Being Ahead Of Your Time - Apple's Newton & iPad

The term "PDA" (personal digital assistant) was coined around Apple's Newton. Launched in 1993 at a price of $699, the Newton project was thought by many to be an abject failure (Jobs cancelled it shortly after terminating John Sculley) - but was it ? Reflecting on its history, the device was ahead of its time and technology. Consider that in September 2009, Michael Tchao, one of the Newton's marketing product champions, returned to Apple to join the iPad team and two ex-Apple Newton developers founded Pixo, the company that created the operating system for the original iPod. in fact, the nexus for iPad was Newton. (Kim Arnold shares this view here).

When writing or speaking about the future and the rapid pace of technological change that is and will increasingly impact everyone (particularly in the fitness and wellness arena) ; its often good to reflect on past "failures", seeing where they ultimately end up. The tablet market is now the 4th largest consumer electronics category in the world at nearly $9 billion annually.What does that say about Newton ?

So what do you think ? Please let me, Bryan O'Rourke, here from you. Was Newton a failure ? Watch the iPad and Newton commercials below. I think there are some similarities don't you ?

Think Mobile Trends & Social Media Are Related - You Bet They Are

The infographic above shows the current size of major social networks as well as the other well-known online services used on a daily basis relative to their peers. It also overlays the size of each company’s mobile user base. You’ll see Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, MySpace, LinkedIn, and more (wonder why Microsoft paid what they did for Skype?). Check out the agency’s infographic from last year to see the relative changes. Notable differences include: The rise of Chinese Qzone and Twitter, the fall of Myspace, and the stasis of Friendster.

Below are stats from JESS3 to consider. Please tell me, Bryan O'Rourke, what are your thoughts about these trends ? Is your business, your fitness or wellness business or any business or organization for that matter, planning, thinking or preparing for the revolution tied to these technologies ? I look forward to hearing your thoughts about what is happening and what is next.

Some other notable trends in the geosocial universe, courtesy of JESS3:

• Mobile: 5.3 billion mobile devices are used worldwide — that’s 77 percent of the world’s population
• Smartphones: 21.8 percent of all mobile devices are smartphones. Despite what one might think, Apple does not top the list in sales—Nokia does
• Skype: Mobile usage continues to increase thanks to Skype’s wise investment in apps and its mobile platform
• Facebook: Now tops 629 million registered users with almost 250 million people accessing the site via mobile
• Qzone: China’s version of Facebook, Qzone, is experiencing supernova-like growth with 480 million registered users
• Twitter: Broke the 200 million registered user mark with nearly 40 percent of people tweeting via mobile
• Email: Hotmail still dominates email, but Gmail is gaining fast
• Yelp: Yelp is topping 50 million unique visitors per month. Its move to team up with OpenTable earlier this year will only increase its relevancy
• Foursquare and Gowalla: These geosocial specialists are still growing, but growth seems to be slowing down a bit

Interviewed By Jim McPartland - What Are Your Unopened Gifts ? Watch

I met Jim McPartland at IHRSA in 2010. He was a facilitator and consultant to Les Mills International and its founder Phillip Mills at the time. Little did I know he'd be interviewing me on his show just over a year later.

Jim struck me with his manner and curiosity; in a good way. Ironically, not long after meeting Jim, I would be working with Michael Bruno, who purchased Star Trac, an organization that Jim McPartland transformed over 16 years as a Shareholder and President. The world is a small place isn't it ?

"Mac", as he is called by some, is now a speaker and adviser to key players in the fitness, wellness and business world in general. I recommend him highly. He kindly sat down to have a chat with me about "unopened gifts" on his weekly radio - tv show which airs every Thursday at 5 pm PST (the interview is below). It was a fun interview.

Jim is pursuing the publishing of his first book about "unopened gifts". Watch the interview below to learn more and tell me, Bryan O'Rourke, what are the things in your life that you feel are unopened gifts ? Please share your views and tell me your thoughts on the interview. Thanks Jim McPartland for having me on. I look forward to working together more closely in the months and years ahead.

Video chat by Stickam.com

Video chat by Stickam.com

Mobile Tagging Will Have A Huge Impact On The Fitness Industry

Check out this report from PSFK on key trends in mobile tagging. Mobile tags will offer a unique opportunity for brands to interact with existing and prospective customers. The report shows how. Contact me Bryan O'Rourke, and let me know your thoughts - are you planning on using the emerging trend of mobile tagging in your fitness or health club business ? Check out my upcoming GGFA webinar on mobile technologies in health clubs.

PSFK presents Future Of Mobile Tagging Report

View more presentations from PSFK

 About the author Bryan O’Rourke:

Bryan O’Rourke is a health club industry expert, technologist, financeer, shareholder and executive in several fitness and health club business service companies and has advised many global brands on strategy and execution. He is also a partner in The Health Club For Women and Chairman of the Medical Fitness Association’s Education Committee. To learn more contact Bryan here today .

Setting Professional Licensing Standards - Should We ?

Perhaps you've seen the news, bills in Georgia and Texas are the latest legislation that has been introduced relating to personal trainer licensing.This, along with other pending legislative initiatives, are opposed by IHRSA, which said in a recent statement regarding one of the bills, "“The legislation, SB 695, would be extremely detrimental to the industry and would have the dual effect of reducing the number of personal trainers and group exercise instructors and the number of consumers who are able to use their services to pursue healthier lifestyles." Really ? So is the answer to battle each legisltative issue state by state and assume there should NOT be a minimum standard ? (see follow up post from Helen Drukin below cliarfying IHRSA position).

This morning I read an article by Elaine Platt, owner of Smart Workout, titled "We Need To Set The Standard For Licensing Legislation". In the article Elaine writes:

From what I’ve read, it appears that the umbrella organizations of our industry are against requiring licensing. It is from this position that I respectfully dissent. I believe that licensing is much needed and would be positive for the industry. I implore these organizations to re-deploy their lobbying efforts. Instead of trying to defeat this legislation, they should endeavor to ensure their own participation in the licensing process. Our industry organizations should work with legislators to formulate legislation providing that certifications from agencies recommended by them would become the criteria for obtaining a license. States don’t know how to measure competency in the fitness field. They need industry groups to provide them with standards.

Isn't Elain right ? How can we move the fitness industry forward to become a meaningful solution to the sick care crisis without uniform minimal certification standards ? Do you think doctors are going to be comfotrable referring their patients to facilities without standards ? Many of the industrialized countries around the world have these requirements. As an article titled "Dangerous Personal Trainers pointed out in Women's Health:

Trainers don't need to meet any federal or state requirements. Even the woman who waxes your upper lip may have had more training--and she is certainly subject to more legal oversight--than the one who pushes your cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous systems; jacks up your heart rate and blood pressure; and strains your joints and ligaments.

Why do you think organization's like IHRSA oppose minimum fitness trainer certification standards ? Please write me Bryan O'Rourke, and share your views. What's keeping the fitness industry from helping to create a solution to this problem and elevate the industry ? What do you think ?

About the author:

Bryan O’Rourke is a health club industry expert, technologist, financier, and shareholder and executive in several fitness companies. He consults with global brands, serves as a member of the GGFA Think Tank is Chair of the Medical Fitness Association’s Education Committee, is President of the Fitness Industry Technology Council and a partner in Fitmarc, Integerus, Fitsomo and the Flywheel Group. To learn more contact Bryan here today .

Update on 2011-05-12 13:04 by Bryan K. O'Rourke

I contacted Helen Durkin, JD, who is Executive VP of Public Policy at the International Health Racquet and Sport Club Association. She kindly took a moment to clarify IHRSA's position.

Hi Bryan,

The Club Industry article is a bit misleading. Most of the legislation mentioned in the article was just bad legislation. The worse for example is NJ which would have create one private company in NJ that would be the only company that could do the training for personal training. It was our believe that it would it would effectively kill the personal training industry in NJ.

Here is the Board position on personal training

IHRSA recommends that clubs hire personal trainers who hold either a current certification from a certifying body that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) or have a training certificate or degree from an educational institution accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education.

Before coming to this position, the Board worked with a large group of personal training organizations over a couple of years to examine three different models for personal training regulation. The third party certification method captured in the language above.  This is the same basic model we use for lawyers in the US. (An example close to home.) This is the same kind of model that is going on with the health club facility standards being developed by NSF.

IHRSA isn't apposed to all legislation. We support legislation in Massachusetts, which would serve to establish minimum standards, protect against ill conceived licensure, and ensure that the first personal trainer law to go on the books in the country reflects our board position.

I also have to say on a personal level, after working with state government administering the consumer protection laws and other regulations on clubs, I don't believe that state governments would do a good job at licensing personal trainers. Bottomline, I think IHRSA does support standards for personal trainers, just not state licensing.  I'm happy to discuss this if you would like.

Thanks for clarifying this point Helen.