Tag: training

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Robots/Drones Sports

Trainerbot could take your ping pong to Forrrest Gump levels

Ping pong is one of those sports that absolutely requires another person to play with. There are a lot of caveats to that, though: If both players are terrible, not much will happen in the way of actual ping pong. If skills levels are vastly different, not much will happen in the way of actual ping pong AND someone’s feelings will be hurt. As a result, it’s difficult to effectively practice playing ping pong.

The Trainerbot turns any table into a suitable location for some hardcore ping pong practice. Its lightweight design can hold 30 ping pong balls but still be tossed into a backpack. This robot has a lot of functionality, able to serve any type of shot (topspin, backspin, sidespin) anywhere on a table and adjust difficulty depending on a player’s skill level.

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Categories
Pets Wearables

Smart Connected Collar keeps Fido in line, trains and teaches pooches

Dogs are arguably the greatest pet a person can have. They’re loyal, fun, and offer invaluable companionship. They are, however, fairly high maintenance because of their size, bathroom needs, and required walks.

patent-claimedThe Connected Collar promises to lend a hand in training and keeping a dog as a pet. This Bluetooth-enabled device is powered by an accompanying app. It offers health monitoring, training tools such as simulated leash tugging and whistle blows, GPS locating, LED lights, and more. This collar promises to help with controlling barking and running away as well. Connected Collar also teaches dogs simple commands like “sit” and “stay”. Take that, Apple Watch.

This collar makes any pet owner seem a little lazy. However, its functions are dynamic and valuable. One will cost dog owners $120 for a black collar with delivery in August 2015. This smart collar is looking for a goal of $25,000 on Indiegogo.

Categories
Sports

Perfect Snap may help quarterbacks initiate the winning touchdown

Many young football players dream of getting the attention of just the right scout and getting picked up for a pro contract. It’s one thing to dream, it’s another thing to do the hard work to make that dream happen. Perfect Snap was invented to help guys strengthen the skills that they need to be a more effective quarterback.

One of several nice features of this product is that it eliminates the need for someone to take on the center position since the product is designed to provide a simulated center-quarterback exchange. This increases the quarterback’s confidence, sense of timing, and strengthens his hands. The device is touted as being weather resistant and is made primarily with PVC piping, wood, screws and elastic cording. It allows coaches to be able to watch the exchange and effectively evaluate technique so that they can offer helpful tips and pointers. This seems like a good training tool worth checking into further.

This campaign seeks to raise $15,000 by March 4. Backers won’t receive an actual product, but for $10, a video and the story of how the product idea occurred is offered. The expected delivery is in August of this year.

Categories
Aquatics

Hydropacer swim trainer guides swimmers, lights up laps

editors-choiceSwimming is a great way to stay in shape. Not only is it challenging and beneficial, but it’s a low-impact way to get some much-needed cardio.

Swimming workouts can be hard to keep track of, which is why the Hydropacer was developed. Hydropacer is a smart swim trainer that works with an accompanying smartphone app. Simply hook the smartphone up to the device and then set Hydropacer up along the side of the pool. It has a string of LED lights that go into the pool and rest along the bottom of the lane. The lights indicate how many laps must be done. With a rechargeable battery, this product can be used for a long time. It’s also portable at about the size of a tissue box so it can be brought to public pools.

In order to use, the swimmer selects which workout they want from a variety of choices and hits play. They have the option to pause, slow down or speed up any workout they choose. The app’s workout library is vast, spanning from Iron Man training sessions to speed conditioning. Hydropacer’s creators have compiled many routines from lots of different swimming professionals.

This product is certainly a cool concept, great for swimmers who need some help with their training. However, it isn’t executed that well. There isn’t any indication of how deep the pool can or cannot be in order for the lights to reach to the bottom and the design is lacking in style. Currently, it can only be used in 25 yard long pools. Still, swimmers can enjoy a wide variety of workouts which is a huge plus. For their own, backers can donate $360 for estimate delivery in May 2015. Hydropacer is hoping to raise $35,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Sports Wearables

You got game with Hoop Tracker wearable training system

As key as making consistent shots are in basketball, for most players it isn’t the easiest thing to practice. Sure, players can shoot around from all over the court and do so for hours, but that gets old really quickly. And even if someone has the motivation to put the practice in, there’s no way to really track sessions.

Hoop Tracker combines the training regimen for basketball players with technology to provide in-depth statistics like shooting percentages and locations, for example. A shot detector magnetically mounted to the inside rim of a basketball hoop works alongside a downloadable app for Pebble, Android Wear, Apple Watch, and popular smartphones. All of these stats can be uploaded for review to track strengths and weaknesses over time, or to be shared on social media.

To keep motivation up, training programs and games like Score 100 and Three Point contest have been incorporated, and an open API will ensure a steady stream of new ones. A coach mode allows the simultaneous tracking of up to 15 players. Basketball players are getting a lot of love with training products like this and the Shoot Natural Glove, so in combination they should all be a positive influence on their game. A donation of $50,000 gets Hoop Tracker out of the door and onto the court for a $39 early bird backing.

Categories
Fitness

BodyFly will tone your body, won’t provide flight

Fitness buffs get a little crazed about their all-in-one products. Here’s another one to go wild for: BodyFly. This hexagonal platform uses cables and handles to make your body fly (as in toned, not airborne). It offers a multitude of workouts upright or lying down to tone abs, pecs, arms, legs and core. With a slider, those working out can adjust the weight they want to lift from 10 to 20 or 30 pounds. The side has a handle for easy carrying and the creators claim that their product is quite lightweight. In addition, the campaign boasts that BodyFly can be used anywhere, humorously showing a hunk using the product in a supermarket.

It’s difficult to get excited about fitness devices in the crowdfunding world because there are simply so many out there. Some sacrifice function for versatility, wanting their product to be used in so many different ways that they forget the entire purpose. Others sacrifice portability for functionality forgetting that people need to tote it around, like the recent STABALLIZER. All in all, BodyFly seems to be the full package, offering a range of workouts, not the biggest range ever, but a range nonetheless with portability for convenience. Backers can have their own for $699 and if they don’t die from heart attack at the sticker shock first, they’ll get it by July 2015. BodyFly hopes to raise $150,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Fitness

BodyBoardX tones you by stretching and swaying

Core conditioning is the foundation of most workout regimes. With a strong core, you can improve your balance and overall strength. The Bodyboard X provides you with an easy core workout. This product is committed to improving your strength, spatial awareness and planes of motion all in a low impact way. Shaped like a curved skateboard, the Bodyboard X rocks side to side on the ground with you on top of it. Straps attached to each side come up while the rider holds them with their arms stuck straight out to the sides.

While the reasoning behind this product is certainly sound, the execution is a little funky. The campaign shows a gif of a woman on the Bodyboard X rocking side to side with her arms out and she looks a little, well, awkward. Or perhaps like she’s posing for a Vitruvian Man-inspired painting. Still, for $75, backers can enjoy theirs by March 2015. Bodyboard X hopes to raise $80,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Fitness

Put the moves on Cradle Coach to strengthen your core

Usually to get a well-rounded workout, you’ll need to visit lots of different machines at the gym. These machines promote strength, good form and have adjustable weights and grips. Now, you don’t need a machine. The Cradle Coach is a relatively small device that lets you workout in a number of different ways. Shaped, well, like a cradle, one can use it for body weight, core, strength and functional training. The core of Cradle Coach is hollow and allows for different sized weights to be inserted. However, the opening isn’t huge, so there’s a limit to how much weight you can add. Cradle Coach joins scores of other fitness devices claiming to let you have it all like the Battle Flex, but it lacks the portability that others offer because it’s bulky and doesn’t fold up. Backers can enjoy one Cradle Coach for a high donation of $300 for estimated delivery in February 2015. This product hopes to raise $25,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Cycling Kids/Babies

Dreisch Leaning Trike preps little ones for a two-wheeled ride

Dreisch Leaning TrikeTricycles are a great way for children to enjoy cycling safely, but don’t always prepare kids for a real bike. The Dreisch Leaning Trike mimics an actual bike with the same kind of necessary leaning for turns, but still has three wheels. With this trike, young ones can ride safe while also developing the necessary skills to learn the fundamentals of bicycle riding. While not completely necessary, the Dreisch Leaning Trike has a noble aim and is a great tool for children, much like the Jyrobike. One Dreisch Trike costs $299 on Kickstarter with estimated delivery in September 2014. This leaning trike hopes to raise $10,000 in two months.

Categories
Apparel Fitness

TITIN shorts weigh you down to give muscles and joints a compression hug

TITINMost workouts are centered around the idea that muscles must tear in order to become strengthened. This can be hard on the joints and making muscle training long and tedious. TITIN offers muscle tear-free workouts with its weighted shorts, which will join their already successful weighted shirt. The black, sweat-wicking shorts protect the muscles and joints while working out so that they can become stronger. One pair of TITIN shorts costs jacked backers $99 with expected delivery in September 2014. TITIN hopes to raise $100,000 in its 30-day Kickstarter campaign, but should really have a stretch goal after its workout.