Wearable technology products have included portable electronic devices and computers in the daily lives of users. Wearables that can be used in health and exercise programs while evaluating their forms and medical conditions are then used in entertainment, education, textile, tourism, etc. has created a new market with products that allow use in many areas.
The private consumer market has recently featured items such as smart glasses, smart watches, headsets, fitness and health trackers, smart jewelry, and smart clothing. Currently, the most successful and widely used wearable devices in the market are smart watches, wearable technology products used in health and fitness.
With the development of wearable technology, applications that allow users to follow and improve their own performance and compare each other with other users have emerged and have begun to take a place in our lives.
As a team; in order to design the most suitable application integrated into ActiveWear 2.0 Smart Sportswear, we evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the most used mobile applications in the world at the moment. Our aim is to design the most comfortable, easy and useful application for the user.
Most used mobile apps:
STRAVA
When we look at the applications
that professional and amateur athletes currently use, we see that the most used application is Strava. Every fitness lover out there already knows that Strava is one of the best cycling and running apps.
Strava provides:
• It has monitoring feature.
• It synchronizes with devices to measure performance.
• Photo and location sharing is available in the Strava application.
• Data is synchronized with the cloud. Thus, it is ensured that the data is always backed up in case of loss or replacement of the device.
• Audio feedback is available during training to help you stay informed and encouraged about your progress.
• There are instructional videos explaining how to do a certain work.
• It can be downloaded for free from Google Play or App Store. However, payment is required when downloading different features.
You have to pay for apps that track runs and bike rides, but Strava has a unique hook: COMPETITION.
While running or cycling with Strava, you can compete against other Strava members who have beaten or finished the same routes. The names of those who are fast enough can appear at the top of the leaderboard. Like other apps, Strava can calculate distance, time, speed, etc. It is recording.
Video streaming, another aspect of personalized coaching, indoor cycling workouts are available in the app to increase endurance or prepare for races. The user working to run a marathon or another race can access detailed race training plans. To find these training plans and customize them as they are not available in the mobile app, it is necessary to visit the Strava website. In fact, a large number of Premium features are also limited to the website.
The app can also display the data you'd expect to see in the running tracker app, such as calories burned, total mileage, altitude gain, total time, speed plotted over distance, average speed, maximum speed, and heart rate.
However, if you've already used Strava for years, you're bound to get bored. So, which apps are the best Strava alternatives? Are they as good as Strava?
GARMIN CONNECT
This free Strava alternative has become more of a choice for professional athletes, as Strava has turned into a social networking application rather than a sporting application.
The Garmin Connect mobile app is designed for cycling veterans.
It offers an instructor-approved training package that you can plan on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. However, this does not mean that Garmin Connect does not have a social networking system. Users can easily share their statistics and compare their results with others on the leaderboard.
Pros:
• Instructor provides approved exercise plan.
• Users can make weekly, monthly and annual exercise plans.
• It has event tracking feature.
• Annual statistics are available.
• There is a leaderboard to compare results.
• Can connect to MyFitnessPal and Strava.
One of the biggest shortcomings of the Garmin app is that GPS drains the battery quickly.
RUNKEEPER
Runkeeper is one of the most popular apps for running in this Strava alternative list. It is very easy to use. It gives the user audio updates on time, distance, calories burned and pace while running.
Runkeeper is also an app suitable for those who like to do sports indoors. It provides a stopwatch to monitor treadmill time. The application can also connect to Google Maps.
RunKeeper is one of the
most compared apps to Strava. In the RunKeeper application, RunKeeper is more preferred among runners because of the flexible running logs that can be added manually.
Pros:
• It is easy to use.
• It can track tempo, calories burned, time and distance.
• Conditions can be added manually.
• It can connect to Google Map.
The Runkeeper application does not currently have as many users as Strava. Strava, which is the majority, can be preferred more by athletes with a developed competitive side.
KOMOOT
Komoot may be more suitable for users who love the open air and remote places. It gives complete information about elevation, track type and road type.
The user who encounters a new route can add it to Komoot's system for other users to use. It also provides complete data for users to plan their trip to specific terrains that require more preparation, such as hiking terrain.
Komoot and Strava do not appear to be competitors in many respects because Komoot has a different purpose. This purpose; is to help those who like to be off the grid or offline.
Pros:
• It is suitable for outdoor use.
• It can map the new route.
• It has complete land data.
• Pretty good for offline use.
The Komoot application is not suitable for sharing with a community and this is seen as a very important shortcoming. One of the disadvantages is that the free version only provides one region.
GOOGLE FIT
The Google Fit application has the great advantage of being an easily accessible application. Besides being the biggest advantage of maps; users can monitor features such as heart rate, calories burned, distance and altitude
Athletes; running, swimming, yoga, etc. He can earn 'Action Points' when he performs an activity. Planning the trip is much easier, as the routes are presented on the familiar Google Maps.
Google Fit for iOS is reportedly gaining the ability to monitor and measure heart and respiratory rate using an iPhone's camera. The fitness app can measure heart rate when the user applies light pressure to the rear camera lens. Google can measure heartbeat by monitoring "subtle changes in the color of the fingers" to approximate blood flow. Heart rate algorithms also take into account other factors such as lighting, skin tone, age, and more. It can work even if the user's smartphone does not have an active internet connection. The front camera monitors the user's breath per minute (BPM).
This app is versatile and can connect to most apps, including Strava and many of the apps mentioned above.
Pros:
• Easily accessible by IOS or Android users
• It is easy to use.
• It can be connected to many applications.
• It forces the user to exercise.
• 'Motion Points' can be recorded while doing sports.
Cons:
• There is no social connection and sharing.
• There is no training program.
• No progress indicator.
The lack of social connection and sharing of the Google Fit application; This is one of the biggest reasons why athletes who love competition do not prefer this application. Lack of training program and progress indicator are also among its shortcomings.
Thanks to these applications developed by designers and software developers day by day, the user is encouraged to exercise and can check their health data. Regular checking of one's own health data ensures that he or she does not apply to health institutions unnecessarily. This is a very useful step for a sustainable life in our opinion.