Nike+ FuelBand
The Nike + is a band worn on the wrist that tracks activity and movement.The band can be used in connection with iPhones, iPads and Android devices.The FuelBand tracks movement and physical activity. Specifically, steps taken daily, amount of energy burned and calories burned.All information taken from the FuelBand can be retrieved on the Nike+ Fuel Application as well as the Nike Running Application.These applications allow you to track your progress, set goals for yourself and compete against you’re friends and other people with FuelBands in the Nike Community.The Nike Community is the large group of people all over the country who have Nike+ FuelBands and track their progress through Nike Apps or the Facebook . The Nike Community main goal is for people with FuelBands or any other Nike products to challenge each other and provide a fun healthy exercising environment.Lastly and most importantly of course they would like to promote the FuelBand and all other Nike Products in the in the process.
The Nike+ FuelBand is innovative because there are plenty of bands on the market that track your movements and steps but the FuelBand enables you to sync it with a mobile application for your iPhone or Android device and you can see your results in a visual manner.Not only does the band track your movements it also tracks the time spent doing an activity and it doesn't limit the potential of your movements.Meaning you don't have to just be working out or running to track your progress.To add to the innovation you can earn Nike+ Fuel points to track your progress and compete with other people.All the points are totaled up on the Nike Fuel App or when you plug your FuelBand into your computer.The Band also has GPS which allows you to track your route and your friends routes while doing roadwork in local parks or even a landmark running area landmark.The Nike Running application provides precise maps to track your route ,distance , pace, time and calories.The app allows you to share photos , compare progress and have brief conversation with friends to add to competition and motivation.
There is said to have been multiple people responsible for the creation and designing of the Nike+FuelBand.Nike had to call on outside partners to help develop the FuelBand because they are more known for apparel then the field of technology.Nike is calling the group a braintrust.The brain trust includes the Vice President at Nike Digital Sport Stefan Olander,Experience Lead at Nike Digital Sport Kwamina Crankson and Jamian Cobbett Design Lead at Nike Digital Sport.
This topic is significant in media history not because it’s just a fit band.It’s a fit band by Nike the most popular shoe company in the world.This is not your average fit band it also syncs to many other devices that have broken down barriers in media history.The FuelBand works in connection to the Facebook as well as aforementioned Apple Devices iPhone, iPad and Android phones.The FuelBand may not be as popular as an iPhone or have the functionality of the newly developed smart watches but if you are into fitness and tracking your fitness it does not get much better then the NikeFuelBand.Never in history has there been such a lightweight device to track your moments and also be compatible to your phone and computer.Which also allows you to track your progress and follow others progress through apps and social media.
I will conduct my research by purchasing the Nike + FuelBand and physically using it myself taking it through my everyday life and putting it to the test when I workout.I also plan on reading up on how Nike came to create such a product and comparing it to other fit bands on the market.I will be providing a general overview but I also plan on going in depth on it’s functionality since I will be using the product myself.
The main influence I see in this product is Apple and all of there advancements with the mac and iPhone products.I feel like nike is coming close to making something very lightweight and compatible to all the products that apple has to offer.Especially allowing to link with apps for those devices.
I plan on using the New York times as a source.The Times did a story and some research on the Nike+ FuelBand and it’s functionality.I will touch on some of the topics and angles that they discuss in the article .
Wortham, J. (2012). It’s Hard to Stay Friends With a Digital Exercise Monitor. New York Times, 1-1.
Another source I plan on using is a short documentary done by american film directory Casey Neistat. Neistat runs a filming trip around the world using the Nike+ FuelBand. I will use this short documentary and compare it to my own use and I will touch on the positive and negatives to the FuelBand. The source is the actual video/ documentary. https://vimeo.com/40004005 Lastly I will use several publications to talk about the FuelBands impact on the society we live in.The FuelBand is worn on your wrist but it is also tracked through Facebook, Instagram and other apps. Publications like vogue magazine and Sports Illustrated have taken the time to discuss the FuelBand and its ramifications on the media, social media and even fashion.
Malle, C. (2013, September 3). Band of Insiders: How the Nike FuelBand Became the A-list’s Chicest Accessory. Vogue, 1-1. 