As the fitness industry continues to evolve, mobile game development is playing a crucial role in transforming the way we think about exercise. Augmented Reality (AR) technology is poised to revolutionize the fitness landscape, offering a more engaging and immersive experience for users.
The Gamification of Fitness
The pandemic has had a profound impact on the fitness industry, with many gyms forced to close their doors. However, this crisis has also accelerated the growth of home fitness equipment sales, which doubled to $2.3 billion in 2020. As vaccinations roll out and lockdowns lift, it's clear that people will continue to prioritize their health and wellness. AR technology is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, offering a new way for users to engage with fitness content.
Companies like PhotonLens are at the forefront of this innovation, developing AR headsets designed specifically for fitness applications such as boxing, ping pong, and yoga. These apps offer a range of benefits, including interaction with celebrity trainers, safe immersion in active gaming environments, and gamification of your fitness routine.
Neuroscience Research
Studies have shown that people are more likely to make habits of activities they enjoy, and repetitive tasks can quickly become boring. In fact, 44% of inactive individuals don't exercise because it's not fun. The stakes for promoting fitness have never been higher: during the pandemic, physical activity decreased by 32%, and obesity rates among young people increased.
Previous FitTech has either simulated activity or provided information about what you're doing. While these devices make exercise easier and more convenient, they don't do much to make the experience more enjoyable. AR technology has the power to change this by gamifying your workout, and anecdotal evidence suggests that it's already having a significant impact.
The Power of XR
XR games are burning calories at an incredible rate – 15% of VR games qualify as medium to intense exercise. Fitness and sports games make up five of the top-selling games on the Oculus Quest store. AR builds on the core strengths of VR fitness, offering a range of practical advantages over traditional FitTech.
The Technological Gateways
For AR technology to truly transform the fitness industry, three things must happen: the tech must work, consumers must buy in, and companies must deliver. I'd argue that the tech is already there – advances in the newest generation of AR hardware have opened the door to a range of possibilities.
New AR headsets are lightweight enough to support fitness and active gaming, with controllers capable of tracking 6 degrees of freedom (6 DoF). This allows for precise movement tracking, which is essential for many fitness applications. Computing power also matters – AR hardware needs to use next-generation platforms built for XR uses.
Connection speeds will be critical in the long term, as they'll support advances in SLAM technologies and better AR software. With 5G speeds on the horizon, it's clear that AR technology is poised to revolutionize the fitness industry.