Why playing sports should become your new fitness activity today

It may seem strange to some, but physical activity is also done through our computers and devices nowadays! And in this sense, the expression ‘playing sports’ has a double meaning, also covering the sports that we play through our digital tools.

Over the past few years, there has been a significant development of indoor sports activities in our homes. As a result, we have found ourselves exercising in our living rooms to stay fit – and it has worked out well, as technology has come to our aid in important ways.

The intersection of the real and the virtual

This is not the first time that physical experiences have been offered through IT tools. There are examples in many other fields: for example, the betting sector, which has now largely moved online thanks to the activity of many international operators, who through modern portals can propose innovative systems such as a PA sports betting bonus and in game bonuses, which enables you to optimise your online bets.

The same is true of the varied sports sector, on which certain game producers have intervened specifically. For example, this was the case with the famous Nintendo console Wii, developed to target the sports sector in particular. The Japanese company, a competitor of Sony and Microsoft, had identified in sport a niche left uncovered by its competitors, and in 2005 launched its system, which differed from that of its competitors mainly in its interface, i.e. controllers equipped with an accelerometer, where it was possible to interact through the movement of the arms, and not with the traditional joypad.

This primary feature, together with having a pointing system at the screen, ensured that sports games were made easy, without the need for additional peripherals, which also proved very popular. One of them is the Wii Balance Board, a gaming peripheral that was used to play WiiFit, also measuring body mass index, centre of gravity and body weight. The Wii has proved to be a great success: Nintendo has sold over 100 million of them worldwide, which shows how much people love to play sports… by playing!

And let’s not forget apps

It’s no news that the amazing growth in the smartphone and device sector is one of the most successful trends of our digital evolution: and with the enhancement of technology and the possibilities offered by smartphones and tablets, we have seen a growth in apps dedicated to staying in shape: whatever sport we intend to do, there is a dedicated app that helps us reach our goals and monitor the results achieved during our training.

There are free systems, often with the possibility of accessing advanced functions by paying a subscription. To name a few, one of the most popular is Adidas Training by Runtastic, which offers a complete workout path for those starting from scratch, from walking to more advanced activities. And if you’re short on time, you can try 7 Min Workout, an app focused on giving you the ability to train in just seven minutes, with specific exercise blocks.