A delightful walking holiday on the Yorkshire coast

Surfer on Whitby Cliffs

Striding along the cliff top, the surfer added a somewhat incongruous element to this view of Whitby by the North Sea on the Yorkshire coast. I was here on a walking holiday with HF Holidays, and enjoying the great weather before going to Larpool Hall, where I was staying for 3 nights.

Whitby Abbey

Walking Holiday: Day 1 – Whitby

Famous as inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, dramatic Whitby Abbey dates back to the 13th c. I spent an hour wandering about and taking photos, watching children having a go at archery and listening to the excellent audio-guide. Then I headed off to Robin Hood’s Bay, one of the North Yorkshire Coast’s most popular tourist spots.

The tiny harbour marks the end of the Coast to Coast Walk, which starts near where I live, on the Cumbria coast, at St Bees. It was lovely to see so many people enjoying the summer sun, sitting outside the pub, dabbling in the rock pools, paddling in the sea and sunbathing on the beach. A perfect summer’s day.

HF Holidays – Larpool Hall

I arrived at Georgian Larpool Hall in the late afternoon and was welcomed by friendly Assistant Manager Sally who showed me around. My ensuite single bedroom overlooked the courtyard and had everything you’d want for a few days’ stay.

Larpool Hall

I had missed afternoon tea but was in time to meet fellow guests and go for the introductory walk with Christine Brook,  our guide for the next few days. HF Holidays runs with a large team of volunteer guides who play a huge part in the success of the company. Christine gave us a bit of history of the Larpool Hall, then we went along the railway trail which goes past the back of the house.

Christine and walking group on Whitby Viaduct

We stopped at the local secondary school which has a replica of a Celtic Cross to commemorate Anglo Saxon poet Caedmon, who looked after the animals at Whitby Abbey in the 7thc AD. On our walk back we saw the abbey silhouetted  in the evening sun and caught a glimpse of a North Yorkshire Moors Railway steam train puffing into the town centre.

Whitby Harbour

Back at Larpool Hall, there was just time to get changed before Christine gave us a briefing about the next day’s walk, along the coast. I was a bit unsure of the protocol for dinner but a helpful waiter explained it was free seating so I joined one of the circular dining tables. The food is excellent – I can see why guests love it here. I’ve been on a number of group holidays and sometimes the food lets it down. Not at Larpool Hall.

Meals at Larpool Hall

Table-talk was convivial and everyone was very friendly. I was there on my own but not for one minute did I feel lonely. After dinner about 40 of us took part in a lively General Knowledge Quiz, ably chaired by Christine. Every evening there was an organised activity but they’re not compulsory; I spent one evening chatting with fellow guests at the bar. There was a stunning sunset; sadly the maxim; ‘Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight‘ was not so accurate.

Sunset at Larpool Hall

Walking Holiday: Day 2 – North Yorkshire Coast

The next morning was overcast but dry. After an excellent cooked breakfast, I collected my packed lunch. The day before, I’d ordered a sandwich from a list of fillings and bread; it was waiting in the dining room, along with a tempting selection of ‘ingredients’ which include fresh fruit, raw vegetables, cheese and crackers, dried fruit, hard-boiled eggs, cake, biscuits and loads more.

HF Holidays Lunch

Our mini-bus took us to Runswick Bay, the starting point for our coastal walk to Staithes. Originally a fishing village, now it’s a very popular tourist destination. The quaint fishing cottages are mostly holiday homes and it has one of Britain’s few independent Life Boat Stations. It was misty so the views across the Bay were limited but it wasn’t raining and we were all in very good spirits.

Runswick Bay

We set off along the Cleveland Way, following a well-marked path that took us along what would be a spectacular coastline, had the sea fret not rolled in and obscured our view. Access to the little bay of Port Mulgrave is currently closed due to erosion of the cliffs. Christine explained the old harbour was used to transport iron ore, which was mined locally and taken to Jarrow for processing. Through the mist we could just make out some old buildings and the remains of the pier.

Port Mulgrave

We arrived in Staithes in time for lunch, which we ate on the attractive harbour front. Formerly a mining/fishing village, Staithes is on the way up, as can been seen in the rebuilding and new shops opening up everywhere. BBC TV children’s series Old Jack’s Boat, starring Bernard Cribbins, is filmed here and there are plenty of souvenir and craft shops, plus an Art Gallery. Staithes was home to the Staithes Group, a 19thc art colony.

Old Jack’s Boat banner

The quirky little Captain Cook and Staithes Heritage Centre has a comprehensive collection of  Cook memorabilia, collected by the owner in charming higglede-piggeldy displays. There’s also a unique exhibition of photographs and objects telling the story of Staithes. It’s one of the best small museums I’ve ever seen.

Captain Cook and Staithes Heritage Centre

It started to rain as we got into the mini bus to take us back to Whitby. Some went back to Larpool Hall and a few of us joined Christine for an afternoon walk round the town. Even in the pouring rain, Whitby has an evocative charm all its own. We saw Captain Cook’s statue, the Whalebone Arch, the hotel where Bram Stoker wrote ‘Dracula‘, the jet shops along the little lanes and the 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey.

Our group in Whitby rain

Our walk back took us through Pannett Park, where we stopped off at the Art Gallery and Whitby Museum. We got back to Larpool Hall in the late afternoon, nicely worn-out after our day’s walking and ready for another delicious dinner.

Walking Holiday: Day 3 – Castle Howard

Castle Howard and Atlas Fountain

The sun shone throughout our final day of the walking holiday. Our coach driver dropped us off on the edge of the Castle Howard estate and we took a leisurely stroll past the Temple of the Four Winds, the Mausoleum and the Pyramid – and a very fine herd of Angus cattle.

Our day was spent exploring the grounds and interior of Castle Howard, built between 1699 and 1702. The top of the famous dome is being re-gilded but the beauty of the house is still apparent, especially when viewed from the splendid Atlas Fountain. I ate my packed lunch in the delicately scented Rose Garden.

The Rose Garden

Every room in Castle Howard is a treasure trove of beautiful paintings, impressive sculptures and exquisite furniture, much dating from its heyday in the Georgian era. The interior view of the dome (restored after a serious fire) is breathtaking and there is an interesting display of photographs from the filming of Brideshead Revisited. The Howard family Chapel has lovely Pre-Raphaelite stained glass windows designed by Edward Burne-Jones.

Inside Castle Howard

On our way back to Larpool Hall we crossed the North Yorkshire Moors which were flooded with purple heather. That evening dinner was very lively as we shared our favourite parts of the walking holiday. Christine organised a little quiz for those staying in and took me down to the town centre for the last night of the Whitby Folk Festival. Listening to sea shanties and blues music sung in a traditional pub seemed a very fitting end to a very memorable few days on the Yorkshire Coast.

Singer in Whitby pub

Many thanks to HF Holidays for inviting me. You can find out more about their Walking with Sightseeing Holidays here. Thanks also to Christine for cheerful guidance on the walking holiday and to Sally and the team at Larpool Pool for being so helpful and friendly. Finally, a special mention to the friends I made during the trip and to my feisty fellow walkers. It was a real pleasure to spend time exploring the Yorkshire coast and surrounding area together.

Our walking group in front of Temple of the Winds, Castle Howard

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MGS LABS: Putter Looks vs. Putter Performance

 

Does the way you perceive a putter's looks impact its performance?

The majority of you believe it does. A putter has to look good, to perform well. Am I right?

If a golfer doesn't like the way his putter looks, he's going to miss a comparatively higher number of putts. For many of you, that's the undisputed gospel truth.

In a recent survey we posted on Twitter, 78% of respondents told us that a putter's looks absolutely impact how the putter performs.

Seventy freakin' eight percent. That's massive. It's a huge number to overcome, but hopefully, we can convince some of you that this particular perception might not be reality. Accepting as much could open your eyes to an abundance of putters you may not have considered. Who knows, your game might end up better for it.

About Our Data

At the beginning of this year's putter tests, we asked each participating golfer to rate the looks of each putter in the test on a scale of 1 to 10.  At the conclusion of testing, we compared the aesthetic ranking to the actual performance of each putter. The goal was to better understand what, if any, impact Looks (or the perceptions thereof) have on performance.

Do golfers really putt better with putters they believe are better-looking? Here's what we found out.

Group Average: Looks vs. Performance

The chart below compares the five top-rated putters for Looks to the actual performance rank for those selections. Rankings include all golfers who participated in this season's Most Wanted Putter tests. It should be noted that these rankings include both blades and mallets.

Observations:

• Only two of the Top 5 ranked putters for Looks finished in the Top 10 for Performance.
• The average performance rank for the putters ranked in the Top 5 for Looks is 18.8.
• Although mallets were included in the survey, the Top 5 is comprised exclusively of blades.

GROUP AVERAGES: PERFORMANCE vs. LOOKS

In the chart below we examine the average Looks rankings for our Top 5 performing putters of 2016.

Observations:

• The average Looks rating for the Top 5 performing putters in this year's test was 31.8.
• None of the Top 5 performing putters was ranked higher than 10 for Looks.
• While no mallets were listed among the Top 5 rated putters for Looks, 3 of the Top 5 performing putters were mallets.
• The Odyssey White Hot RX  (ranked 10th) was the most highly-rated putter, on average, for looks among the Top 5 performers.

INDIVIDUAL Top-Rated for Looks vs. Actual Performance

The chart below lists the putters selected as the best-looking by each tester. The bar graph reflects the actual performance rank for that preferred putter. For example, Tester #1 felt the PING Ketsch Heavy was the best-looking putter in this test, however; with regards to actual performance, it ranked 11th overall for Tester #1.

Observations:

• For five testers, the top rated putter for looks actually performed the best.
• For 15 testers, the top rated putter for looks was not the best performing.
• The average performance rank for the individual top-rated putters for looks is 12.35
• Of 20 testers, only two ranked a mallet #1 for Looks.

INDIVIDUAL TOP-Performing vs. Looks Rank

The chart below lists the Top-Performing putter for each of the 20 testers in this season's test. The bars reflect the Looks ranking each tester assigned to his best performing putter. For example, The Odyssey White Hot RX 2-Ball was the best performing putter for Tester #1. However, he ranked the putter 22nd overall for Looks.

Observations:

• Five testers felt their top-performing putter was also the best looking.
• 10 testers listed their top-performing putter among their 10 top choices for Looks.
• A given individual's top-performing putter was, on average, ranked 15.35 for Looks.

Do looks actually influence putter performance?

When we look at the averages across all testers and all putters, the answer is a definitive no.

4 of the Top 5 performing putters of 2016 were rated in the bottom half of the field for looks. As a group, our testers ranked the #1 performing putter from the 2016 test 38th for looks. Furthermore, three of the Top 5 rated putters for Looks finished outside the top 20 for performance.

While it's true that five testers did putt best with their top choices for Looks, in the majority of those cases, the putter chosen as best-looking on an individual basis was one that performed well across the entire test pool. Simply put, the putters performed well for testers who loved the way they looked as well as the testers who didn't.

In fact, where there is some suggestion of correlation, the individually top-rated putter for Looks finished inside the Top 10 for Performance across all testers.

As the chart shows, it was not uncommon for an individual's top-performing putter to be ranked well below the average for Looks.

In those cases where performance and the perception of good looks appear to align, it's almost certainly a coincidence, not causation. Those putters didn't perform well because individual testers found them visually appealing; more accurately, some testers happened to like the looks of what were proven, by the larger group, to be very good putters. It's also true that many testers gave low aesthetic marks to the mallets that proved to be among the very best performers this season.

But Have You Considered...

We know. Nothing we've shown you today has changed your mind. You remain convinced that looks absolutely matter. You believe that you can't play well if the putter doesn't look good. And despite the fact that year after year we find no significant correlation between the perception of good looks and the reality of good performance, some of you will continue to insist otherwise.

Golfers believe plenty of things that have little basis in reality. That's fine. It's your game.

But have you, even for a moment, considered that you might be wrong? Maybe the best putter isn't the one whose looks you love. Instead of a perfect 10, why not consider an 8, or even a 7. With an open mind and some quantitative data, the results may very well surprise you.

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3 Tricks to Build Suspense and Engage Your Readers

by Jeff Elkins

I am addicted to novels I can’t put down, to TV shows I can’t just watch one episode of, to short stories I have to finish, and to movies that keep me guessing until the very end.

I love stories that grip me and demand my attention. I am on an unending hunt for them and for the suspense they make me feel.

As a writer, these are the types of stories I hope to create—stories that pull the reader to the edge of his seat and keep him there until the last page.

3 Ways to Build Suspense and Engage Readers

I’m constantly on the lookout for tools I can use to build my readers’ engagement in the story. I want them to become so engrossed in the plot they can’t walk away from it. I want my stories to be like that kid in third grade who refused to leave you alone until you realized that your only recourse was to become his best friend.

This has become increasingly difficult with my current project. I’m working on the second book in an urban fantasy series. The first book was published earlier this month.

For the second book, I’m trying not to use the suspense-building tools I did in the first book because I don’t want my readers to grow wise to my tricks. Few things are worse than figuring out what a story is going to do before it does it because the magic is gone.

“

When a story becomes predictable, the magic disappears.

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Here are three suspense-building tools I’ve been playing with recently:

1. A Race Against the Clock

One method for building reader engagement is putting an artificial time limit on the story.

A cop needing to solve a case can be engaging an engaging story, but a cop needing to find an answer in three hours or the suspect walks is a story that carries with it a much deeper level of suspense.

A man trying to win the affection of his true love will draw readers in. A man who has only one week to win the affection of his true love before she leaves for Paris adds intense urgency to the story.

We can heighten the suspense of our stories by forcing our protagonists to race against the clock.

2. Hinting at Solutions

In this narrative-obsessed culture, readers are instinctively wise to storytelling tricks. As authors, we can use this knowledge against our readers to increase their engagement in a story. One way this can be accomplished is by dropping a hint of something early in the story that will be used to solve the mystery in the end.

If two characters have a conversation about a musket that is hanging on the wall, for the entire story, readers will watch diligently for the musket to be fired.

If a character with a special skill is introduced in chapter two, readers will wait for the opportunity for that skill to be needed.

Drawing attention to items or people early in the story and alluding to their connectedness in the future of the narrative can be used as a tool to draw readers in.

“

Draw readers in by hinting early on at something that will be important later in the story.

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At the same time, we need to be careful with this tool. Readers will only tolerate so much of this. Additionally, if we show readers something early in the story, it better show back up later or readers will be unsatisfied.

3. Connecting Unconnected Things

Providing readers with a puzzle to solve will engage their mind in the narrative. Sometimes the best way to do that is to give them two things that seem unconnected and force the protagonist to figure out how they relate to one another.

This is often used in murder mysteries. The victim of the crime was an upstanding citizen who loved his wife and kids. He also enjoyed online gaming and occasionally went jogging late at night. Readers will naturally begin to hypothesize how all of these elements might have played into his murder.

This can tool can also be used in love stories. The college freshman see the man of her dreams across the room and wants to know more about him. By asking around, she discovers that he plays lacrosse and has a strong group of friends he likes to hang out with, but every Saturday he goes on long walks alone through a rough area.

Because this long walk is against his stereotype, readers will want to know how this revelation is connected to the rest of the story.

The Challenge of Writing a Page-Turner

Telling stories people can’t put down is a difficult feat. Racing against the clock, hinting at solutions, and connecting unconnected things are three methods we can use to increase reader engagement in what we are doing.

What other methods do you use to build engagement in your stories? How do you keep your readers on the edge of their seats? Let me know in the comments.

PRACTICE

Today, engage your readers with a fascinating story. Take fifteen minutes to write a scene using one of the three tools above: hinting at a future solution, connecting unconnected things, or putting a protagonist in a situation where he or she needs to race against the clock.

When you’re done, share your scene in the comments below. Don’t forget to read and comment on your fellow writers’ scenes!

The post 3 Tricks to Build Suspense and Engage Your Readers appeared first on The Write Practice.

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First Look: Wilson FG Tour V6 Irons

The 20 Second Intro

Model: Wilson Staff FG Tour V6 Irons
Available Lofts: 4-GW
Stock Shaft: Dynamic Gold AMT (Ascending Mass Technology)
Retail Price: $999.99
Availability: 1/9/2017

By: John Barba

Don’t call it a comeback.

Every time Wilson Staff releases a new iron, cyberspace crackles with “Is Wilson Back?” stories. It’s trite, lame and a wholly invalid question, and it needs to stop.

If you’ve been paying any attention at all, then you know Wilson Staff has been back for at least four years now, cranking out some of the strongest irons across every category in the game (If you want the full story, check out MyGolfSpy's Wilson Staff "trilogy"). The company known for decades as the forged darlings of pro-level equipment is on a roll, and that roll is covered with buttah.

Back in 2012, Wilson’s FG Tour V2 irons received one of the highest ratings of any iron ever reviewed by MyGolfSpy. The follow-up V4 irons, with tungsten weighting to improve forgiveness, were equally strong and gamed by Wilson Staffers Kevin Streelman, Troy Merritt and Padraig Harrington.

And not for nothing, they’re one of the two best irons I’ve ever gamed.

Can Wilson make it 3 in a row with the FG Tour V6?

More Cow Bell!

Actually, make that “More Tungsten!”

There are several differences between the new V6's and the older V4's; many are cosmetic but there are a few technical enhancements that could lead to some real-world performance benefits for real-world golfers. Each iteration of Wilson's FG Tour V-series irons has featured long irons that were easier to hit than other better player's irons, but the V6 reaches now ground.

The V4’s featured 18-gram tungsten weights centered on the soles of the 3 through 7 irons. Those weights did what you’d expect. By lowering the center of gravity and increasing launch angle without increasing spin, Wilson made the V4's long irons remarkably forgiving and easy to get airborne for a player's cavity back.

Well, if 18 grams of tungsten is good, then 20 grams must be better, right?

Wilson added 2 grams worth of tungsten to the sole weights of the V6's 3- through 7-irons, for a total of 20 grams. The 20-gram inserts in the 6 and 7 irons are still centered in the sole of the V6 irons, but they’re split heel and toe on the 3, 4 and 5 irons, which essentially adds more perimeter weighting to a player's cavity back, without taking any mass away from the club's impact zone.

Does it have any affect? Well, forgiveness is a relative term when talking about a player's cavity back iron. But in this case, it applies. After two rounds and a handful of range sessions comparing the V4 and V6 long irons we found a noticeable difference. The V6 long irons were consistently easy to hit, and while the V4's were no slouch, there was a noticeable difference between the two. The V6 long irons are, quite simply, stupid-easy to launch long, high and on target.

An Interesting Shaft Choice

The split sole weighting certainly plays a part in making the V6's long irons easy to hit. But Wilson's choice of stock shaft finishes the job.

Wilson is using the Dynamic Gold AMT as the stock shaft for the V6 - with AMT standing for Ascending Mass Technology. It's an effective combo.

In plain English, Ascending Mass Technology means the shafts get progressively heavier, in 3-gram increments, as the the set transitions from long irons to wedges. The long iron shafts are in the 112- to 118-gram range, which - along with the split sole weighting - makes them easier to launch high with more spin and provide a steeper angle of descent to help hold the green. And as the irons get shorter, the shafts get heavier, topping out a Tour-level weight of 130 grams for the pitching and gap wedges to promote more accuracy and consistency.

Ascending weight shafts are nothing new. PING reintroduced its ascending weight shafts this year as an option for the new G irons, while Nippon and Aerotech both offer similar technology. When you combine lighter long iron shafts with long iron heads (which are lighter than short iron heads), you wind up with a club that's easier to swing and easier to get airborne. Add the split sole weighting of the V6 and you have a long iron with an MOI that can rival those of Game Improvement irons.

Wilson Cleans Up Nicely

If there was a criticism of Wilson’s V4 irons, it’s that some found the cavity design a tad too busy. With the V6’s, Wilson is returning to the cleaner, simpler look of the original FG Tours from 2010.

The black and mustard fill is gone. The cavity is all satin with just a hint of mustard colored striping, which is part of the FG Tour series branding.

This is a player’s iron, so the overall head size is reasonably compact, and there’s plenty of mass directly behind the impact area. Since the original FG Tour, Wilson has done a remarkable job of creating a soft, forged feeling iron out of 8620 carbon steel. You’ll know it when you hit the sweet spot (you'll be smiling), and you’ll know it when you don’t. Those slight mis-hits will still get you most of the way to your destination, but won’t rattle your metacarpals or phalanges.

And like most player’s irons, the V6’s stick to what would be considered traditional lofts.

Feel-Crossover-Distance

Wilson Staff categorizes its irons into three player profiles. Distance irons are SGI irons (the DEFY hybrid irons and D200 irons), while the Crossover category features Game Improvement irons (the C200’s and forged FG Tour F5’s).

The Feel category is Wilson’s term for better player’s irons. It includes both the FG Tour V6 and the now three-year old FG Tour 100 blades. There doesn’t appear to be an upgrade on the horizon for the blades, but Wilson is sticking to a 2-year product cycles for the rest of its iron lineup, as well as its woods. You can expect to see an upgrade to the D200 series announced in early 2017.

Wilson’s market share is right around 3%, and Wilson has reported sales growth in each of the past several years. That growth has been small and slow, but it has been steady, and Wilson management will tell you that in the current golf market, slow and steady growth beats the hell out of the alternative.

Can the growth continue? Can it be accelerated? Wilson’s marketing has traditionally been modest and budget conscious, and their Tour strategy is both conservative (they don’t spend huge dollars) and consistent (they stick with their guys). Wilson is investing big dollars in the upcoming Driver Vs. Driver program on the Golf Channel, which does signal intent to move to the next level.

When it comes to product, Wilson still struggles to develop standout metal woods and hybrids – their line is solid, but nothing jumps out and says “BUY ME!” We’ll see what comes from the Driver Vs. Driver program – the winning design will be made available for sale starting the day after Thanksgiving.

Irons and wedges, though, have always been the company’s strength, and the FG Tour V6 should definitely be on the must-demo list for any low to mid-handicapper.

Pricing, Specs, and Availability

The FG Tour V6 will retail for $999.99 for a 4-GW set. Stock grip is the Lamkin Crossline Black, and the stock shaft is the Dynamic Gold AMT.

The V6’s will be available in stores and online starting January 9^th.

from MyGolfSpy http://ift.tt/2cZSt55

The State Of Fitness Trackers in the Market Today

Advancements in the fitness tracker market is arguably one of the greatest breakthroughs of the 21st century since the introduction of smartphones. They have – in less than 5 years – grown to become a tool that is used and loved by all forms of people. Whether you are an Ironman athlete, a weekend warrior, or someone looking to make some positive lifestyle changes, we can all benefit from the quickly changing health tracking and feedback technology.

Types of Fitness Trackers in the Marketplace

The most common fitness trackers tend to take the shape of a wristwatch or wristband. Others are worn as garments, jewelry, chest straps and even headphones. What really determines how and where a fitness tracker will be worn has very little to do with the functionality but rather when and where the tracker would be worn.

Basis Peak is a stylish fitness tracker with smartwatch-like notifications http://t.co/itzI5Mha2A via @getswayy #fitness #tracker

— Dai Manuel (@daimanuel) October 7, 2014

With competition for market share stiffening and marketing becoming more global in reach with social media, it’s easier and less costly for anyone, regardless of whether or not they are established, can earn a customer base with a well-planned marketing strategy.

That calls for a smarter way to get a competitive edge over rivals and attract potential users, which has led to manufacturers integrating as many features as they possibly can, as well as leveraging the power of social networks, influencer marketing and let’s be honest, which one looks sexier and cooler on my person.

Fashion trends, for instance, have inspired a number of manufacturers including Bragi who built in-ear headphones with appended fitness tracking sensors. Wireless Bluetooth earphones was, and still is, an upcoming fashion trend that Bragi wanted to take advantage of. Hexoskin and Heddoko are also cases in point, are two apparel manufacturers have come up with shirts that can record various health data during workout sessions and connect with your smartphone or computer for easy display and readily available feedback.

.@LifeBEAM's #Vi technology crushed it on @kickstarter today – almost 200% funded in 15 hours! WHOA! https://t.co/oWJMQUUoeK #LifeBeam

— Dai Manuel (@daimanuel) June 2, 2016

Manufacturers are drawing inspiration from everyday phenomena and events hoping it will attract the interest of prospective buyers, and that’s pressuring the rapid evolution of both tech and design.

Fitness Tracker Brands

There’s dozens and dozens of different fitness tracker brands, pedaling thousands of models on the market right now. However only but a few have gained the trust of significant customer bases and made it into the mainstream.

The likes of Fitbit, Jawbone, TomTom and Garmin are ruling the market as specialized manufacturers while tech giants such as Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Lenovo, LG and Sony are also making way into the activity tracker market in a big way.

Loving my new @TomTom – very slick interface and has GPS! Nice right? http://pic.twitter.com/fYDoIcJYXR

— Dai Manuel (@daimanuel) September 24, 2016

No one brand has owned the Global market outright as brands and manufacturers are constantly improving their designs, and increasing the sophistication of the tech daily. That being said, geographically speaking there’s some notable leaders based on their market dominance. Xiaomi, for instance is an indisputable giant in China and most parts of Asia but cannot compete with Garmin and Vivofit in Europe and America.

Apple Watch on the other hand has relatively lower sales in Asia and African countries yet does very well within the United States and Western European markets.

Brand Classifications of Activity Trackers

Wearable devices come in various forms:

• Fitness trackers
• Smart bracelets
• Smartwatches
• Fitness-trackers-cum-smart-bracelets
• Smart-bracelets-cum-smartwatches
• Smartwatches-cum-fitness-trackers-cum-smart-bracelets
• Smartwatches-cum-fitness-trackers-cum-smart-bracelets

Since the wearable industry is still in evolution, there is no particular shape and size that has been identified as “THE” standard for a wearable device.

Most of these manufacturers are still trying to find that most desirable design, which is driving a lot of the innovative (and weird) frames that have come and gone in the wearable market. One thing to note is that the shape and size barely have anything to do with functionality; virtually all fitness trackers perform the same basic functions.

The State of Fitness Trackers – a Manifesto [an Infographic]

If you would like to know more about the current state of fitness trackers, our friends from appcessories.co.uk have created this handy infographic to show where we are and where we’re going. Check out the full article here.

 

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