Nike+ FuelBand

Nike+ FuelBand

Nike FuelBand
Manufacturer Nike Inc.
Website http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/nikeplus-fuelband

The Nike+ FuelBand is an activity tracker worn on the wrist and is to be used with an Apple iPhone, iPad or Android device . While sale of the device continues, development has ceased.[1]

As part of the Quantified Self movement, the FuelBand allows its wearers to track their physical activity, steps taken daily, and amount of energy burned. The information from the wristband is integrated into the Nike+ online community and phone application, allowing wearers to set their own fitness goals, monitor their progression, and compare themselves to others part of the community. Nike+ relies on the gamification of fitness activities turning all tracked movement into NikeFuel points, which can unlock achievements, can be shared with friends, or can be used to engage others in competition. Nike has axed its Fuelband, for evolving digital priorities.[2]

Nike+ FuelBand SE

The SE has Bluetooth 4.0, automatically synchronizing with the Nike Activity tracker mobile app. Like the Jawbone UP24 and FitBit Force, The Nike+ Fuelband SE can now track your sleep schedule. Introduced the new feature "sessions". Released November 05th, 2013 for $149.99. Originally available for iOS 7--- devices(11/28/2013) and currently available to Android devices as well.[3] Battery Life: 8 days

Launch

The FuelBand became available for pre-order for U.S. customers online at NikeStore.com on January 19, 2012,[4] and was officially released in the U.S. at select Nike stores on February 22, 2012.[5] Initially the FuelBand was available in only one colour, "Black Steel", but a limited edition "Ice" colour was released on July 27, 2012, and following that, on October 31, 2012, "White Ice" and "Black Ice" began retail in both Nike and Apple stores.[6] October 31 also marked the launch of Nike+ FuelBand in Canada,[7] while earlier in the year on May 1, 2012, the FuelBand was released in the United Kingdom for £139.[8]

Sales

Nike Inc.'s Equipment division saw an 18% rise in profits for the 2012 fiscal year after introduction of the Nike+ FuelBand, in comparison to the -1% loss during the 2011 fiscal year.[9] Before the FuelBand's official American release, it was open for pre-order online, and was sold out both times within the same day.[10][11] A consumer on Twitter timed one of the pre-order periods to be exactly 4 minutes before all FuelBands were sold out and Nikestore.com was overloaded due to customer traffic.[12] Nike+ FuelBands were being sold on eBay during the first couple of months after pre-order for approximately double the retail price.[13]

Possible discontinuation

In April 2014 there was a report that Nike would discontinue the Fuelband and focus on software applications.[1]

Web community

The FuelBand comes with access to the Nike+ web community that is set up via the Nike+ Connect Software. The software is a necessary component of the activity tracking, as the customization of personal statistics through the software is what enables the FuelBand to calculate the amount of energy burned, as well as the number of NikeFuel points gained. The Nike+ web community allows product owners to create an online profile where they can showcase their personal statistics, such as how many goals have been met, how many steps have been taken, and how many NikeFuel points have been amassed. The profile also displays the trophies and achievements an individual has unlocked, and can be integrated with Facebook and Twitter in order to connect with friends. Upon logging into the Nike+ site, users are given a graphical display of their daily activity, proximity to hitting their goal, positive feedback, and recommendations for more activities. The website also has an activity section that gives a graphical breakdown of a user's total activity by year, month, and day.[14]

Mobile application

The FuelBand has a mobile phone application that is compatible with only iOS 5.0+. The Nike+ FuelBand application is an on-the-go addition to the web community; it syncs information from the wristband to the iPhone (or iPad) via Bluetooth, and subsequently uploads the information to the Nike+ site. Users are able to change their daily goal, unlock achievements, see activity breakdown, and connect with friends through the mobile application.[15] The Nike+ FuelBand application is 142 MB, free to download, and has a 4+ rating on the iTunes store.[16]

Specifications

Can be customized to fit using 0.32in or 0.63in inserts.
  1. Time
  2. Energy burned (measured in Calories)
  3. Steps taken
  4. NikeFuel earned

[17]

Nike+ API

On December 3, 2012, Hacknikefuelband.com received a cease and desist notice from Nike Inc. A month later Nike Inc. announces its Nike+ API, allowing developers "to explore the Nike+ API using the developer’s own profile and activity data, including NikeFuel, running pace and distance, running routes, records, streaks and more." [18]

Reception

As a device that sits on the wrist, the FuelBand has a difficult time tracking activities that rely solely upon lower body movement (such as a spin class) and it does not fare well for resistance based activities including weight lifting and yoga workouts. The FuelBand is water resistant, but not waterproof, thus it cannot be used for any in-water activities (e.g., swimming, wakeboarding, or surfing). FuelBand wearers have found that bumpy car rides can increase NikeFuel points[19] and that vigorous arm shaking also amounts to a significant point increase. The FuelBand was not an accurate source of information, with its steps and calories burned counts horrendously off.

Michael Kim, who specializes in designing software to influence behaviours, critiques the FuelBand as not being sustainable in the long-haul, saying, "Points and badges do not lead to behavior change." [20] On the other hand, a nutritionist professor at Ryerson University is quoted as saying, “Anything that motivates exercise is a good thing, it could be really useful for people that need the support", and despite finding the FuelBand a useful tool for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle, she also points out the FuelBand neglects to take into account food energy intake.[21]

Because the Nike+ web community profile can be linked to both Facebook and Twitter, users can now share their results and accomplishments with their friends. This has the ability to lead to a greater chance for positive results because interaction and motivation from friends has proven to benefit workout habits. “A 2011 Pew Internet study found that 80% of Internet users look for health information online, 27% of U.S. Internet users had tracked health data online, and 18% had sought to locate others with similar health concerns via the Internet”. These statistics suggest that self-empowerment and action taking, in regards to health, is becoming a much more accepted behavior norm, instead of a small online community, like it has been in the past.[22] When sharing workout results with friends on social media, one is much more aware of their personal well-being. Being constantly aware of your physical fitness and activity levels are very important for living a healthy life, which leads to the conclusion why many say that technologies like the FuelBand are necessary for being physically responsible of oneself. The FuelBand makes it much more simple to live a healthy and informed life and this can be related to maintaining personal health records. Personal health records are types of medical records that are edited, administrated, and owned by the patient, instead of the doctor or health care administrator. Personal health records are usually stored on online databases and they have proven to be “a key step in empowering health self-management as we can have a more active role in understanding, accessing, maintaining, and sharing our personal health information, and in coordinating and participating in our own health care”.[23] Studies have shown that PHR users are over 65% more likely to follow up on recommended care or to act on the change that they desire, which indicates the potentially beneficial influences in behaviors of PHRs.[24] The FuelBand has the potential to help its users get in great physical shape and to be well informed of their health records and statistics. Because of this and the ability to be connected to an online community through social media, the FuelBand can be seen as an innovative technology that is representing the way that the health field is going in the future. Health practices are becoming more personalized and more power is being given to the individual and the FuelBand is an exact example of this new field of technology that is growing in size.

Competition

The Nike+ FuelBand is in direct competition with Jawbone UP, Basis Watch, and Fitbit Flex. The FuelBand is also being compared to other fitness trackers that are not wrist-based, including the rest of the Fitbit Tracker family. While the Jawbone comes in more colors, has a longer battery life of up to 10 days, tracks sleep, and has a vibrational feedback for inactivity, the Fuelband has an LED screen, Bluetooth connectivity, and improved web content including the proprietary NikeFuel.[25] The Basis watch comes at a higher price than the FuelBand. The Fitbit trackers in a similar price range also offered many more features: such as flights of stairs climbed, sleep tracking, and silent alarms utilizing a built in motor.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Statt, Nick (2014-04-18). "Exclusive: Nike fires majority of FuelBand team, will stop making wearable hardware". CNET.
  2. ↑ http://www.gadgetcluster.com/2014/04/nike-reportedly-axing-fuelband/
  3. ↑ Jerkovich, Nick. "The new Nike+ Fuelband SE".
  4. ↑ Nike Inc. "Nike FuelBand Makes Life a Sport". Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  5. ↑ Nike Inc. "Nike Fuelband Insider". Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  6. ↑ Nike Inc. "Nike Launches New FuelBand Colors". Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  7. ↑ Erick Bauer. "Nike Fuelband Launches in Canada". NewsWire. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  8. ↑ Mike Dent. "Nike unveils Fuelband, its 24/7 fitness-monitoring Jawbone Up rival". Wired UK. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  9. ↑ "Form 10-K for Nike Inc. on 24-Jul-2012". Yahoo! Business. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  10. ↑ Nikestore on Twitter
  11. ↑ Olsen Hanna Brooke. "Nike+ Fuel Band Review Roundup: Possibly Worth The Hype". Bliss Tree. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  12. ↑ Kamer Foster. "Nike’s Fuelband, the Shiny iOS-Powered New Fitness Gadget, Sold Out in Four Minutes". The New York Observer. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  13. ↑ Munarriz Rick. "Just Fuel It? Nike Fans Get Exercised Over FuelBands". Daily Finance. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  14. ↑ Wiese Alec. "Nike+ FuelBand Review". TechSPCE. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  15. ↑ Shakeshaft Jordan. "Tech Spotlight: Nike+ FuelBand". The Greatist. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  16. ↑ "Nike+ FuelBand for iPhone". iTunes. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  17. ↑ Nike Inc. "Nike+ Fuelband Online Manual" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  18. ↑ Nike Inc. "Nike Api Playground Now Open". Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  19. ↑ Ray. "Nike FuelBand In-Depth Review". DC Rainmaker. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  20. ↑ Wortham Jenna (2012-07-28). "It’s Hard to Stay Friends With a Digital Exercise Monitor". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  21. ↑ Ptashnick Victoria (2012-10-31). "Nike+ FuelBand for sale in Canada, but it’s not for everyone". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  22. ↑ Swan, Melanie (2012-09-12). "Health 2050: The Realization of Personalized Medicine through Crowdsourcing, the Quantified Self, and the Participatory Biocitizen". Journal of Personalized Medicine 2 (4): 93–118. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  23. ↑ Swan, Melanie (2012-09-12). "Health 2050: The Realization of Personalized Medicine through Crowdsourcing, the Quantified Self, and the Participatory Biocitizen". Journal of Personalized Medicine 2 (4): 93–118. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  24. ↑ Arnold, Tammy. "More Than 1.5 Million Users Are Proving Aetna’s Personal Health Record is a Building Block to Better Health". aetna news hub. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  25. ↑ Syouzi. "Nike+ Fuelband vs Jawbone Up vs Fitbit Ultra". FashioningTech. Retrieved 2013-02-10.

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