Koko Fitness envisioned exercise technology that could provide feedback to users as they train, allowing them to adjust their form and maximize the effectiveness of their workouts.
Based on our work with sports and fitness equipment, Koko reached out to form a partnership that combined our technical expertise with their knowledge of consumer experience and marketing.
Athletes have trained with equipment for centuries, but the interaction between athlete and machine has always been an open loop with no feedback. Our challenge was to close that loop and devise a way for athletes to make a plan, execute that plan, and get real-time and post-workout feedback from the equipment.
We began by fitting a range of sensors to various machine components and optical readers to the machine’s cables and weights to explore what information could be available and relevant to athletes. These measurements allowed us to calculate the athlete’s range of motion, velocity, and extension, among other insights.
We worked with the Koko Fitness team to identify relevant data and build an impactful user experience that presents athletes with valuable information.
We designed a pivoting, easily adjustable screen that users can view in any workout position. The screen displays performance targets for an athlete to meet alongside real-time data from their workout, which allows the user to adjust their movement in order to align with the goal. A USB port in the machine allows users to load pre-programmed workouts, record performance statistics, and track progress over time.
The resulting product successfully paired innovative technology with a well-designed user experience to provide athletes with information that was previously inaccessible. Koko Fitness has since used this technology to establish their own chain of fitness clubs with over 100 locations in North America.
