The Evolution of Equipment Interaction in Connected Fitness

The Next Phase of Equipment Interaction in Connected Fitness

Connected fitness is evolving fast, and with it, so are the expectations of how athletes interact with technology in the gym, at home, or in hybrid environments. Today, fitness brands and software companies face a fundamental design decision in how to shape these interactions:

1. Should one smart device (your phone, watch, or tablet) be the central hub that connects to all equipment?

2. Or should all equipment work together seamlessly in new, intuitive ways?

For a long time, the first approach was enough. With only a few connected devices available on the market, it made sense for users to carry their smartwatch or phone between one fitness equipment to the other. Manually entering their statistics after executing the workout.

But that is changing.

The Shift of Smart, Connected Equipment

We’re now seeing a shift toward the second model. More fitness equipment is being built with sensors and enhanced capabilities to interpret what the athlete is doing, not just wait for input. No longer just passive fitness equipment, connected fitness products are now beginning to understand what’s happening through movement, resistance, or positioning in real time.

This shift raises a key question: should athletes be expected to manually connect and disconnect from every machine they use? Or will smart environments, in gyms and homes, recognize who is training and respond automatically, adapting to their movements and transitions?

Rethinking the Interface

This is the next big challenge in connected fitness: defining interactions that make sense across a variety of workouts.

On a bike, the interface is straight forward, you have your hands free to interact with a screen. But what about during push-ups? Deadlifts? Or dynamic movements where your hands and focus are fully engaged?

These situations demand hands-free interactions.

Some companies are already addressing this:

• Gpath is developing intelligent tracking solutions for strength training.

• Asensei uses motion detection and coaching to guide technique and performance.

At MoveLab, we’re working to unify connected fitness experiences across all modalities and rethinking how athletes interact with their environment.

And it all starts with the one thing every workout has in common: movement.

Whether it's leg motion on a bike or full-body engagement during a push-up, movement is always there, and it's our most natural input.

Brainstorm: Toward Multimodal Interactions in the Gym

To enable intuitive and more advanced experiences, future fitness environments will need to look into a mix of interaction methods. Here are a few possibilities we’re excited about:

• Motion tracking: Understand and adapt to specific exercises, form, and intensity using cameras or IMUs.

• Gesture recognition: Hands-free navigation through simple gestures or head nods.

• Presence detection: Use proximity sensors to know who is near and what they're about to do.

• Biometric recognition: Authenticate users through face, voice, or even gait for personalized feedback and secure tracking.

These are no longer just ideas for the future, they’re becoming increasingly viable with the combination of AI, edge computing, and smart sensors.

Final Thoughts

As connected fitness evolves, the real innovation will be less about “connecting” devices and more about how we interact with them. Athletes shouldn’t have to think about logging reps, tapping screens, or switching connections, the environment should just know.

Whether you're designing hardware, building software, or reimagining the gym experience, one opportunity stands out: Let movement become the interface.