ROSEMONT, IL--(Marketwired - Jan 5, 2015) - "Connected fitness" via wearables, one of the biggest trends at this year's CES, has made fitness tracking simpler, but not necessarily streamlined -- until now. For tracking to be most accurate, popular apps and wearable devices need access to an exerciser's workout data from fitness equipment like treadmills and stationary bikes. That's the idea behind LFopen, the industry's only truly open platform technology, featured by Life Fitness at 2015 International CES (Sands, booth #74710) and utilized in exhibitor booths across the show, including Samsung Electronics.

Connected Fitness Meets Personal Preference
"As the global leader in commercial fitness equipment, Life Fitness is defining what 'connected fitness' truly means with the most open and versatile technology available," said Chris Clawson, president, Life Fitness. "Our open platform enables customized, unique workout experiences that developers can incorporate into their own products without restrictions, while empowering exercisers to take control of their own fitness data to meet their goals. It's a wellness-focused approach that elevates the entire industry by addressing the demand for greater personalization and customization."

Because of this unparalleled compatibility, Life Fitness open platform technology will be showcased with several of the hottest fitness products from other exhibitors at the show, including:

  • Samsung Electronics - An exerciser using Bluetooth® LE on the Samsung Galaxy® Note 4 can approach a Life Fitness cardio machine with a Discover™ Tablet Console and be automatically connected. They will also have the ability to adjust select machine controls via the device. At the show, Samsung will demo the Samsung Gear™ S communicating with a Lifecycle Upright bike by automatically adjusting bike resistance to keep the exerciser in their target heart rate zone.
  • Polar - The heart rate monitor manufacturer will showcase a Bluetooth connection between their devices and a Life Fitness treadmill. In addition, the company will use a Life Fitness treadmill to complete the running portion of their first-ever Polar CES IronTri.
  • Sensoria - Sensoria's smart garments, including t-shirts, sports bras and socks, are infused with textile sensors that gather heart rate force and pressure data, and can connect to Life Fitness equipment via Bluetooth.
  • Mio Global - Mio products provide performance-accurate heart rate data without a chest strap and connect to Life Fitness equipment using Bluetooth technology.
  • Fitlinxx - The company's new AmpStrip™ is a comfortable, 24/7 heart rate wearable that adheres to the skin and monitors heart rate, as well as rest and recovery. It achieves seamless and efficient data synching via Bluetooth.

"People are looking to connected fitness as a way to simplify and consolidate their fitness tracking needs," Clawson added. "Streamlined data makes this easier for consumers, which is a major incentive for developers to incorporate this technology into their health and fitness products."

Open Platform for All-Access Development
Life Fitness was the first fitness equipment manufacturer to open portions of its product platform in 2012, allowing developers access so third-parties, including fitness facilities, can create applications that work directly with Life Fitness equipment. This unmatched access opens an entire world of possibilities for exercisers and facilities alike. Consider the following scenarios:

  • With this technology, advanced, accurate metrics from Life Fitness cardio equipment can be uploaded instantly into any enabled fitness app, such as Jawbone, Fitbit or MyFitnessPal.
  • Personal trainers can remotely access the information obtained from a client's previous session on a Life Fitness cardio machine to create and share a new workout with specific metrics, such as resistance or speed, for continual progression and improvement. The exerciser then only has to sync up, select the workout and begin.
  • Facilities can create their own apps that offer rewards for achieving certain goals and metrics on Life Fitness equipment, inspiring members and promoting a sense of community.

Life Fitness technology will also be the subject of a moderated panel at the 2015 FitnessTech Summit, which runs in conjunction with CES. Life Fitness Senior Product Manager Anthony Morelli will discuss how this technology has created new possibilities for personal trainers, health clubs and equipment manufacturers, while also creating a more enjoyable and productive workout environment.

For more information on the 2015 FitnessTech Summit, visit http://sportsandfitnesstech.com. For more information about Life Fitness equipment and technology, visit www.lifefitness.com.

About Life Fitness
 Life Fitness is the global leader in commercial fitness equipment. The company manufactures and sells strength and cardiovascular equipment under the brand names Life Fitness and Hammer Strength and distributes its equipment in more than 120 countries. Headquartered outside Chicago, in Rosemont, Ill., Life Fitness is a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC).