Will Apple’s iWatch kill the personal trainer?

For years now, we’ve heard of Apple’s elusive “iWatch”. A few months ago pictures leaked of iOS 8's alleged Healthbook app, which has people believing the iWatch will make a 2014 appearance. The leaked picture shows that Apple is planning on tracking everything from activity to sleep to oxygen saturation. Now with rumors of Nike killing off its fuelband to help Apple with their fitness tracker, it is clear Apple plans to take the health and fitness market by storm. Here is how:

Dark Data

The iWatch is collecting a ton of data, including dark data. Sure some people wear heart rate monitors or pedometers while working out, but the iWatch collects more than that: hydration, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and so on. All this data is being sent to your iPhone for tracking. With this much data, developers will be able to make a variety of apps.

Apps

With personal training apps like FitStar finding much success in the app store, its hard to imagine other companies won’t get into the personal training app business. All this data will allow developers to make apps that create a fitness program personalized to the users needs as well as goals. While I personally prefer a person yelling “one more” or “faster” in my ear than Siri telling me to do a pushup, buying an app and a watch can be much cheaper than personal training.

Cost and Convenience

With the average cost of personal training at $50 an hour, a cheaper option almost seems necessary. Simply purchasing a watch and app one time versus monthly fees is way more attractive to the average consumer. Though cost efficiency isn’t the only benefit. Users would be able to have a personal trainer whenever they have their phone and watch… so always. People already struggle with finding time in their day to workout, let alone coordinating with a trainer for a time and a place. You could argue having a trainer motivates you to go to the gym and makes you regret skipping a day, though constant notifications from Siri saying “You have not worked out today” could have a similar effect.

Technology is forever advancing and making more and more jobs obsolete. While I think there will always be a need for “person”al trainers, I find the possibility of a large change in the field from the release of a single device pretty amazing. I am really interested in hearing others opinions on technologies impact on fitness and health, so let me know what you think of my article and I look forward to your responses!