Technology has become an essential part of our life. We rely on it to even wake us up, simply put, we can’t even start our day without it. With such an ecosystem, it becomes almost impossible to escape the technology, therefore, it only makes sense to implement it for our well-being. From wellness applications to calorie counters, one piece of technology that stands out, which is both accurate and accessible, is the fitness band. In the beginning, people didn’t believe if these would even work, and media tarnished it relentlessly, but despite all of this, these have become a staple of the fitness industry, and here are some interesting facts about it:
1. How do Fitness Bands work?
Most fitness bands rely on a sensor known as an accelerometer to track the body’s movement, some even have up to four sensors for an accurate measurement. As long as the fitness bands are powered on, they continue to monitor the wearer’s activities. Interestingly, none of the recorded data is processed by the tracker (a few exceptions being smartwatches with integrated fitness trackers). Processing occurs once the data is transferred to a smartphone or a computer. This makes sense as these must be synchronized with a computing unit which is a necessity for all fitness bands.
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2. Origins
This fact never ceases to surprise people. Most of the people expect this technology to be invented in the early 2000s at most; however, the first-ever fitness tracker, Manpo-Kei, dates back to 1965. It was invented by a Japanese professor, Dr. Yoshiro Hatano, during his research on how to stop obesity at the Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, Nobeoka. The word Manpo-Kei translates to 10,000 steps meter. This pedometer resembled a pocket watch rather than a wristwatch.
3. User Group
According to a survey conducted in 2020, the entire market of fitness bands comprised people from 18 to 50 years of age. Out of which, approximately 25% were under the age of 26. This is an unsurprising statistic because fitness trackers are a relatively new iteration which is used mostly by youth.
4. A Brief Motivation
A study conducted in 2016 found that for people who bought a fitness tracker, their levels of activity was increased up to 60 minutes in the first week. Experts claim this is because of people’s curiosity regarding the fitness tracker. This statement is proved accurate, as the same people in a controlled study were subject to a steady decline in the level of activity, some stopped working out altogether.
5. Precise
Despite this technology being available in the market for decades, people are still skeptical about its accuracy; however, it is one of the most reliable pieces of equipment when it comes to fitness. Granted, there are some errors regarding how many calories are burnt during a workout, but when it comes to fundamentals like how many steps the wearer walked are extremely accurate.
6. Alters Mood
According to a report named “Always-on/Always-on-you”, people who own fitness trackers often experience a feeling of guilt when they are not wearing their tracker. Another study conducted in Australia shows the positive aspect of a fitness tracker on the wearer’s mood. This study states that following the curiosity period, if wearers engage in an exercise while wearing the fitness band, they are more likely to feel happy post-workout.
7. Wealthy Statistics
While fitness trackers come in all price brackets, mostly wealthy individuals are reported to wear them on a regular basis. According to the statistics of the survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2019, nearly 31% of people who live in households with an annual income of $75,000 wear a fitness tracker compared to only 12% of individuals in low-income households.
8. Concerned for Privacy
With a constant bombardment of reports claiming big tech companies leaking private information of the users online, it is understandable why a majority of fitness band owners feel concerned about their private data. Almost 40% of the owners claim they are concerned about their privacy.
9. Profitable Market
As mentioned in the introduction briefly, fitness bands have become almost an essential part of the fitness industry. According to Fortune Business Insights, the business of fitness bands was worth $36 billion in 2020, and it is estimated to cross the $100 billion mark before 2030.
10. Popular among Women
While the fitness bands are unisex, the majority of its users are females. Another statistic published by the Pew Research Center shows 25% of women wear a fitness band compared to only 18% of men in the United States.