed statistics of the activity, performance comparison, training plans

S is for

Samsung

A South Korean electronics giant founded in 1938, making smartphones tv’s household appliances, laptops. Samsung produced its first smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Gear in 2013.  Since then it’s the line has expanded to also include earbuds, fitness bands.  Its smartwatch the Galaxy Watch 2 is one of the best wearables in the world.  Samsung is Apple’s biggest competitor.

Smart clothing

Say you’re trying to improve your kicking of a football. Or improving your golf swing? Textile-based wearables may be able to help you do that.

Working in a similar way to activity trackers. This is a seamless way of having sensors in your body. Working on simply integrating them into the clothes you’re already wearing.  These are pieces of clothing that have the technology built-in. In addition sensors closer to your skin can pick up the more subtle cues of your movement.  This includes heart rate, and breathing patterns than activity trackers.

Industrial engineers have been able to develop motion sensors that are incredibly thin.  And can be embedded in shoulders of shirts or into shoe soles. These can include anything from motion-detecting pants to heat sensing bras.

Smartwatch

Examples of smartwatches include the Apple Watch, Samsung Gear S, and Garmin. Importantly, their capabilities continue to grow year after year.  Moreover, their range is vast: they can monitor your fitness, send emails, make phone calls, order taxis, book hotels, and – most importantly – tell you the time. Check out our comparison of the best smartwatches on the market.

Essential Reading: Best Value Sports Watches in 2020

Smart wear

It allows you to improve your fitness endeavors by providing you with immediate info that pertains to the way your body reacts to these workouts.

Strava

Strava is a social-fitness network.  Founded in 2009 by Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath. Strava is a fitness app that primarily tracks cycling and running exercises using GPS data.  Strava offers a free service with no advertising in its mobile application. And also a monthly subscription plan called Strava Summit (formerly Strava Premium).  It also claims to have 50 million users, with 8 million activities uploaded each day.

Sweat Sensors

A few years ago measurement of sweat rate was possible only in laboratory-based systems. But is now possible using wearable sensors. Sweat, like blood, contains electrolytes, and biomolecules can reveal aspects of a person’s physiology. From hydration to kidney function. Patch on Sweat Sensor Wearables can track heart rate or blood oxygen levels that reveal

if you want to find out more then click the here.

T is for

TomTom

Known for GPS devices. TomTom also offered a wide range of fitness tech products. Sadly Tom Tom closed it’s wearable fitness department and is not operational.

Tracking

Track your activity through GPS.  Tracking for runners and Cyclists.  Sensor tracking, 3d motion tracking activities, calorie tracking, sleep monitoring. As a matter of fact, without tracking we wouldn’t have wearables.

U is for

Universally Available

Most fitness trackers offer apps that are universally available on all platforms.

V is for

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality or VR is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. VR applications range from entertainment (video games), education to fitness. The most distinct type of VR technology includes augmented reality or mixed reality. The standard kit for VR is using Virtual Reality headsets or multi-projected environments.  Images, sounds, and sensations are then generated. Stimulating a user’s physical presence in the virtual environment. Gym-Wired favourite; Oculus Quest

W is for

Wahoo

Wahoo is a small manufacturer of fitness trackers

Wearable Fitness Technology

Wearable Fitness Technology can be worn 24 hrs a day to help you achieve your goals.  You can find a variety of fitness devices.  And these are versatile, very professional, and offer you a great set of results. Also, a wearable is any electronic technology you can wear on your body. Equally directly on the skin or attached to an item of clothing. Also known as wearable technology or wearable devices.  Furthermore, it’s an accessory that can monitor your health and fitness. It can access data in real-time. And it can connect to your smartphone.  So you never miss a call again. Fitbits, Apple Watches, and Android Wear smartwatches. These all fall under the niche of wearables.

Withings

Withings (pronounced “WITH-things”) is a French consumer electronics company. Bought by Nokia in 2016.  And then bought back by its’ founder in 2018.   It’s known for innovation in connected devices. This includes FDA-cleared blood pressure monitors. As well as the first Wi-Fi scale on the market (introduced in 2009). And a smart sleep system. As well as a line of automatic activity tracking watches. It is also a provider of B2B solutions. Primarily for healthcare providers and researchers.

Gym-Wired Favourite Smartwatch is the Withings Scanwatch a military-grade heart rate tracker.

Woop

A wristband for professional athletes. It collects data on heart rate, body motion, skin conductivity, and ambient temperature. Importantly, It tells you when you need to recover

X is for

Xiaomi

Founded in 2010.  Beijing based Xiaomi is a major manufacturer of smartphones and fitness wearables. It is currently, number one in the global wearable band market. They make and invest in smartphones, mobile apps, laptops, bags, earphones, shoes, fitness bands.  Gym-wired favourite: Xiaomi Mi Band 4 a great budget fitness tracker

Y is for

Yoga

You can try to combine yoga with fitness trackers to monitor its efficiency

Z is for

Zones

Zones allow you to fully understand the current location of your fitness device, pretty much like a basic GPS.

Zswift

Zswift is a stay at home fitness app.  It’s targetted at runners and cyclists.  For more information check it out here.

So that’s The A-Z of Wearable Fitness Technology. Equally important  We will update this guide to keep it fresh and relevant.when new Wearable Technology comes along.