For most people, the idea of exercising is not very appealing. We don’t like to see ourselves in this ‘good’ state while sweating on a treadmill or drawing on weights. Yet anyone who goes to the gym for exercise knows that there are people everywhere who stare at their reflection in a mirror as big as the floor and like to compliment themselves. Probably a factor as to why they’re doing so poorly.
Smart Fitness Mirrors are 6-foot (180 cm) tall, vertical, high-tech mirrors with a computer system that connects to the Internet and also acts as a video screen. The idea is that you are in touch with an online trainer, who then appears on the mirror screen with your mirror, and in the more modern models of these mirrors, cameras and speakers are mounted on the mirror and you The trainer can not only observe your movements but also adjust the exercise patterns as you see fit.
Read More: How to Stay Fit? Run your way to fitness
Users have the option to join live one-to-one lessons or group classes during a variety of exercises, including weightlifting, pilates, cardio and yoga. Video and sound on simple smart mirrors go only one way, you can see and hear the trainer but on the other hand he cannot hear you.
Exercise lessons aren’t usually live, but instead you have access to a library of streamed exercise videos. Smart fitness mirrors allow you to see your mirror and your instructor. Listen to the ‘Drama Queen’ podcast about things that are not allowed to be shared with anyone.
Whether you choose a high-spec mirror or buy a basic type, you usually spend at least a thousand British pounds on the mirror and then pay a club membership fee. Touch screen mirrors also usually have a number of sensors connected to artificial intelligence (AI) that can give feedback on your movements and suggest better exercise.
The first such mirror to be sold in the UK was the Waha. A German firm of the same name made a similar smart mirror last year and sold it in the German market. Its competing brands include Tunnel, Mirror, Nordic Track, Portal and Proform.
Waha offers its mirror a complete personalized, detailed session for body, mind and nutritional health. But is there any real benefit in watching yourself exercise? Miss Colin Logan is vice president of public relations at iFit, which makes Nordic Laric and Preform glasses.
Colin says that looking at himself in the mirror allows the user to adjust his shape (or position) so that he can get the best out of it while exercising. Exercise vigorously and reduce shape errors that can lead to injuries. Dr. Anthony Papa Thomas, a sports and fitness psychologist at the University of Loughborough in the UK, says the argument carries weight, but he also has some concerns about its validity.
“From a psychological point of view, exercising in front of your mirror may be of some benefit to you,” he says. For example, there may be improvements in running style or weight lifting. It can also affect people’s aesthetic motivation for exercise. You can see your muscles in action and that can be beneficial.
Papa Thomas adds: “My concern would be how do people with physical insecurity feel about it?” This can be a problem for those who want to exercise and make lifestyle changes.
“Even for those who exercise regularly, we know that there are many people who suffer from body disorders or eating disorders and it can be annoying for them to look at themselves in the mirror while exercising. ‘
A similar form of high-tech mirror, the ‘Smart Wellness’ mirror, is now being introduced in the market, which uses sensors and artificial intelligence to assess the skin and basic health of the user. A French firm, Care OS, makes two products that are best suited to replace an existing mirror over a sink in your bathroom and are designed for this purpose.
Its mirrors use a camera and infrared and ultraviolet light sensors to analyze a person’s skin and temperature and then suggest a number of care routines. Users can also access subscription-based skin care tutorials.
Two women are trying to use the motion detection technology of the French company CareOS Violin Moon Marshae, co-founder of CareOS, explains that the mirror works with both motion and voice control.
“The bathroom is a place where your hands are wet or have cream on them, so you can’t touch the mirror, you just have to point in front of it,” she says. Dr. Anub Picker Hill, a medical aesthetics at Harley Street Specialist Hospital in London, says:
Read More: 6 Ways to Stay Motivated in the Gym
“Advances in artificial intelligence and facial recognition provide many opportunities that we should take advantage of to enable people to assess and manage their health at home,” he added. ‘ However, Dr. Parker Hill says he still has concerns about their accuracy and lack of real connection to them.
“Some medical issues require a pulse so that the condition can be properly diagnosed.”
Dr. Anub Picker Hill says that nothing can be said for sure about the correct information of smart mirrors. Psychologist Dr. Elena Touroni is also concerned about smart mirrors for both fitness and fitness.
She says that for someone who is already focused on perfection and is probably already seeing every ‘flaw’ in his body, these mirrors can add to the psychological difficulties. Lee Chambers, another psychologist, agrees that people are at risk of becoming obsessed with “working for perfection.”
Still, he says, smart mirrors have the potential to “empower health choices and change health attitudes.” He added that the exercise mirror should be very useful for those who do not have time to go to the gym but still want someone’s opinion on how they are doing.
