Technology - A New Wave Of Interesting Applications & Devices

If you don't have the time to read just check out the video below on Leap Motion (In less than a week, the video introducing Leap has received a staggering 3.6 million + views on YouTube.) Why ? I've written for some time on the subject of the merging of the physical and digital worlds and how technologies are creating a new realm of consumer possibilities and business models. The health club and fitness and wellness industries will be impacted by these technologies for sure. Leap Motion is another example of the possibilities for technology to revolutionize fitness.

While it might seem like a fad, this soon to be released $70 device, Leap Motion, connects via USB and is 200 times more sensitive than Microsoft's Kinect. The business-card sized camera holder, can discern all 10 of your fingers individually. This detailed scanning lets you perform actions like pinch-to-zoom, or enables zeroing in on fine details in a drawing app. With some advancement the device could even be used to assess proper form for fitness professionals or clients, among many other applications.

What do you think about the Leap Motion ? Please share your thoughts with me, Bryan O'Rourke and thanks for reading the post.

About the author:

Bryan O’Rourke is a health club industry expert, technologist, financier, and shareholder and executive in several fitness companies. He consults with global brands, serves as a member of the GGFA Think Tank is Chair of the Medical Fitness Association’s Education Committee, is President of the Fitness Industry Technology Council and a partner in Fitmarc, Integerus, Fitsomo and the Flywheel Group. To learn more contact Bryan here today .

The End Or A New Beginning For The Health Club Industry ? Whether Its Good Or Bad All Depends On How You Look At It

"Change" the term is now cliche. I've touched on the topic of radical change in the fitness and health club industry since 2008, over 3 years actually. My recent post about "Digital Darwinism" and its implications to the health club and fitness business, calls for people to take notice as to what is really going on. Brian Solis , whom I credit with defining the term "Digital Darwinism", defines it as "the evolution of consumer behavior when society and technology evolve faster than our ability to adapt."

Imagine this: At the current rate, over 70% of all Fortune 1000 companies in existence in 2003 will be gone by 2013. This according to Forbes Magazine. Do you think health club or fitness businesses will experience less turnover ? I don't.

So what does Digital Darwinism really mean ? Its survival of the fittest. If you follow technology closely, you'll admit that the degree of advancing technological change is unprecedented and nearly unimaginable. As this technology creeps into our lives and consumers begin to use it, fundamental behaviors start to change and that's when disruption takes hold. I won't even touch upon changes being brought on by globalism or shifting demographics. My hypothesis is that how people manage their health, and how they engage in fitness is shifting at a rate that is largely going unnoticed. Who will survive when many organizations wake up to late to react to this change ? Think I'm being overly dramatic ? I don't. Watch the video from Brian Solis below. How consumers ultimately manage their health and fitness is going through a seminal change just as it has in other industries. Are you prepared for the implications ? The end is rapidly approaching for many in the fitness and health club business but a new beginning is also emerging for others especially those that can adapt. Whether its good or bad depends on how you look at it. Tell me Bryan O'Rourke, do you think the health club and fitness industries are going through disruptive change and how ?

About the author Bryan O’Rourke:

Bryan O’Rourke is a health club industry expert, technologist, financier, shareholder and executive in several fitness and health club business service companies. He is also a partner in The Health Club For Women and Chairman of the Medical Fitness Association’s Education Committee. To learn more contact Bryan here today .