http://lifehacker.com/5257812/six-best-exercise-planning-and-tracking-tools

Six Best Exercise Planning and Tracking Tools
By Jason Fitzpatrick, 9:00 AM on Sun May 17 2009, 15,541 views

Technology and exercise make an excellent pair; you can now track, plan, and graph your workouts more easily than ever. We're here to take a look at six of the most popular tools for the job.

Photo by andronicusmax.

Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite exercise tracking or planning tool. You responded and we rounded up the top six—six on account of a three-way tie. The following contenders represent the most popular tools among Lifehacker readers for tracking, measuring, and quantifying their exercise endeavors. When the item in question is a physical item, such as the Nike+ running system, the operating system listed corresponds to the supported operating system for the accompanying tracking software.


Gyminee (Web Based, Basic Account: Free/Pro Account: $45 per year)
Gyminee is web-based fitness tool with an enormous amount of features. Not only can you track your fitness goals like pounds lost, changes in resting heart rate, and all other manner of common fitness measurements, but you can also participate in Gyminees' vast social network. Group-designed workouts and challenges give you fresh and interesting goals. You can even plan meals, check calorie content, and keep track of your successes and tough times in a training journal. The free account is quite robust and has more than enough features to get you started. Upgrading to the Pro account allows you to create and track custom metrics in addition to the defaults (say, for example, you wanted to track more minute details like changes in arm size). The Pro account also gives you access to advanced workouts and meal planning. Gyminee makes it easy to find a partner to hold you accountable, track your results, and find everything from weight lifting to diet advice.


RunKeeper (iPhone, Basic: Free/Pro:$9.99)
RunKeeper turns your iPhone into an exercise tracking tool. Once installed you can monitor your speed, how far you run, and track your route on a map. You can review your data on the iPhone itself or upload the data to the RunKeeper website for analysis. The pro version includes audio feedback to make the application easier to use hands free, announcing how far you've run and other relevant stats. Finally, if you're so inclined you can have RunKeeper update your favorite social tools like Twitter or Facebook with workout updates. For more, check out our guided tour of RunKeeper.


MapMyRun (Web Based, Basic Account: Free/Pro Account: $48 per year )
MapMyRun started out as a simple Google Maps mashup for runners and cyclists to set up routes, but it has since grown into a feature-packed site. On MapMyRun you can browse, create, and rank the routes you and others use to get in shape. MapMyRun integrates beautifully with popular exercise gear. You can upload data from your Garmin Forerunner, Nike+, or even turn your iPhone into a piece of exercise equipment with iMapMyRun+. Like another entry in this week's Hive Five, Gyminee, MapMyRun features a strong social element: You can share your goals with others and participate in community-based challenges. The robust social mapping tool also has an emphasis on community and group runs, so you'll find lots of information about local marathons, charity runs, and so on. MapMyRun has dozens of tools for runners and cyclists to track, analyze, and share their routes and routines.


Garmin Forerunner (Windows/Mac, $99-$369)
If you're willing to shell out the cash, the Garmin Forerunner is a formidable training partner. Even the least expensive Forerunner model is still packed with impressive features, most notably the ability to upload records from your training like heart rate, lap times, distance traveled, and so forth. The pricier models add in perks like GPS tracking, virtual training partners, and wireless workout sharing. All of the Garmin Forerunners have software for both Windows and Mac, designed to help you track, chart, and share your workouts. If you're serious about crunching the numbers, the Garmin Forerunner covers everything from calories burned to strides and everything in between.


Nike+ (Windows/Mac, $29)
Nike+ is a Nike product that combines a small sensor with a supported iPod. The sensor is attached to your one of your shoes and transmits data to your iPod. Nike+ shoes are designed with the sensor in mind and have a small cavity in the heel for it, but the Nike+ sensor can be used on any running shoes by purchasing an inexpensive 3rd party clip or by rolling your own Nike+ shoe mod. The iPod serves as a monitor for your device, offering feedback and information about your run (along with music to keep you motivated). When you sync your iPod with your computer after a run, it will upload your running data to the Nike+ web site. There you'll find tracking tools, discussion forums, and challenges you can participate in. One of the strongest selling points for Lifehacker readers who love Nike+ is its simplicity. The trifecta of Nike+ sensor, iPod, and web site provides a seamless system that requires no fussing or tinkering at all.

Nokia Sports Tracker (Nokia Smartphones, Free)
Sports Tracker is an exercise tracking tool released by Nokia for their smartphones. Using GPS technology and compatible with popular heart rate monitors, Sports Tracker keeps your workout info handy right there on your phone. Sports Tracker records distance, speed, and time, allowing you to upload your routes to share with others via the Sports Tracker web site. Perhaps its most novel feature: Sports Tracker's automatic association of pictures and video you take with your phone on your running route route creates a story board of sorts from your travels. The application and website are free, but you'll need a Nokia smartphone to enjoy them.

Garmin Forerunner 405

Garmin has finally made a GPS watch that doesn't make it look like you've got a clock radio strapped to your arm. The very wearable Forerunner 405 ($300) is a fitness watch that runners can use to track speed, distance, calories, heart rate and location. When you're back from your jog, the 405 will wirelessly send the data to your computer. There's even a Virtual Partner feature that lets you "compete" when running alone.

USB pedometer logs your steps on the cheap

http://www.everythingusb.com/usb_pedometer_13351.html

If you've somehow managed to avoid buying a gizmo with some sort of pedometer built in, the simply-titled USB Pedometer could be the device that finally gets you jazzed about walking. The target-styled unit can be rocked proudly (or not) on one's belt, displays steps taken to 999,999, keeps a log of up to three days of step data, and allows you to upload your information to your Windows-based PC in order to chart your progress. Best of all, this motivator will only set you back $16.99.

Software ajuda a treinar atletas profissionais

13/09/2007 - 09h11
http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Tecnologia/0,,MUL103567-6174,00.html

Projeto no Reino Unido quer aumentar performance de atletas com respostas rápidas.
Dados de câmeras e sensores corporais serão integrados e enviados ao treinador.

Um projeto realizado no Reino unido está desenvolvendo tecnologias de vídeos inovadores e sensores corporais desenhados para ajudar nos treinos de novos e veteranos atletas. O objetivo é combinar essas tecnologias em um sistema computacional único e integrado, aumentando substancialmente a quantidade e variedade de dados disponíveis durante as seções de treinamento.

Segundo seus idealizadores, o SESAME (Sensibilidade para Esportes e Exercícios Gerenciados, em inglês) tem o potencial de aumentar significantemente as perspectivas futuras de medalhas para o Reino Unido em esportes como corrida de velocidade, salto em distância e salto com vara, por exemplo.

“Muitos esportes dependem da técnica correta para otimizar a performance do atleta e reduzir os riscos de acidentes”, afirma o médico Robert Harle, da Universidade de Cambridge. “Desse modo, há um alto valor em desenvolver tecnologias que podem ajudar no processo de treinamento ao dar respostas quase instantâneas em relação à técnica do atleta”.

O sistema de análise e gravação de dados da novidade irá aumentar de maneira significativa a quantidade de informações úteis disponíveis para o técnico. Serão produzidas imagens simultâneas de múltiplas câmeras de vídeo localizadas em diferentes posições, capazes de rastrear de maneira autônoma o movimento de um atleta e transmitir imagens ao treinador quase no mesmo instante.



O sistema irá demandar uma inovação técnica que nenhum sistema vídeo atualmente disponível pode trabalhar, de maneira financeiramente viável, com essa quantidade e variedade de dados.



Além disso, o projeto está desenvolvendo sensores corporais com pequenos eletrônicos que exploram recentes avanços na tecnologia de transmissão de dados sem fio para coletar dados de diversos movimentos sutis do corpo do atleta. Esses dados serão enviados diretamente para o treinador e sincronizados com os vídeos. O objetivo do sistema é identificar as maneiras mais otimizadas de realizar o movimento, passando essa informação sincronizada para o treinador.

Imediatismo

Crucialmente, o novo sistema irá permitir que o treinador dê ao atleta respostas imediatas relacionadas ao seu desempenho e conselhos para melhorá-lo, sem interrupções no treino.

Alcançar todos os objetivos do projeto requer especialistas de campos multidisciplinares, da ciência da computação e engenharia à biomecânica e medicina. Um consórcio foi montado para a tarefa, incluindo a University College London, a Royal Veterinary College, a University of Wales Institute e Cambridge. A previsão é de que o sistema esteja disponível em três anos.

“Nossa meta é utilizar tecnologia para ajudar os treinadores, não substituí-los”, afirma Harle. “Um aspecto essencial da novidade é escutar os técnicos e entender suas necessidades. Eles podem garantir que a tecnologia desenvolvida tenha um impacto real nas conquistas dos atletas no futuro”.

Get Smarter with More Exercise

http://lifehacker.com/software/health/get-smarter-with-more-exercise-293404.php

We all know that exercise is good for us, and the New York Times reports that exercise can make your brain process information faster and more efficiently:

Scientists have been finding more evidence that the human brain is not only capable of renewing itself but that exercise speeds the process. "We've always known that our brains control our behavior," Gage says, "but not that our behavior could control and change the structure of our brains."


If this isn't a good enough reason to get on that damn treadmill tomorrow morning, I don't know what is. Personally, I know my brain definitely is more "alert" when I get regular exercise; I'm able to think better with less brain fog. How has your brain benefited from exercise? Let's hear in the comments.

DIY pervasive health monitor keeps tabs on your vitals

http://www.hackaday.com/2007/08/22/pervasive-health-monitor-got-granny/



If you think your heart rate-monitoring wristwatch is hot stuff, a homegrown creation from the Berkeley Institute of Design is apt to put that to shame. Dubbed the pervasive health monitoring system, this project involves a TI microcontroller, a Bluetooth interface, audio amplifier, and a trio of low power "instrumentation amplifiers," which creates an apparatus that can communicate wirelessly with your Windows Mobile-based handset (and PC, too). The device is rigged up to record ECG (heart rhythms), EMG (muscle tension), GSR (skin resistance), body temperature and movement information, and while we could certainly attempt to transcribe the creator, why not take a look at the informative video posted after the jump for all the data you could ever desire about this (admittedly fresh) invention.