Technology has found its way into the world of sports. Both professional and amateur athletes have decided to rely on technological innovations to improve their performance.
Among the main technologies that can be applied to sports are wearable devices. These are devices that athletes wear while doing sports activities, mainly, to collect different data that are used by athletes to make better decisions about their training.
These devices, in addition to providing useful information to the athlete, offer endless possibilities for professionals in the sector.
Wearables serve both to optimise the management of sports centres through integration with club membership software and to provide better service and more personalised attention to athletes.
Here are a few examples of popular wearable devices used by athletes.
Smart Wristbands and Watches
Smartwatches are the most popular wearable devices on the market. Most athletes already have smartwatches or bracelets that they wear throughout the day and when they play sports.
These devices are capable of performing different actions, from counting steps, measuring physical activity, measuring heart rate to counting calories burned. It is a tool that makes it easier for them to collect data on the physical activity they are doing.
On the other hand, most of these wearables are capable of other functions such as receiving calls or notifications from applications when linked to a smartphone. Many of these wearable sports devices are also capable of tracking sleep.
Hearables
Hearables are the new trend in wearable technology for athletes. These are wireless smart headphones that are capable of a myriad of functions. Although smart headphones are still growing there are already several companies that market this type of device.
For athletes, hearables are a powerful, small and unobtrusive ally. These headphones have sensors capable of quantifying health data, such as the quality of sleep. They also monitor physical activity by measuring body performance, time devoted to sport or distance travelled in the case of runners.
Among the features of the hearables are also the ability to play music, read messages or make calls. The applications of these smart headphones can also be applied to other areas such as medicine because some of them are capable of measuring brain activity, levels of fatigue or stress.
Many of these features are yet to be fully discovered, as the possibilities for hearables are endless. What is clear is that this technology aims to change the way we interact with wearables today. Smart headphones will try to replace the graphical interface and put the audio interface on top.
Smart Clothing
The future of fashion is undoubtedly the union of clothing and technology. Including technology in clothing makes these products smarter and gives the clothing added value. The two sectors in which products of this type are being developed the most are medicine and sports.
Thanks to the sensors that smart clothes incorporate, it is not difficult to imagine the potential that this technology has for athletes. From T-shirts that measure physical performance to garments that are capable of measuring heart rate, muscle tension or levels of stress and anxiety. There are even jackets and sweatshirts capable of regulating body temperature while doing physical activities.
Smart Sports Shoes
Among the wearables for athletes, one of the most useful products is smart shoes. Technology has made it possible to improve specific footwear for athletes, specifically, for runners.
Thanks to the incorporation of chips and sensors in the footwear, the shoes are capable of different functionalities. Among them, the most prominent are those of measuring speed, heart rate, cadence, the point of impact when running or the impact time of the footsteps.
In addition, this type of shoe also allows you to track the route taken thanks to the incorporation of a GPS device. But not only that, smart shoes for athletes also have other functionalities that give them a plus. Among them are adapting to the foot thanks to sensors or adapting the pads depending on whether you are walking or running.
The technology that is incorporated in these wearables is undoubtedly a great help for athletes who want to improve their performance and know their physical performance in depth.