2012 was a great year for ithlete, and to make sure you know about all of the highlights we thought we’d give you a quick overview…
App Developments
ithlete Version 2
After 2 years testing by up to 4,000 early adopters we had sufficient user feedback to release the first major revision of ithlete. Whilst a number of minor updates had been made along the way, ithlete V2 incorporated significant new features. Highlights included;
- The app starts registering heart rate on launch & the start button turns green only when heart rate is stable ensuring you don’t start too early after standing or sitting
- Your daily HRV number at top of the chart screen is now colour coded to match your training recommendation for at a glance viewing
- A more sophisticated statistical processing for training recommendation thresholds and additional parasympathetic (Addisonic overtraining) warnings
- Ability to enter a self-rated sleep score and text comments at the end of each measurement
- All data recorded can be exported in an Excel friendly csv file to either Dropbox or via email. The exported file includes sleep score, text comments & training load columns as well as the HRV and resting HR values
- New full screen landscape chart when you rotate the phone in the Chart view
- Landscape chart can also display training loads
Precision Pulse
Our heart rate monitor, ithlete HRM, was almost a secondary app, taking a back seat to ithlete. Not anymore! This app has undergone a complete re-vamp to bring it up to date as the accurate heart rate monitor for serious athletes. And to go with the new design, a new name…the ithlete team are pleased to introduce Precision Pulse. Features include (but are by no means limited to!)…
User interface redesign, with pinch & zoom chart interaction- Bluetooth Smart compatibility
- option to save or reset at the end of each measurement
- All new interactive landscape chart view with auto updates every 15 seconds
- Automatic calculation of your TRIMP (Training Impulse) workout score – a number you could then record in ithlete to see the direct correlation between workouts and heart rate variability (HRV)!
Customer-specific developments
Vitaliberty GmbH
We developed a custom version of ithlete and a new finger pulse sensor for Vitaliberty, a German telehealth specialist working with large European corporations to reduce workplace stress and increase employee wellbeing.
In October we received the great news that the app, in conjunction with Vitaliberty’s online health portal complies to the high quality standards of the “Prevention Guideline” of the German Central Federal Organization of the Health Insurance Funds and has therefore been certified according to the guidelines of §20 social law as a prevention program. As a result, the costs of this program can be reimbursed by the (public) health insurance companies.
BioForce
We continued the successful collaboration started in 2011 with Joel Jamieson, renowned MMA trainer, in delivering him the BioForce app on iPhone and Android. BioForce uses HRV to provide essential feedback on the recovery and readiness to train status of athletes on Joel’s programmes.
Vitness Rx
Former all American athlete and Tech TV presenter Jessica Corbin approached us to help realise her vision of prescribed video workouts for busy people based on our 1 minute HRV measurement. Coupling the specific workout recommendation to the user’s current physiological state is a clear step forward, and Jessica’s app, released at the end of 2012 is a bold move into the smart wellness space.
The ithlete family
New staff joined the team
As you can see 2012 was a big year for ithlete, so we decided it was time for the team to grow. Back in January Tom Hayhoe joined us as Business & Strategy Advisor. Tom has been a great addition to the ithlete family and we couldn’t imagine being without him now. Later in the year Laura Andrews came on board as Marketing Manager and has since been working to raise awareness of ithlete, fine tune the website and engage with our existing ithlete users.
New Sponsored athletes
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the new sponsored athletes and researchers who have joined us this year. The ithlete team offer our full support and thanks to these individuals who have been carefully selected to represent our brand.
American professional cyclist Amber Pierce has been racing at the World Cup level for five years but has also suffered considerably from overtraining. We are pleased to say Amber is now well on the road to recovery and that ithlete is helping her from going back down the slippery slope! Amber tells the story best in her recent blog post, Fitness Does Not Equate to Health.
Amir Williamson
Amir is an international athlete competing for Great Britain in the Hammer Throw. He has been competing internationally since the age of 16 and holds great promise. Amir is now training full time to reach both the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 and the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Graham is a Sport Scientist working for a Premier League football Club, as part of his MSc dissertation he is using ithlete to investigate whether or not HRV can be used as a predictor of how well an individual is going to train.
Josh Darrel Jones
Josh is an MSc Exercise Physiology graduate and Strength & Conditioning coach. Josh currently works with Leeds Carnegie RFU Academy, Leeds Metropolitan University Rugby League and Women’s Rugby Union, as well as the MCCU Leeds Bradford Cricket Team. Josh has been working with ithlete for a few months now and has shared some great heart rate variability research summaries with us including;
- Heart Rate Variability response to a single interval training session & planning training around HRV scores to maximise performance adaptation
- Acute Changes in HRV following Supramaximal intermittent exercise; does this training modality optimise performance?
Matt is a domestic elite cyclist, currently living in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He has been cycling for 6 years at the Provincial, National, and International level.
Chris is the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Castleford Tigers and is completing his MSc Thesis looking at player’s cardiovascular responses to impacts from games and training through the use of ithlete HRV monitoring.
Ben is currently the Head Physiotherapist for Warrington Wolves and Wales Rugby League. He is also completing his MSc in Biomechanics. He is working alongside Bolton University as part of a clinical interest group that is reviewing the correlation between monitoring data, including HRV, and injury epidemiology in elite Rugby League.
Ronan McLaughlin
Ronan is a member of the Sean Kelly cycling team, an Irish sponsored squad and one of the top UCI continental teams based in Belgium. Ronan races all over Europe, in some of the most high profile professional races e.g. Kuurne Brussel Kuurne, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, Tour of Britain and Tour of Belgium to name but a few. He has been Irish National Champion and as a junior set a new Irish Junior Time Trial record and represented Ireland at the World and European under 23 championships. Ronan received some great TV coverage as he led a tough hilly stage in the Tour of Britain this year!
International Javelin thrower and UK Champion 2011 & 12 Lee Doran has been using ithlete and considers it a great asset to his training. To read about his initial thoughts check out his guest blog post.
Will Evans
Will is a Ph.D candidate under the supervision of Dr. Grant Abt at the University of Hull, using ithlete for scientific research in to heart rate variability. We look forward to sharing Will’s findings when the research is complete.
Brand new website
In August we launched our brand new website, offering more products, a host of heart rate variability (HRV) information and encouraging users to get involved on the blog and forum. We are always looking for people to contribute to the blog or to be the feature of a case study, if you are interested drop us a line.
Social media
We had dabbled with social media in the past, but this year it really took off for ithlete. We have accounts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn which are now being used to share news with our followers, reach out to new audiences and most importantly listen to what you have to say. So don’t hold back, any feedback, comments or questions just get in touch!
ithlete in the Press
Sunday Times App award
We were delighted to be selected for the Sunday Times Top App List, and were one of only 3 sensor driven fitness apps listed.
Other press
2012 saw ithlete featured in a number of titles, both in print and online. Why not check out what they had to say on our reviews page?