Tomas Chlebek Jay Blahnik is one of the main people behind the success of the Nike+ FuelBand, a well-known and respected trainer and fitness consultant. Since the summer of 2013, he has also been the director of fitness and health technology at Apple and at the introduction of the Apple Watch in video stated one of the main aspects of the device, namely its ability to monitor the user's sports activity and become a "personal trainer". In the magazine Outside about a physically active life, the first major interview with Blahnik since the introduction of Apple's first wearable device has now been published.
It elaborates the basic philosophy of the Apple Watch as a device to improve the physical condition of its owner. At the same time, its three pillars reflect the three circles (showing the length of standing, less and more physical load) in the overview of activities on the watch - less sitting, more movement and some exercise.
The first few questions were about whether, according to Blahnik, the Apple Watch really has the ability to positively influence user behavior and how it happens. It was in this spirit that the entire device and activity tracking application was designed - the three colored circles are not only clear, but also take advantage of the natural human aesthetic tendency to make things symmetrical. The only way to achieve this is to meet the daily activity goals set, even in cases where a simple conscience would not be a strong enough motivation.
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Visuals therefore play a significant role in the effectiveness of the Apple Watch, not only showing the number of calories burned, but also reflecting the way in which it was achieved. However, a significant part of the motivation also comes from other people - not in the sense of direct recommendation but rather of natural rivalry. In connection with this, Blahnik mentions the rankings of known and unknown people and the Equinox application, which, for example, reminds you of the need to reserve a machine at the gym, thereby creating an obligation that motivates a person to fulfill it.
While the video above presents the Apple Watch as a device aimed at people of varying physical activity, it seems that being reminded to stand for five minutes in an hour won't be very useful for athletes. Magazine Outisde however, it refers to studii periodicals Annals of Internal Medicine, according to which the negative effect of sitting too much is felt in everyone, regardless of how intensively they move when they are not sitting. However, most fitness bracelets completely ignore this aspect of physical activity.
If a person fulfills his goal already in the morning, he does not have to move for the rest of the day and his bracelet will not alert him to it. As is the case, at least in terms of intent, with all Apple products, the Apple Watch's strength lies not in providing a large amount of information, but in working effectively with what is available. Even for a person who spends several hours in the gym every day, it is important to move throughout the day. A lack of ongoing activity cannot be compensated for by a sudden heavy workload.
Blahnik quotes the elite athlete: "I never thought I needed an activity tracker because I get up in the morning and ride my bike for three hours or run ten miles. But I find that I sit a lot."
[do action=”quote”]The body is incredibly complex. You need to go beyond the machines - you need real people running and riding bikes.[/do]
Probably the two most common criticisms of the Apple Watch are uninnovative hardware and limited software. Indeed, the Apple Watch does not bring any sensors that are not available in competitors' devices. While walking, running and cycling can be reliably monitored with a watch, strength exercises at all. Blahnik says that probably won't change in the near future, but once sensors appear in dumbbells and clothing, the Apple Watch will be able to learn to work with their data.
In terms of software, Apple offers two apps, Activity and Workout, the first of which monitors and displays general activity throughout the day, while the second focuses on specific exercises. Although the possibilities of these applications are limited, they are supported by a large amount of research - Apple is said to have collected more physical activity data as a separate organization of registered volunteers than any university or laboratory in the world.
This is most reflected in the way the application of setting goals and adjusting measurements adapts to the profile of a particular person. The Activity application is supposed to be able to recognize the different physical condition of two people of the same weight and height based on the amount of activities and their nature, and more precisely calculate how many calories they really burn. The biggest software limitation of the Apple Watch at the moment is the inability of native apps to collect and work with data from third parties. But that will change in September with the arrival of Watch 2 and with it native applications and access to all sensors.
Bhalnik also sees this as a major next step for the Apple Watch. The Activity app will remain the center of the user's physical activity measurement, but it will not, for example, force a person focused on cycling to stop using the Strava app for better integration with the Apple ecosystem. At the same time, the native application will enable wider cooperation with other devices that focus on other things than just measuring burned calories and heart rate. One of Apple's other goals in this direction is to expand cooperation with third-party application developers and manufacturers of devices that track other types of physical activity.
The last question of the interview is what personally surprised Jay Blahnik the most when using the Apple Watch. "That the human body is incredibly complex. There is no sensor or product that will always measure everything accurately. You need to go beyond the machines - you need real people running and riding bikes. All that data shows how much we still don't know about fitness."
Somehow I still don't understand what a watch is for that can't do anything and has to be recharged?
Can someone explain this to me?
I am asking Mr. ŠOURK not to explain anything to me with his poor name and to let himself be renamed Mr. POŠTĚVÁČEK
… says the wretch who has to appear under a nickname and insult others…
But on topic: are you really sure you want to know what the watch is for or is it just a stupid question from one of the trolls?
I personally have had them for over two months (Sport Edition) and they have found their place in everyday use. And keep recharging? I charge them once every two days, just like the iPhone. Yes, it's not a week, a month, years, but it's also not less than a day. And I was personally pleasantly surprised by the durability. And that he can't do anything? And what else should they be able to do? Should they have another thousand "features" that will only reduce battery life and I will use them (if at all) once every 10 years? No thanks. Native apps in watchOS 2 will be nice, but I'm happy anyway :-P So, Mr. Troll, is it enough to answer like this?
Even though I'm an Apple user, I couldn't find the thing on the watch why I should have it. I don't mean that they will find their users (Tomáš Baránek, for example, nicely described why he uses them and that makes sense to me). However, I believe progress in this direction. On the other hand, I will have a hard time getting rid of my mechanical watches - it's not that they don't measure anything except time, it's more about what kind of character they have. And I'm afraid these "electronic" toys will never have that. For myself, I would find a use in the event that they could measure activity without the presence of a mobile phone (for me, for example, running), including the possibility of coaching, etc.
Your nicknames - first "Petr" and racist outbursts, then "she you" followed by "Petr Masturbátorovič" and now "Stiv unbutu" and with it constant and embarrassing insults of other users. That would probably be worth the response of the administrator! I would understand the criticism of Apple devices, but your constant provocations towards others are getting on my nerves. Now that the holidays are over and these kids are back in the first grade.
The Apple Watch was already outdated by the time it went on sale. Currently, one of the forms of HIIT is more and more recommended and not cardio. And for HIIT, there is no device that can measure it and calculate the calories burned from it.
Apple Watch can only measure blood pressure in the room, so it is absolutely useless for fitness. Any wristband for a few tens of euros is enough to measure steps and count calories.
When it finally starts counting calories during HIIT and can also measure blood sugar, I'll buy it.