Opinion: Supernatural VR, Helpful Gadgets, New Peloton Partnerships, No-Netflix by Netflix, Competitive Zwift
Athletech News was created with one goal, to apprise our readers with relevant content that will help inform their business decisions. We strive to aggregate the latest trends and happenings on all things fitness related. Below is what our team at Athletech flagged as this week’s most interesting reads in the world of fitness, tech and mental health.
A lot happened in the fitness industry this soon-to-be-over week as well. Below, we offer our take on Supernatural bringing VR (virtual reality) to fitness, how fitness gadgets are transforming the way we understand our bodies, Peloton’s next partnerships, why Netflix wants you to stop watching TV and Zwift keeping pace with the competition.
The Best Thing to do in VR is Workout
Fitness | The Verge | Apr. 13, 2021
Athletech’s Take:
Supernatural, a VR fitness app on the Oculus Quest, combines music, inspiring landscapes, and motivating fitness coaches to provide users with a unique and exhilarating way to workout at home. Chris Milk, founder and CEO of Within — which makes Supernatural, believes that fitness is the optimal use for VR. He also anticipates that the integration of fitness into VR will act as the tipping point for the average consumer to participate and engage in VR. Read this interview to understand why.
How Fitbit, Whoop and Other Gadgets Are Measuring Brain Activity, Glucose and Sleep
Fitness | Wall Street Journal | Apr. 12, 2021
Athletech’s Take:
Until recently health-minded people were excited by the novelty of tracking their steps and heart rate. Now there is so much more. They can perform their own urine and blood tests, conduct body-fat scans and monitor their emotions. Soon they may be able to monitor their rate of aging and take steps to slow it. Rings, watches, patches and apps that monitor biomarkers have taken off, accelerated by the pandemic that alerted everyone to their unknown “underlying conditions.” Dr. Snyder at Stanford believes that using these gadgets to self-track is critical to the future of healthcare. “If people really care about their own health, they are going to have to take charge.”
Peloton Partners with 9 New Athletes Including Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix
Tech | People | Apr. 14, 2021
Athletech’s Take:
Peloton and partnerships seem to be synonymous these days. In their latest rendition, Peloton unveiled new collaborations with nine athletes from across the sports world. The group includes two of the biggest names from track and field — former Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, and six-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix. Peloton will feature training recommendations and playlists made up from these athletes’ favorite music tracks. For those of us who dream of Olympic gold, this might fall slightly short but it definitely will give us some sense of glory.
Netflix Show to Teach Subscribers How to Fall Asleep
Tech | The Hollywood Reporter | Apr. 14, 2021
Athletech’s Take:
With a bit of irony, Netflix’s new docuseries will attempt to teach its subscribers how not to watch Netflix. Netflix and Headspace have teamed up to launch “Headspace Guide to Sleep.” The animated series has seven episodes revealing “the science behind a healthy night’s sleep and provides tips on how to get the best sleep you’ve ever had. Each 15-minute episode explores a different aspect of our relationship with sleep such as insomnia, stress, our phones and even sleeping pills, followed by a guided wind-down designed to help you on your journey to a better sleep.” So “more” tv is actually ok.
Zwift Riding High Thanks to Demand
Tech | Los Angeles Business Journal | Apr. 12, 2021
Athletech’s Take:
Zwift, which can connect to any stationary bike equipped with a speed sensor, is a multiplayer training program set in virtual outdoor environments. The app measures the rider’s speed, heart rate and cadence and has gained in popularity in the fitness community. With Zwift, users can choose to ride alone or in groups helping to bring the cycling community together from the comfort of one’s home. Zwift’s growth is speeding up. In September of 2020, Zwift raised $450M through a series C funding round bringing its total investments since launch to $620M. Zwift has found its sweet spot amidst a plethora of competitors. Where “Peloton has taken the gym and brought it indoors, we’ve effectively taken the great outdoors and brought it indoors.” says Mark Cote, senior director of content programming at Zwift.