Apple Watch, Fitbit, And Fitness Tech: The Next Great Thing?

A recent survey by Wristly was aimed at under sting the way consumers use the Apple Watch. They wanted to know what features you were using more and less than expected. Check out the far and away leader of “more than expected use” on the Apple watch.

70% of responding Apple Watch users are using Activity Rings AKA fitness tracking more than they expected. We lie to ourselves about our physical activity all the time. Having data points, although not the most accurate or reliable, gives us a clear cut view of how active we’ve been. I believe this data shows that the activity tracking trend can reach a mass scale.

Tracking your activity throughout the day is a feature that can be somewhat addicting. Separation anxiety from our smart phones is borderline an epidemic. This certainly isn’t on the same level, but people working to take care of themselves do like to be informed throughout the day. A bond / dependence builds on these things over time. And this could be a strength to Apple’s latest “new” product.

Also be sure another one of my “NEXT” series post: The intersection of playmation and virtual reality

I have a year-old Fitbit flex. It’s not the greatest, but you get what you pay for, right?. It takes too long to charge, it counts steps when you move your arms quickly, and doesn’t sync at least one day a week. BUT! I still want a new one. We’ll get to why shortly.

Just as athletic fashion has taken over in the past decade, these will see a push toward wide spread adoption in the coming years.  Why?  Not only is it a useful tool to have, it’s also a status symbol. It says ‘hey, I take care of myself.’ It’s also a form of self expression. Some devices are sleek and most are fashionable in their own way.

Also, an added kicker is the healthy lifestyle trend. More young people in the developed world want to take care of themselves. It’s a perfect storm.

The key is finding the big winner in the space. Maybe Fitbit (FIT) or Apple (AAPL) will win. Or perhaps Jawbone or Garmin (GRMN) or a new player eventually wins. Fitbit was smart to go public. Now it’ll be easier for them to quickly snap up any relevant tech. We’re still really early when you think about the big picture for this vertical. And to be fair, perhaps that game-changing technology is NOT here yet. Who knows when that tech (or upgrade) gets here and what form it takes. We’ve got to keep our eyes open!

Thanks for reading.

Read more from Aaron on his blog.

Twitter:  @ATMcharts

Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.