Workout with Technology

GPS watched has been around for some time and people use it for various reasons, commonly to monitor one's physical or fitness progress/results for their workout, training and recreational activities. I have a Suunto Ambit2 watch which comes with a heart rate monitor strap and have been using it occasionally when I go hiking or doing physical activities. 

Interestingly, there are a few technologies at work that I know of when I use my Suunto Ambit2 watch during and post hiking activities. During a hike, I'm able to turn on my GPS function to record the trail I'm hiking through and connect the watch to my heart rate monitor. This is use to monitor real-time the altitude, heart rate, calories burn, etc. After a hike, I can connect my watch to my laptop and load all the recorded details onto a web-based application for it to analyze and summarized my activities.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

The technology was developed by the United States government for military purposes in the 1960s. It is a space-based navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere on earth regardless of the weather conditions as long as there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. There are currently 31 satellites in orbit and this technology is available for commercial and private users.

Wireless Transmission

For both indoor and outdoor workout, the watch can be paired with the heart rate monitor chest strap. After strapping the chest belt, all you need to do is to set the watch to detect the heart rate monitor. Once detected, it will show on the watch your current heart rate percentage (the resting and maximum heart rate had to be pre-set based on your body weight, age, gender) and you are able to monitor your heart rate, calories burn, etc. as you are going through your workout. The watch is water resistance, so you can use it while swimming in the pool or in open water. After you are done with your workout, it will summarize your performance as well as the minimum recovery period before the next workout.

Data Transfer to Web-based Application

The watch has a USB connector for charging the watch and transfer the Logbook of activities recorded in the watch to a web-based application called Movescount at www.movescount.com. You need to register as a member and all your recorded activities are uploaded into your personal account. The features include settings of your body matrix and the application is able to analyse and present the statistics of your physical performance.  Members can set their account to public, for other members to look at their statistics and even download other member's running or hiking routes into our own devices. 

This is a handy devices for those who are training for competition, or even if you just want to see the progress of your performance, with all the technologies above working in the background.