Developing a Google Glass sports & fitness app? Now is a good time to let me know.

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As we move into the spring and companies like Recon Instruments (hopefully) release their Recon Jet bike/run sports-focused heads up display unit, I decided I’d take the plunge and start to understand the rest of the marketplace.

At present, the rest of the marketplace is pretty much…well…Google, and their Glass product.  Technically, it’s still an early adopter program, and with a price specifically designed to keep non-techies away.  But at some point this year that’ll shift, when they plan to make it broadly available.  The price will likely plummet and with it will come a tsunami of new apps.

In the meantime, with Recon Jet nearly upon us, I figured it’d make sense to see how things will compare this spring between the two.  So I ordered a pair and have begun to poke at it a bit.

Today, the only apps publicly available come from Strava: Strava Cycling and Strava Run.

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However, there have been various demo’s of other apps out there in the space – some of which have garnered millions of views.  Of course, taking a concept from YouTube video to reality is always the tricky part.

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Oh, and for those curious – I actually have very little interest (pretty much zero at the moment) in wearing the device day to day.  Unlike California, you certainly won’t find anyone wearing them in Paris (I’ve yet to see a single person wearing them here).  Part of that is due to the US shipping address requirement, but ultimately, tech geeks have gotten around that for years – so if that was the core reason, it doesn’t really hold water.

Nope, my focus is purely sport/fitness related.  I’m looking to see how they stack up not only against products like Recon, but also conventional products in the space.  If for no other reason than to ask the tidal wave of questions when products such as/like Recon come out, in terms of how they stack up.

So – if you know of a sports/fitness app in development, drop them a note (or a comment below) and I’ll chase it down.  My goal is to put something together for the March timeframe.

Thanks for reading!

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29 Comments

  1. pend1

    Just imagine how cool it would be to have a “realtime”-overlay that shows you an upcoming strava segment + how you’re doing performing (seconds behind or in front, watt/speed numbers) …. Shut up and take my money :)

    • Doug Perry

      4iiii’s already has a product, Cliiimb pro, that does what you’re looking for … check it out: link to 4iiii.com

    • Im currently working on a little android project to show real time info. Heres a vid I just made this morning,(android emulator). link to youtube.com

      App also gives audio updates, but screen capture did not record audio.

      Any way been using it for a while, works well for motivation, nothing like hearing/seeing your 2 seconds behind to make you dig a little deeper. (I have my Sony Active on my handlebars)

      Still alot of work to do, but I might get a beta made public next week. I’m sure there will be lot more apps coming out soon as strava fully opened up its api in January again.

    • Forgot to say, would like to get it on google glass, but I need one first….

    • pend1, Strava Glass actually does this for Starred Segments. Disclaimer: I worked on it.

  2. I’m wondering how difference of the placement of the screen feels -> top right vs. bottom right.

  3. szyMarek

    Come on. You are running and data gives You info to progres or You are analizing/following data and run is distubing You?

  4. 6co2000

    I am not a tech geek, so… how those tech geeks have gotten around the US shipping address requirement???
    I have to go throuhg so much pain involving friends and colleagues to get stuff over to Europe!!

    thanks!

  5. I’ve been using Google Glass for just over a month. I also have a Garmin Forerunner 910XT with a PowerTap power meter on my Cervélo P3. I’ve found the cycling app extremely inaccurate compared to the Garmin. I’m not sure if it doesn’t have the processing power to keep up but it seems to always display the incorrect speed.

    However, when running, Google Glass seems to be 99% accurate to my Garmin. I love using it while running.

    While I don’t specifically have an app in development, I’ve been researching how to interface the ANT+ with the Google Glass and have some good ideas on how I might accomplish it.

    Looking forward to your review on the device.

  6. Anders

    With Glass, is it possible right now to show a constant video stream from your cellphone camera?
    Would be awesome to stick a phone on the back and use Glass as a rear mirror.

  7. Anonymous Coward

    It’s only a matter of time when HUDs become USAT Section 3.4(l) equipment. It’ll only take a single on-course collision by a distracted HUD-wearing racer.

    • Google Glass would already be illegal under USAT Section 3.4(l) since it could be classified as a ‘personal audio device’. It would also be illegal under Section 6.3.

  8. Paul S

    So what are Google Glass made of, anyway? Something impact-proof, or will they shatter into a million tiny pieces upon impact? What about the sun, do they darken when in sunlight?

    I’ve had little interest in Google Glass or equivalent, but if I could find an actual use, I might be interested. Mostly, though, I use my cycling and x-c skiing time as a chance to get away, so having displays in my vision would be counterproductive. (So that’s why, when I go skiing this morning, I’m wearing my Fenix, two ANT+ sensors, and my Bluetooth headset connected to my iPhone to listen to podcasts. So I can get away. We live in our own little clouds of radio these days.)

  9. According to the WIRED article,
    link to wired.com

    The federal government is going to require all new cars to have V2V communication.

    How great would it be if Google Glass (or others) could ‘hear’ this communication and alert you a vehicle was approaching from behind or at an intersection?

    Thanks,
    Don

    • ken

      NYT article on same topic today. Pretty clear benefits for cyclist/runner safety in the brave new world when cars are prevented by sensors from striking us when some stupid teenager is texting or some red neck in Chattanooga tries to run down a cyclist

  10. Kyle Polansky

    It’s really cool that you have gotten a pair of Google Glass. I really want them, but I require prescription lenses, and that will bring the price of the device over $2000. With a sub-par battery life, I think my best bet is to wait until after they upgrade the hardware, and release the device to the public.

  11. robert taylor

    Any idea where the focal point of the Google Glass display is (near/far)?

    As a recreational athlete with aging eyes, I find myself increasingly reaching for “reading glasses.” Wrist or handlebar-mounted displays are requiring more time and effort for focus (unsafe).

    Google Glass would have a real appeal to me if it means I can casually glance at performance data without having to refocus.

    • Chris Pugrud

      I’m not sure how best to describe the focal point, but I can say that many people have tried on my Glass, including several relatives that can’t order from a menu without reading glasses, and all of them have been able to see the screen clearly.

      I am one of those people that wears Glass almost every day. Part of the fun is the forced interactions where people come up and ask about or make comments in passing.

    • Mark

      While I can’t comment on Google Glass, a great solution to the problem of aging eyes for recreational athletes is cycling glasses from Dual Eyewear (www.dualeyewear.com). They have a built-in reading-glasses magnifier in the bottom of the lens, just in the right position to view your cycling computer, particularly if you have the computer mounted out front with a Bar Fly. The models SL2 and SL2 Pro, both with interchangeable lenses, work really well.

    • Paul S

      There’s also StickOn Bifocals, which is what I’ve been using, and others make similar lenses. The advantage is that you just put them on whatever you’re wearing currently. But the Dual Eyewear glasses look very nice, so thanks for the link! I may order a pair soon.

  12. Heard about these guys on All About Android: link to byteanatom.com

  13. I might’ve missed this in the comments but still worth mentioning: OnTheGo Platforms is developing a running app called Ghost Runner for Google Glass.

    As you run you’re paired with a “Ghost”. If it’s a course you’ve already run and you run slower, you’ll the Ghost ahead of you. First time on the course? Set the goal and the Ghost Runner appears to keep on target. Plus, you get a bunch of real time data. Hope this helps.

  14. Josh M

    Hey Ray,

    I’m very much looking forward to seeing what fitness-oriented apps become available for the likes of Google Glass. And with all the techieverse clamouring for smart watches, I’m surprised that Garmin have only just dipped their toe in with the new functionality in the Fenix that you reviewed.

    Anyway, as someone who is completely immersed in the technology, I’d enjoy reading an article about what *you* think are some of the potential uses for this kind of tech…

  15. Tom D

    So, if the App is like much like Google-Talk (video/voice both parties can share), then you can see your coach and talk to him/her right? If you can switch to another app via voice command, then on the fly by voice commands you switch to see your metrics live rather than looking down at your computer on your handle-bars (which leads to mistakes, like loosing your focus on the road). So I see some major coaching and safety benefits.