There’s An App for That: Using
Smartphones to Promote Activity
Matthew Cummiskey, Ph.D.
West Chester University, PA
Materials available via website – at end
Session Overview
Background info
Smartphones and apps
What are apps
How download/install apps
How use apps to promote PA
Spotlight selected apps
Practice
Q&A
What makes
smartphones important
tools for promoting
physical activity?
Can they also do the
opposite?
Oh yes, think of the TV
and computer (depends
on their use)
Replace existing laptops
Merge with tablets
Expanding screen
100% internet compatible
Source: Digitaltrends.com
Growth in Smartphones
Also: (Entner, March 2010)
Background Info
Smartphones v. feature phones
Manufacturers (Samsung, HTC,
Motorola, etc) are less important than
operating systems b/c apps are
aligned with the OS. What operating
systems exist?
Applie iOS, Google Android, RIM
Blackberry OS, Palm OS, Windows Phone
7, Nokia Symbian OS
Why
is this
impor
-tant?
NY Times, 3/4/11 (Nielson)
Q&A
What are apps?
Mini-programs specific to an OS
How many are available:
Apple
App Store: 300,000+
Android Marketplace: 100,000+
Installing on a smartphone
Guess
How many apps are there on the
Apple App Store related to health and
physical activity
Any guesses?
Answer: 12,900
http://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ioshealthcare-fitness/id6013?mt=8
Next best question – how many are
free :)
General Teaching Strategies
Use internet based version of apps –
can be used on a website or
downloaded to a smartphone
Advantage – anyone, anywhere can use
the “app”
Example: Loseit.com
Track
the # of calories consumed, share
results with friends, plan meals, search for
foods online, and incorporate exercise as
part of a calorie monitoring program
General Teaching Strategies
Have one or two smartphones per
class to be “representative” of the
entire class.
MapMyRun - Archive runs, map route,
calculate overall distance, calculate
change in elevation, create goals and
objectives, compare results with others.
General Teaching Strategies
Rotate smartphone if unit is long
enough. Individually students could
be required to print out their workout
reports and submit for a grade.
General Teaching Strategies
Smartphone only apps like “Yoga
Free: 200 Poses and Classes”
1.
2.
3.
Play the app’s audio through speakers
while the teacher duplicates the apps
generated on the smartphone
#1 for audio and project the app onto
a screen through a digital projector
Have a selected # of smartphones
(school or student owned) and follow
the routines in small groups
Selected Apps
- free unless indicated
Walk n' Play – allows users to track
their PA and compete with other
users; can create customized profiles
and compete online against other
users or computer simulations.
Fitness Free - 300 exercises grouped
according to body parts, muscles and
equipment. Includes three prepared
routines as well as ability to track
weights, sets and repetitions.
Selected Apps
Daily Butt Workout Free – five minute
video of exercises.
Ballroom Dancing Basics 1 ($0.99) –
teaches the steps for 10 major
ballroom dances, includes color
pictures, step placement indicators,
and directional arrows.
Selected Apps
Bench Press Lite – strength measure
that uses a one repetition max bench
press while adjusting for age, sex and
weight – strength is relative.
Playback – users capture video of self
performing a skill and compare to a
checklist. This can be done
individually or in groups.
Selected Apps
Heart Rate – Free – measures heart
rate via built in camera. Detects
changes in finger skin color
corresponding to heartbeats
Heart Rate Training Zone Calculator –
calculates training zone with ability to
adjust upper and lower limits
depending on activity. Includes
charts and a pulse oximeter.
Selected Apps
Learn to Dance Salsa – two hours of
instructional videos designed to teach
the salsa in a step-by-step fashion.
THI Personal Trainer Lite – includes
full workouts, 3D demonstrations, and
a virtual personal trainer.
Fitness Pro - has over 450 exercises
with pictures, the ability to create
routines, log results, and graphs.
Selected Apps
Pedometer FREE (Dr. Oz) – Calculates
steps while walking, running or
jogging. Measures distance, time,
calories burned, speed and pace.
Creates logs, calculates BMI and can
export results to a spreadsheet file.
The North Face Trailhead – locates
hiking trails/bike routes based upon
user’s location, over 300,000 available.
Selected Apps
Nike Women Training Club –
addresses five areas of fitness
(cardio, core, strength, balance and
flexibility) through videos, drills and a
workout schedule. Friends can work
towards common goals or compete
for most improved.
Stopwatch – basic functions of stop,
start and reset.
Selected Apps
Pace Yourself Lite – calculates pace,
distance and time based upon the
other two variables.
RightBrain Golf Lite – view swing
demonstrations by a PGA tour player
overlaid with audio cues. Focuses on
mental training and visualization.
Selected Apps
Virtual Tennis Coach – learn from
Lleyton Hewitt’s former coach how to
serve and volley from videos.
CPR Hero – can be used for training
purposes or in the event of an
emergency. Includes pacing, counts,
breaths, verbal guidance and an inapp 911 calling feature.
Selected Apps
Attendance ($3.99) – record class
attendance and schedule meetings.
Student information can be uploaded
from a spreadsheet file or address
book. Photographs of students may
be displayed next to their name.
QRS Reader (free local if under 100)–
similar to geocashing (have students
text location and you reply with next
location)
Q&A
Does anyone presently use smartphone apps for related to health
and/or physical activity not
discussed? If so, which one(s)?
Responses from attendees:
adidasmycoach,
runkeeper, livestrong,
tabatapro, idemo
Selected Apps
Health apps as well
Polleverywhere.com
Health Tips
R-U-Buzzed? BAC Calculator
BMI Calculator Lite
Cigarettes Lite
Eye Exam
Glucose Buddy
Eight Glasses a Day ($0.99)
Free Personality Quiz
American Health Journal
Selected Apps
Health apps as well
Fertility and Pregnancy Calculator
Human Body Facts!
iFirstAid Lite
12 Steps AA Companion
Relax
Test of Life
Calorie Counter
Portion Control
Saving $$ on Internet
Typical unlimited internet connections
cost $30-$35/month
Save money by not purchasing 3G or
4G internet and instead using wifi’s
(hotspots) generated by wireless
routers at home or work (Ben Sibley,
Appalachian State U).
May be difficult to use wifi outside the
building on a playing field so ask that a
wifi be installed outside in a central
location depending on distance from a
building.
Factors before Buying
“Try before buy” at the Amazon
Android app store.
If you own a smartphone, experiment
with your own first or borrow from a
friend
Try on a class first and avoid
throwing in all at once
Pay careful attention to OS
Developing Apps
Practice
Materials: http://thenewPE.com
http://www.mapmyrun.com/
http://www.loseit.com
http://dailyburn.com/
http://www.nike.com/nikewomen/
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
http://www.goodfoodnearyou.com/
Thanks for attending!!!
Materials available at:
http://thenewPE.com
Presenter: Matthew
Cummiskey
mcummiskey@wcupa.
edu
