It doesn't take a doctor to know that many residents of the Emirates should slip an extra workout or two into their schedule each week, although making fitness fun is always the challenge.
Q&A: Technology is creeping into all kinds of workouts, including those conducted in water.
Last Updated: May 31, 2011
What kinds of gadgets can be used underwater? There are a number of waterproof MP3 players that come with waterproof headphones, such as the Merlin Swim MP3. It's sold for US$89 (Dh327) in the UAE and stores more than 1,000 songs.
Are there other brands available? Yes, although they may have to be purchased through online retailers in the US or UK. H20 Friendly produces a model that can play FM radio underwater. The Finis SwiMP3 player is unique in that it uses bone-conduction technology to transmit sound to the ear through water.
How many consumers are using technology while working out? A survey in the US by the Consumer Electronics Association found nearly half of consumers have used fitness technology, while 37 per cent anticipate purchasing a fitness gadget by August.
Fortunately, more consumer electronics manufacturers are rolling out health-related gadgets, including souped-up scales that provide much more than a person's weight and can be a good starting point before beginning a new workout regimen. The Binatone BS-8045 bathroom scale, which is priced at Dh109 (US$29.67) on souq.com, includes a fat analyser feature and enough digital memory to store data for a dozen individuals.
For $159, the Withings Wifi Bodyscale crunches an individual's fat mass and body mass index. It even posts the data wirelessly to a smartphone app or via Twitter and Facebook updates, for those brave enough to share such information publicly.
Aspiring runners might be encouraged to know they can boost endurance by 15 per cent, and actually feel more positive when hitting the treadmill at high intensity, if they plug into a digital music player that blasts motivational rock or pop songs. At least that's what past research from the School of Sport and Education from Brunel University in the UK has found.
Apple, which sells the tiny clip-and-go iPod shuffle, still dominates the digital music space. But there are some other options worth considering. The Philips Activa, for one, is an MP3 player that analyses a music library and later matches a person's songs to their aerobic intensity. Last autumn, the official outfitter for the 2011 Dubai Marathon, adidas, started offering a Dh495 tracking tool for runners called the miCoach.
Top 5: Best fitness tech for 2010
1 Nike+ Sportband running sensor
1 Gruve Personal Activity Monitor
1 Wii Fit interactive videogam
1 Samsung MyFit music player plus fat, stress and motion sensor
1 Tweet What You Eat digital food diary
Source: Huffington Post
The device features verbal coaching during a run, plus an analysis following a workout. It has also been used by the UAE's football club, Al Jazira, for the individual training plans of players.
The Life: "If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all." Joey Adams, the actor and comedian.