The implementation of an IoT-based exercise improvement system

Abstract

The benefits of exercise have been well known for years. Most people know that they should do more exercise, but they seldom make exercise a top priority. Regular exercise is generally the most important lifestyle change people can make to improve their health, but it is hard for people to sustain a regular exercise program. On the other hand, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, which combine different sensors and information technologies, have developed rapidly over recent years. IoT-based applications for exercise have been examined in recent literature. However, most IoT-based applications focus on the needs of exercisers and ignore the needs of trainers and the relationship between the system usage and the incidence of regular exercise compliance is rarely studied. This study implements an IoT-based exercise improvement system that both exercisers and trainers can use to increase exercisers’ physical fitness. To test the system, 221 students were recruited from a university and their exercise data were collected and analyzed. The results showed that use of an IoT-based exercise improvement system helped regular exercisers maintain their exercise pattern and non-regular exercisers improve their exercise performance.