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The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 41 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover three of Apple's health related patents that all relate to various functions and systems of the Apple Watch and iPhone to measure heart health. In late September Patently Apple posted a report titled "On World Heart Day, Apple Executives talk about Apple Watch and Health Studies."

Earlier this year, Apples CEO Tim Cook commented on the importance of health to the company. In a statement that has been widely quoted, he said, "I believe, if you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, 'What was Apple's greatest contribution to mankind?', it will be about health."

Over the last few years Apple has focused on technologies to measure the heart's activity and today we take a look at three of Apple's newly granted patents that could make a difference in a user's health.

IPhone Scans Finger to Compute Health Data

The US Patent & Trademark Office published granted patent 10,524,671 for Apple that shows how they want to take the iPhone to the next level for health as it relates to allowing users to measure their vitals.

To accomplish this goal, Apple's granted patent covers systems, apparatuses, and methods related to an iPhone (iPad, Apple Watch etc) that computes health data. The device may include a camera, an ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor. The electronic device may use one or more of the camera and the proximity sensor to emit light into a body part of a user (such as a finger, and ear, and so on) touching a surface of the electronic device.

By way of illustration, electrical measurements may be taken via the electrical contacts 107a and 107b (which may respectively be configured as positive and negative terminals) that may be used to detect electrical activity of the user's body. Such electrical measurements may be used (in some cases along with analysis of the received light) to measure heart function, compute an electrocardiogram, compute a galvanic skin response that may be indicative of emotional state and/or other physiological condition, and/or compute other health data such as body fat, or blood pressure.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 below illustrates obtaining health data on an iPhone; FIG. 3 illustrates the view of FIG. 2 while the example system is providing guidance to obtain health data; FIG. 4 illustrates the view of FIG. 2 while the example system is providing the obtained health data; FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for using an electronic device to obtain health data. FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example method for guiding use of an electronic device to obtain health data.

You could check out Patently Apple's original patent application on this invention posted in December 2017 here for more details.

Detecting Conditions using Heart Rate Sensors

Apple's newly granted patent 10,524,735 relates to devices (primarily Apple Watch and iPhone) and methods for identifying instances of events during which one or more predetermined characteristics or patterns occur in a physiological signal.

Specifically, it may be desirable to identify instances of certain irregularities in a physiological signal. For example, when a physiological signal, such as a PPG signal or an electrocardiograhy (ECG) signal, measures one or more aspects of a cardiac cycle over time, it may be desirable to look for one or more predetermined characteristics of a waveform of a heartbeat and/or a pattern of heartbeats, which may be representative of corresponding characteristics present in the cardiac cycle.

A physiological signal (e.g., heart rate signal) can be indicative of one or more physiological parameters (e.g., heart rate, heart rate variability, etc.) of a user. In practice, however, sensors configured to monitor these physiological signals may be susceptible to motion or other noise sources depending on the device and the mode of operation, which may reduce the accuracy with which the measured signal represents a user's actual cardiac cycle.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 below illustrates a bottom view of an exemplary electronic device that includes a light detector and light sources for determining a physiological signal; FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary process for detecting an instance of an event using qualifying event occurrences; FIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary interface for providing feedback to a user.

Accurate Calorimetry for Intermittent Exercises

Apple's newly granted patent 10,524,670 covers the Apple Watch (and iPhone) as a fitness tracking device and techniques for accurately tracking an individual's energy expenditure over time and over a variety of activities while wearing the fitness tracking device. In some embodiments, the fitness tracking device may be a wearable device. The wearable device may be worn on a wrist, such as a watch, and it may include one or more microprocessors, a display, and a variety of sensors, including a heart rate sensor and one or more motion sensors.

Further the Apple Watch may provide accurate, individualized calorimetry throughout a person's day, and across a variety of activities. Some embodiments may calibrate a fitness tracking device for an individual without necessarily relying on measuring {dot over (V)}O.sub.2, heart rate testing, or self-reporting about physical activity.

Additionally, some embodiments may model calorie burn and perform calorimetry processes for a variety of activities accurately, such as walking, running, cycling, or weight lifting. Also, some embodiments may use sensor data to estimate load (e.g., resistance, incline, grade, etc.) for exercise equipment such as elliptical trainers, step machines, treadmills, etc., and some embodiments may use sensor data to determine or predict a type of terrain (e.g., pavement, gravel, etc.), to model energy expenditure more accurately by taking these estimations into account.

Furthermore, some embodiments may model calorie burn and perform calorimetry processes for sedentary and low-intensity activity (e.g., when not in an active exercise session), including sitting or standing.

In some embodiments, the heart rate sensor may include a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor for sensing heart rate. The PPG sensor can illuminate the user's skin using a light, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), and can measure changes in light absorption as blood is pumped through the subcutaneous tissue under the PPG sensor. The fitness tracking device can measure an individual's current heart rate from the PPG. The heart rate sensor may also be configured to determine a confidence level indicating a relative likelihood of an accuracy of a given heart rate measurement.

Apple patent FIG. 1 illustrates an Apple Watch referred to as a fitness tracking device; FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a fitness tracking device; and FIG. 21 shows a calorimetry technique using local models.

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Apple Wins Three Patents covering the iPhone and Fitness Tracking Apple Watch focused on Monitoring the Heart - Patently Apple

ESSEX, Vt. (WCAX) Often New Years resolutions have something to do with exercise and healthy living, but the challenge is sustaining that motivation to be healthy.

Going to the gym is a great way to get in shape or stay in shape during the winter months. The Edge in Essex says they usually see a spike in membership during month of January.

"Yeah, I think as far as the health club goes, this is one of our most exciting times of year because we see lots of new faces," said the club's Nicole Williams.

New faces like Cagney Hamblett of Grand Isle, who says she signed up for a year.

"I would say there's probably 100 new members that came in just in the last two to three weeks," said the club's Michael Marquis.

But Marquis says membership also dips in the months of February and March. "It does tend to tail off by February in a lot of different ways in the club. It's a hard number to put a finger on. I would say roughly half of the people that come in," he said.

Nutrition psychologists say there are two reasons why -- people don't see results as soon as they like and they don't work out long enough for it to become a habit. "I don't know the exact number but it's, it's more than just a week or two," said Sue Kamp with the Vermont Department of Health.

Michael Desanto formed his exercise habit decades ago. He's been a member at The Edge for over 20 years. "I started exercising semi-religiously when I was 29, which would be forty-one years ago," said the Milton resident. He says that the gym gets crowded this time of year but it doesn't last. "Starting now, in early January, there is a huge surge of interest in getting to the gym and along about March it starts to peter out a little bit."

Williams says they are trying to keep attendance up. "Our goal is to support them to make sure that they're finding exercises, or the accountability and support that they need to stay here to keep going," she said.

And experts say even if you lose motivation in February, you can work to get it back. "If you lose a day, if a day is too complicated and you just can't get to the gym that day, get back on the trail again and try really hard to build the habit," Kamp said.

They recommend working out with friends and siblings to stay motivated. It's advice Cagney Hamblett is taking to heart. "My brother will be going with me most of the time so it'll be easy to have a little bit of motivation," she said.

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Staying on track with fitness resolutions in 2020 - WCAX

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Start your week off with a free yoga flow at the Potters House. Class begins at 6:30 PM.1658 Columbia Rd. NW

The new CorePower location in Adams Morgan will celebrate its grand opening with a line-up of free classes. Swing by today for a free yoga sculpt class at 6 PM and stick around for post-class treats by Jrink and Vegetable and Butcher.1773 Columbia Rd. NW

As part of its New Year campaign, the Yards location of Vida Fitness will host a free yoga for athletes class at 6:15 PM. Sign up for the class, and you could win a free months membership to Vida.1212 4th St. SE, #170

SweatBox will host a Sweat n Sip this morning: Sign up for a free class and then stick around after for food, hard seltzer from DC Brau, and a raffle. The class starts at 1 PM.1612 U St. NW

You can also take off on a three- to five-mile scavenger hunt run hosted by Summit to Soul, the Rock n Roll Half-Marathon group, and the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital team. Keep your list of things to find close bythe more you check off, the more raffle tickets youll get. Meet at Summit to Soul at 9 AM.727 8th St. SE

Hit another free Vida class at the U Street location today. If youre down to cycle, sign up for the Zone Ride session kicking off at 11:30 AM.1612 U St. NW

Join the conversation!

Associate Editor

Mimi Montgomery joined Washingtonian in 2018. She previously was the editorial assistant at Walter Magazine in Raleigh, North Carolina, and her work has appeared in Outside Magazine, Washington City Paper, DCist, and PoPVille. Originally from North Carolina, she now lives in Adams Morgan.

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Here Are Some of the Best Free Fitness Classes Around DC This Week: January 6-12 - Washingtonian

I confess I have a bad habit: one of the first things I do in the morning is to wake my brain with my phones blue light by checking my emails. This morning, one of them read: What excuse is standing in your way? It was from Runkeeper, the ASICS running app, for which I signed up a while ago. What woke me up was not just the light, but the anger I felt at the message.

I used to be a volleyball player. Ive never been one for long-distance running, but I have an enviable sprint that once shocked a gym enthusiast friend when we were running to catch a bus together and I was ahead by a considerable distance, saving the day. About four years after my arthritis diagnosis, I have decided to train for a 5K as a way to challenge myself and raise money for a good cause. Thats why the app ended up on my phone.

Related: When I Question Whether Being Sick Has Made Me 'Lose Myself'

I never expected it to be easy or pain-free, or to run it fast instead of more like a relaxed jog or speed walking (easier on my knees, after all), but I know I am one of the lucky ones when it comes to managing the disease. I feel fortunate not to need to be on multiple drugs to be able to do the basic things most people take for granted.

My training for the 5K was interrupted, though, by two consecutive years with severe chronic bronchitis. If I were to outrun my excuse (the slogan on the image that appears upon opening the email), I could face severe, even fatal consequences. While exercising is recommended as a way to improve your breathing after the symptomatic phase has passed, vigorous aerobic exercise such as running appears discouraged in every article that comes up from a search for running with bronchitis on a famous search engine.

Related: In 2020, Please Include Disabled and Chronically Ill People in Your Activism

One might dismiss my concerns with the language used by saying I was not the intended target market. Clearly, as the email goes on, theyre thinking of people who say they are too busy or have no running buddies. Thats fair enough, but its still an ableist comment to open by talking about excuses and saying Theres always a reason not to run. But with a 50 percent off our a Runkeeper Go subscription, youll have more tools to rise above your excuses. Whats stopping you?

You see, I very much consider myself their target market. I still want to tick off the goal of running a 5K off my list, and I would have considered the offer if it hadnt been put in such shaming terms. They could have said it was a New Years offer for people who havent used the app for a while, or something about a present to ourselves after a season of gift-giving to others. They could have talked about kickstarting 2020, or go along the lines of the corny new year, new me messages. Even an offer to take my running to the next level would have felt less like rubbing salt on a wound.

Related: 7 Available Remote Jobs You Can Apply for This January

The fitness industry is not well-known for its inclusivity, but it should be. While some people truly cannot exercise because of their health, everyone else can benefit from some movement commensurate to what they can safely do. Research into fat-shaming has shown us inspirational messages that do not shame people are more effective at achieving the goal of motivating them to act. The same principle translates to fitness. Not only are shaming messages like this email ableist, but theyre also ineffective at supporting everyone regardless of their ability. Instead of accusing people of making excuses not to run, ASICS could have chosen to uplift the demographic that is not already committed to their product.

British gym chain PureGym has been very successful as sending out positive messages. All their emails trying to make people re-join the gym use neutral messages about restarting a fitness journey, and theyre all about whats on offer rather than anything about your choices. They showcase a diverse range of members testimonials, and share articles about how they can help you, whatever your ability. The pressure to sign up is all in the time-sensitive nature of the offer, and not in making you feel guilty.

It really isnt hard to craft a marketing message that isnt ableist but instead uplifting and motivational for all. Badly done, Runkeeper, badly done.

When I'm Accused of Faking My Disability as an Ambulatory Wheelchair User

What It's Really Like Relying on Medication to Cope With Chronic Illness

When a Teacher Questioned My Daughter's Health Issues

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Why This Fitness Ad Is Offensive to People With (and Without) Disabilities - Yahoo Lifestyle

By: Mayweather Boxing & Fitness | 0Shares 33Reads

January 07, 2020 // Franchising.com // St. Petersburg, FL - Mayweather Boxing + Fitness, a group fitness and boxing experience created by legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather, announced today that the St. Petersburg, Florida location will open on January 11, 2020 at 447 99th Ave N. Franchisee, Dan Page, will open the studio, which will be closely followed by his second location in Largo, Florida in April 2020.

Our St. Petersburg location marks our second studio to open in Florida within the last four months, said James Williams, CEO of Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. The Mayweather Boxing + Fitness footprint has been built out at an increasingly rapid rate, and the financial performance of our open franchisees has been nothing short of spectacular. I am confident that Dans exceptional leadership experience, coupled with our strong franchisee support program, will result in yet another highly successful franchise operation and an exciting fitness experience for St. Petersburg residents.

With 25 years of multifaceted military and corporate leadership background, Page has led several successful sales operations teams and has deep experience in marketing and project and organizational management. He also served in the Army as a Combat Engineer for over nine years, holding various leadership positions both domestically and overseas.

I am eager to apply my passion for fitness to motivate people to achieve their goals in an incredibly high energy, fun environment, said Page. After spending many years traveling, I look forward to putting roots down in Florida and dedicating my future to this brand, alongside the talented Mayweather team.

The St. Petersburg location has already signed 250 members and is on track to have over 300 members by the time it opens. The Florida studio will make Page a first-time franchise owner.

Mayweather Boxing + Fitness signs multiple new franchise locations every week, and has become the fastest growing new fitness franchise brand ever in its first year of rolling out its franchise program. The classes are exciting for all levels and have become one of the most effective calorie-burning workouts in the country. To learn more about Mayweather Boxing + Fitness, visit them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Mayweather Boxing + Fitness is a best-in-class group fitness experience that combines immersive training with revolutionary technology. Having spent 21 years at the top of the sport of boxing and developing his proprietary and previously unshared workout programs and routines, Floyd Mayweather has partnered with an industry-leading team to deliver the gold standard in franchising.

Jamie YaleBlaze PRO: 310 395 5050E: jyale@blazepr.com

SOURCE Mayweather Boxing + Fitness

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Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Announces the Opening of St. Petersburg, Florida Location - Franchising.com

Before he hits the gym, Austin Mahone has some serious sartorial decisions. Like, which of his hundred pair of sneakers he wants to pair with high socks and basketball shorts. He could go with his Air Mags, those $50,000 plus, self-tying sneakers Marty McFly sported in Back to the Future Part II, but he doesnt want to scuff them. Same goes for his first edition Louis Vuitton all red Yeezys. (Mahones favorite piece of clothing, which is not a shoe: a robe gifted to him by Stefano Gabbana in Milan after a fashion show, which is just about as chic a sentence you can utter.) This time, he goes with his Air Jordan Futures.

The San Antonio native first blew up online in 2010, when he was fourteen. Mahone had started posting pop cover songs on his YouTube channel. Two years later, he released his own single and signed with the same record label as Taylor Swift. Then he toured with Swift. And now, at 23, Mahone is living that pop star/fashion ambassador life, which, in his case, apparently means splitting a Miami apartment with several other guys who cook each other eggs in the morning and drink chardonnay before bed. The high life.

We caught up with Mahone in Miami. His is the kind of beach view Miami apartment you walk around in wearing a tank top and holding a basketballwhich Mahone does, the entire time, as he shows us his kitchen, gym, and recording studio, where he's currently at work on his first full album.

Mahone says his dietary staples include Lean Body protein shake, eggs, steak, chicken, rice, protein bars, and fruits and ketchup. Because hes a San Antonio boy, Mahone says, ketchup goes on everything: eggs, tamales, even his Thanksgiving turkey.

The only diet hes done, he says, is adulatingswitching from being a boy and eating Fruit Roll-Ups and candy all the time to being a grown-up. When youre young, you just burn that off super quick. But once I got older I was like: now Im starting to see the effects of eating good and how it helps you, especially energy. Because when youre pushing 23, you really have to re-evaluate life like that.

The pop star said his bodyguard inspired him to drop the Fruit Roll-Ups. Once I hit eighteen, he was like, alright, bro, you gotta start tightening up; youre a man now.

Now, aside from a sugar conscious diet, Mahone says he picks shoes and goes to the gym 4-5 times a week, mixing weights and cardioincluding basketball (Im always just trying to ball with my bros).

Mahone says exercise gets his juices flowing, which helps both in the studio songwriting and with his energy on stage.

Of course, there are also aesthetic perks. And when one wakes up to look at a Miami Beach oceanfront every morning? Well, its important to pull off a tank topbasketball in hand or not.

Read more here:
Austin Mahone's Diet and Fitness Routine - menshealth.com

One in three Americans would give up sex for a year to instantly reach their fitness goals, according to new research.

Thats not all theyd be willing to do a survey of 2,000 Americans found a quarter of respondents are so desperate to reach their fitness goals that they would even be willing to spend a week in jail to achieve them in the blink of an eye.

The study examined respondents attitudes on fitness, well-being and what motivates them, revealing that 68 percent feel so overwhelmed by maintaining a fitness routine that they would rather avoid starting one altogether.

Six in 10 also reported they just dont know enough about health and fitness to start their own routine.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of AI fitness and lifestyle coaching app Freeletics, the survey also found that 67 percent dont know which healthy habits they should create and maintain in their lives.

To make things easier three in four respondents said a personal trainer would help them reach their fitness goals more efficiently.

Sixty-nine percent of those polled say the only thing that would get them in shape is the help of a personal trainer, but the price tag seems to be dissuading.

Seventy-six percent of those surveyed said they wished getting a personal trainer was more affordable.

It turns out social media is actually playing a large role in motivating Americans to exercise; just over three-quarters of respondents reported following fitness influencers to keep them going.

Another 85 percent of respondents said they motivate themselves by comparing their progress through photos and measurements and even selfies.

Despite these motivators, respondents admitted to some common reasons to justify not exercising and maintaining healthy habits.

Topping the list of excuses was the classic I dont have enough time (35 percent).

Twenty-six percent of respondents also reported that they worry they may be past the point of no return saying theyre just too unfit already.

Its important to find an exercise routine that works for you and your schedule, but its equally as important to train your mind too. If you reduce stress and sleep better, youll also perform better.

Complementary training of both body and mind positively impacts all-round performance and how quickly and effectively you reach your goals, explained Dr. Peter Just, Team Lead Coach Experience at Freeletics.

The stronger your skills and mindset, the stronger and more successful you can become both physically and mentally.

Perhaps connected with the 35 percent of respondents who dont have enough time, a quarter of those surveyed also said theyre too stressed to exercise and maintain healthy habits.

This checks out too, as respondents reporting feel stressed an average of three days a week. Eleven percent of respondents even said they felt stressed five to six days a week.

Americans are taking action to combat this, however, with respondents reporting they meditate an average of 4.6 hours a week and 65 percent reported practicing mindfulness and meditation is a top priority for them.

And when it comes to mindfulness practices, over half of those surveyed said they look to this to manage stress.

However, one of the top barriers to practicing mindfulness was a busy and distracted mind (47 percent).

Combining body and mind training has always been a part of the Freeletics vision to help people become the greatest version of themselves, said Freeletics CEO Daniel Sobhani.

Our Mindset Coaching will teach people the fundamentals and help them build a lifelong foundation for health and personal development.

By combining this with our adaptive, personalized workout plans, people will be more likely than ever to truly succeed on their health and fitness journey. We believe training your body and mind is one of the greatest investments you can make, so now we are making it as easy as possible for anyone.

Link:
The crazy things Americans would do to reach their fitness goals - New York Post

ITRI Photo

From left: Director of Xplova Jia-Yan Chen, ITRI President Edwin Liu, ITRI Senior Vice President Jia-Ruey Duann, and Everest Textile VP Eric Wu.

Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Xplova, and Everest Textile signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) today (Jan. 7) at the CES 2020 in Las Vegas to announce their cooperation on the development of a digital fitness platform. The cooperation will see the three parties team up to develop innovative applications in smart sports and digital health around ITRIs iStimUweaR, a CES 2020 Innovation Awards Honoree. The aim is to promote such applications in the smart sports sector and help firms to gain a competitive edge in the global markets.

The agreement, witnessed by ITRI President Edwin Liu, was signed by ITRI Senior Vice President Jia-Ruey Duann, Director of Xplova Jia-Yan Chen, and Everest Textile VP Eric Wu. Under the MoU, each party is able to play to their strengths. ITRI, for instance, has a smart wearable system that can be integrated into fabrics for exercise performance evaluation and healthcare improvement. Everest Textile, a major supplier to the worlds greatest sports brands including Nike, Decathlon, Lululemon, and The North Face, will produce innovative, high value-added textile products such as smart garments and accessories for cyclists. Xplova, a subsidiary of Acer Inc. that specializes in smart cycling computer, can combine these products with its smart devices and technology platform to collect data and provide cyclists feedback.

I am glad ITRI can work together with our brilliant industry partners to develop a digital fitness platform and deliver the values of technologies to our society. This strategic cooperation forges a seamless supply chain. It joins the efforts of a technology innovator, a textile manufacturer, and a smart sport training system architect. The MoU enables the three parties to tap into the digital electronics market, promote sports technologies, and seize new business opportunities, said ITRI President Edwin Liu. It also reflects ITRIs commitment to maximizing the impact of its R&D results and helping industries transform and upgrade, he added.

With the recent surge of sports technology worldwide, Xplova is moving into the field of smart training that offers a platform for users at home to experience cycling challenges with other online users or simply work out alone. It is our honor to sign the MoU to develop a digital fitness platform with ITRI and Everest Textile. Through this cross-sector cooperation, we hope to provide a perfect solution for consumers from outdoors to indoors and across amateurs to professionals, commented Director of Xplova Jia-Yan Chen.

Everest is an R&D oriented and vertically integrated textile company, manufacturing products from yarns to garments. We have an extensive global network, especially our new manufacturing factory here in United State, Forest city of North Carolina, said Everest Textile VP Eric Wu. He is happy with the initial result of the smart clothing products made with ITRIs iStimUweaR, and appreciates the support from and teamwork with ITRI and Xplova. ITRI and Xplova are the most impressive partners that we have worked with. We look forward to a successful partnership and a promising future!

ITRIs iStimUweaR is a health-assisting system integrating TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) into fabrics to intelligently evaluate body status and exercise performance and provide optimized stimulation for pain relief, self-massage, and personal healthcare evaluation and improvement. iStimUweaR garments and pads will be on display at Booth 25650,LVCC, South Hall 2 during Jan. 7-10, 2020. The Institute will also showcase its latest innovation in digital health and AI & robotics.

A video of iStimUweaR is available here: https://youtu.be/N6W_hOoYnS4

Other photos and videos are availablehere.

About ITRIThe Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is one of the worlds leading technology R&D institutions aiming to innovate a better future for society. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan's industries from labor-intensive into innovation-driven. It focuses on the fields of Smart Living, Quality Health, and Sustainable Environment.

Over the years, ITRI has incubated over 280 innovative companies, including well-known names such as UMC and TSMC. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, ITRI has branch offices in the U.S., Europe, and Japan in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote opportunities for international cooperation around the world. For more information, please visit: http://www.itri.org/eng.

About XplovaXplova specializes in the design and production of high-end cycling computers, aiming to bring advanced technology coupled with unparalleled UX to the global cycling community. The word Xplova is the combination of the English word of Explore and the Spanish word of va, which stands for to explore and to move forward. The spirit of continuing to challenge oneself and to aspire is what Xplova was founded upon.

The company joined IT giant Acer, Inc. in 2015. Since then, the technology has advanced rapidly from indoor to outdoor, including run and ride. Xplovas products are now distributed all over the world, combining functional design, intuitive software, a complete cartographic package, and a portal for managing and sharing data within the community. Xplova strives to provide cycling and sports lovers with a social network to explore, sweat, and laugh together. For more information, please visit https://www.xplova.com/gb/.

About Everest TextileFounded in 1988, Everest Textile is a vertically integrated textile company in Taiwan manufacturing filament and staple textiles combining high technology with fashion concepts. It has long specialized in the development of innovative high value-added products for its customers.

Everest is a major textile supplier to the world's greatest outdoors, sports and leisure-wear brands including Nike, Decathlon, Lululemon, The North Face, GAP, POLO, and Patagonia. In 2016, Everest Textile initiated its 5+5 Moonshot Thinking visionary project and expanded one fabric factory in North Carolina, U.S.A. and two garment factories respectively in Awassa, Ethiopia and Caracol, Haiti. For more information, please visit http://www.everest.com.tw/index_us.aspx.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/315829aa-b753-4857-bc13-d1dca96f3242

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ITRI, Xplova, and Everest Textile Sign Cooperation Agreement on Digital Fitness Platform at CES 2020 - GlobeNewswire

Im a big fan of New Years resolutions. I feel corny saying that because culture these days seems to be drifting away from traditions. Making New Years resolutions, however, should not be scoffed at or forgotten. The end of a calendar year is a perfect time for self-reflection. How is my body? How is my mind? How are my relationships? How am I contributing? Likewise, the beginning of a new calendar year is the perfect time to look forward, set goals, and plan their execution. Why shouldnt we reevaluate our life on a yearly basis and commit to getting better?

I started this column almost six years ago with a specific purpose of motivating people who are not quite where they should be physically to get Back to Fitness. Does this mean running marathons? No! (Well, unless you want to, then come talk to me at Crozet Running!) Does this mean asking more of yourself? Yes! Does this mean holding yourself accountable? Yes! Does this mean trying to approach life with a growth mindset, where you start to disregard your previously held beliefs of what you can and cant do? Yes!

So, for those of you looking for a jumpstart on your journey back to fitness, I humbly submit five New Years resolutions that are simple, sustainable, and very significant.

1) Choose one hour, just once a week, to exercise by yourself.

First, Im asking you to commit just one hour of your whole week to yourself. I dont care who you are or how busy you are. You can give yourself at least one hour per week if youre not already doing so. Hopefully you will commit to much more than this in the future, but if were starting from scratch, lets just start here. This could be Monday mornings from 6 to 7 a.m. Tuesday nights from 8 to 9 p.m. Whatever. Just set a time, preferably the same time each week, and give it to yourself for your health.

Second, exercise. I most strongly encourage you to dedicate this hour to some form of outdoor, aerobic exercise, such as walking, running, biking, or hiking. Most everyone can at least walk, and if were starting from scratch, lets start here! Try your best to get outside. We dont spend enough time outside! Dont let the cold or the dark or the weather deter you. Youre a human! Youve got this!

Third, do it alone. I hope you exercise five times a week and have some friends who will join you for most of it. But your friends are not responsible for your health, only you are. I think it is so important that you figure out how to get out that door alone, with no one else helping you or encouraging you. Long-term health and wellness starts from within, and there is simply no substitute for self-sufficiency. So, use this hour as not only some quiet time with the most important person in your life (you) but also learn how to get it done alone.

2) No more soda. I love soda; its so delicious! But its terrible for us because of all that sugar. Im not going to repeat all the stuff we now know about how sugar is wreaking havoc on our health, but Im going to simply reframe it: sugar is very fattening! When we overload our body with sugar, such as when we drink a soda, we simply cant use all of that energy right away and a lot of it will be stored as fat. We often think of only fatty foods as fattening, but we definitely need to add sugar high on the list of fattening foods!

So many people want to, and should, lose some extra weight. If were starting from scratch, lets start here: no more soda. But lets take this a step further is Gatorade or sports drink much better? No! Loaded with sugar, not healthy! Sweet Tea? No! Orange Juice? No! Now Im not a crazy person, but if youre trying to make a change, this is an easy one. Just cut it all out. Get yourself a nice new Nalgene or Hydroflask water bottle, put some cool stickers on it and drink only water out of it every day. Take it to work every day. Have it in your kitchen, every day.

3) Sit less. We sit a lot. But were humans! Were not supposed to sit a lot. I will share here that when we opened up the running shop, I started to notice that after working all day there, my legs felt surprisingly great despite never once sitting down. On the other hand, when I would work at my vet office, despite the fact that I was also on my feet a lot of the day, I spent a significant amount of time sitting at my desk doing charts and phone calls. Whenever I would get up, my legs were always stiff, and my lower back as well. I decided to try the standing desk thing. I was definitely given a hard time at the office for it. (Here goes Dr. Andersen doing some stupid health thing again with his stupid standing desk.) Let me tell you, it has been one of the most significant things I have done for the health of my legs and back. This has translated into better running as well, but most importantly, my legs and back arent sore all day anymore. Do I get tired from all that standing? Sure, occasionally, so Ill take a quick sitting break. Dont get all crazy and get a standing desk treadmill or anything, but do reconsider how much you sit and see if you can make some tangible changes in your routine and sit less.

4). Pack your lunch. Everyday. Im amazed at how many people I interact with never pack their lunch for work or school. When you pack your lunch, you are taking control of exactly what you will eat for the day and you will be much more conscientious about what you put in your body. When I get to work, Im essentially stuck with whatever the morning version of myself gave the Im-hungry-all-day version of myself. I dont pack only healthy food options, but I sure do eat a lot healthier when I pack my lunch versus if I dont and then I give in to my hunger at a fast food place somewhere. Make this a routine and it will pay huge dividends in your health. Also, who can afford buying lunch every day?

5). No TV in the mornings. What is your morning routine? Do you wake up and turn on the news while you make coffee? This is a pretty typical morning routine in this country, and I think no longer a healthy one. Lets face it, the TV news is less about news events that will actually impact your day, and more about hearing about nasty politics, family tragedies, and societal divisions. Who needs that to start your day? We stopped turning the TV on in the mornings about 10 years ago and it has been one of the better decisions for our family. With no TV on, we start our day actually talking to each other and not zoning out on bad news. And we dont miss anything importantwell hear about that one way or another. Consider taking back your morning from that outside negative world and creating a better one at home.

I wish you all an energized start to 2020. Remember, youre a human! Youre tough and you were made for stuff like this!

Link:
Back to Fitness: Five New Year's Resolutions - The Crozet Gazette

Ring Fit Adventure might not be Nintendo's first attempt at making a fitness game, but it is certainly its most endearing. Whereas Wii Fit and the Balance Board were brilliant at turning your living room into a mini-gym in an approachable way, Ring Fit Adventure and the Ring-Con are more versatile in every sense. Ring Fit's exercises are weaved into a surprisingly delightful RPG where you take on a buff dragon, while the Ring-Con can track a greater variety exercises, getting you to work up a sweat in a way that the Balance Board struggled to.

What excites me most about the time I've spent with Ring Fit so far is the possibilities that exist beyond it. Nintendo have an accessory that could be used for any type of game, while the Switch's portability means fitness games released on it have an advantage those released in the Wii's heyday never had. Simply put, Ring Fit Adventure seems like the ideal spark for a fitness game revival.

In some ways, it's surprising that fitness games need a revival. When Wii Fit and the Balance Board launched back in 2008 in America and the EU, it was an instant sensation among Wii players. It might not have been the first example of an 'Exergame', but its simplicity made it easy to jump into Wii Fit and get cracking on with its exercises, while its adaptability made it easy for other developers to create games for it.

In the space of a few years, fitness games such as EA Active, My Fitness Coach, and er, Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009 followed in Wii Fit's footsteps, helping to expand the genre rapidly. Meanwhile, other games like Wii Music, Rayman Raving Rabbids: Party, and Skate It made full use of the balance board, helping to turn it into one of Nintendo's most successful peripherals.

As of 2012, over 32 million balance boards had been sold, and considering they were bundled with Wii Fit, it put Nintendo's fitness software in plenty of living rooms. Like the Wii's motion controls, the novelty and accessibility of the board made non-traditional gamers eager to try it, and even if it didn't appeal to Nintendo's typical audience, there's a lot to like about the way it gently gamified fitness. Whether it's throwing punches to a beat or practicing stretches with the Trainer (who's since joined Smash Bros. to put all those push-ups to good use), Wii Fit felt like a handy way of getting exercise in away from the gym.

It wasn't just the Wii that had a thriving fitness genre though. As Kinect and PlayStation Move brought motion controls to Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively, they also helped bring a raft of fitness games to each console. Nike+ Kinect Training was the 360's answer to Wii Fit, which was a more serious take on fitness games. It still got you working up a sweat, but it lacked Wii Fit's playfulness, lessening its appeal for the fitness-curious.

Meanwhile, fitness games such as EA Active 2, UFC Trainer, and Zumba Fitness across all three consoles helped to maintain fitness game momentum. The fact that some games focused on pure fitness, while others followed Wii Fit's gamification model meant that players were spoiled for choice with fitness games no matter what console they had.

However, if the Wii created the ideal market for fitness games to thrive in, then the next generation was, to put it kindly, the worst possible one for them. When the Wii U launched in 2012, the audience didn't take to Nintendo's console in the way they did with its predecessor, and the same can be said for Wii Fit U. Despite its backward compatibility with the balance board, it apparently sold less than a million copies although that information comes courtesy of VGChartz.com, so feel free to take it with a pinch of salt. Still, it should be clear for all to see that the audience that adored the Wii failed to make the transition to its successor in any meaningful way.

Similarly, when the Xbox One launched in 2013, the integration with the new Kinect camera sparked a backlash from gamers. While games like Xbox Fitness and Shape Up offered next-gen workouts at launch, the negativity around the Kinect camera saw Microsoft ditch it as part of Xbox bundles early on, while the Xbox One S and X don't even have a port for the peripheral. Considering most fitness games relied on the camera, it meant those games slowly disappeared from the console.

Then there's the rise of smartphone fitness apps and games. As smartphones became more ubiquitous, so too did fitness apps that you could take anywhere on the go. One early breakout hit was Zombies, Run. It places you in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, weaving a story while you jog along in the real world, collecting virtual supplies for your base in game. If Wii Fit succeeded because it offered a type of fitness experience that was more accessible than going to a gym, then apps like Zombies, Run offered the same benefits.

Which is where Ring Fit Adventures comes in. Like Wii Fit, it's playful in its approach to gamifying fitness, but this time, it has taken the concept and doubled down on it. You're running through a fantasy world and battling enemies with specific exercises, a far cry away from copying the Wii Fit Trainer. Meanwhile, the Ring-Con offers the same flexibility the balance board did. Stretching it in different directions or rotating around like a wheel is as easy to understand as standing on a board.

Plus, there are plenty of possibilities for its use outside of Ring Fit. Imagine an RPG where you could use the ring like a bow, or a pirate game where you could steer your ship through choppy waters. Ring Fit shows plenty of ways you could use it, and it's hard to not want to see developers try to find even more opportunities with the use of the Ring-Con.

On top of that, if the advantage that smartphones had with fitness apps was their portability, then the Nintendo Switch has negated it. The fact you can take it anywhere with you means that you can also take Ring Fit as well. The Ring-Con and leg strap are (just about) travelable, so if you wanted to get some squats going in Spain or press-ups in Portugal, then you can.

But most importantly, Ring Fit Adventure offers a template for future fitness games after a barren spell. By offering an experience that is as fun as it is sweaty, it recaptures what Wii Fit did so well, and improves on it. Here's hoping that what follows has us jogging down this path.

See what new titles are on the near horizon for 2020 with our list of all of the upcoming Nintendo Switch games.

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New year, new you: Ring Fit Adventure could lead a fitness game revival - GamesRadar

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