SWIMTAG is now in Australia!

Australian swimmers can hope to follow in the splashes of professional athletes thanks to the clever new piece of swimming gear.

 

The winner of the 2015 Best Wearable Technology (Measurement) award at the Sports Technology Awards (London) has made its way to the Australian shores.

 

SWIMTAG, in winning the award, beat out some more widely recognised technology powerhouses (like Garmin, Tom Tom & Catapult Sports). In keeping all a person’s data, the SWIMTAG is for swimmers, what Nike+ or Runkeeper is for runners.
SWIMTAG bracelets and stand for 222 Sports Ltd, 3-8-14
SWIMTAG wristbands & Tower

 

Bruce Ross, a glazier from Croydon (Melbourne), has been using it since Jan 2015 at his local indoor pool and has really enjoyed using SWIMTAG. He holds the distinction of being the Australian who has done the most kilometres with SWIMTAG so far.

 

As a result of a hip injury, Bruce needed to switch from running and incorporate swimming as a means of keeping on top of weight and health issues. He started using the device to keep track of his swim distance and the time it took to swim his weekday 1500 metres.

 

Bruce notes the efficiency that SWIMTAG has made to his swim. Swimming in a 25 metre pool made it cumbersome to keep count with the clock on the wall. Now, his results await him after having returned the SWIMTAG to Reception. By the time he has finished his shower, the results are delivered to his email address.

 

The 52 year old, who classifies himself as ‘an average swimmer’, has plans to participate in the Lorne Pier to Pub race in 2016. He utilises the 5 day a week swim session to train for his goal and SWIMTAG is a key part of that preparation.

 

Bruce’s does have one tip for future users of SWIMTAG. “Don’t keep the wristband on if you’re not swimming. Moving your arms around (like a warm down stretch) will give you extra metres on your swim record!”.

 

Being such a consistent user, Bruce has already clocked up 146.7kms of swimming from his 92 swims and loves using the device. He finds the SWIMTAG strap very comfortable and no issue to swim with.

 

Now, just like Bruce, other Australian swimmers and aquatic facilities can benefit from this technology which opens up the ability to ‘See Your Swim’ in the pool.

The creator of the system – 222 Sports Limited’s Managing Director, Kieran Sloyan, comments: “The SWIMTAG technology is simple to use, monitor and analyse and will be a useful tool for both swimmers and the leisure centre operators”.

 

The System:

SWIMTAG is a web-based interface that enables swimmers of all levels to track their activity in their local clubs swimming pool. The lightweight & robust wristband has no buttons or displays, so it’s easy to use.
Battery powered transmitters installed around the pool detect and record your freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke and butterfly lengths, pace, stroke length and calories burned. Swimmers of all abilities can use it to set themselves challenges, race against others (virtually) or train for events.

Users of facilities with SWIMTAG, collect a wristband at Reception upon arrival. They then go to their pool and complete their swimming activity. Members return the wristband to a specially designated docking station – the ‘SWIMTAG Tower’ at the end of their session, where all data is uploaded to their personalised online profile.

The account also sends an email to the swimmer’s nominated email address within minutes of returning the wristband back to Reception.

Swimtag_Info_Pack-004-23

The fact you give your wristband in at the end of the swim means users have nothing to worry about. We imagine it’ll be a successful system for swimmers of all levels, but particularly for swimming clubs where there is a need to monitor the individual performances of swimmers quite closely.” Becca Caddy, blogger from Goggleblog (is a website for those who just love to swim)

 

The swimmer’s SWIMTAG account records specific swim data and creates graphs for easy visual reading. The ability to post this summary on social media encourages the swimmer, via their personal circle and SWIMTAG communities, to continue with their swimming goals.

 

swim engaged

 

A quick search on Twitter under #SWIMTAG reveals daily how large the social media community has grown (see Swimtag’s Twitter feed) and how successful this method is in encouraging the community to better their own personal goals or compete against each other.

 

Additionally, there is also numerous blogs mentioning daily SWIMTAG data feeds included in their personal story, highlighting the benefits that the device brings to the individual. See Mike Cook’s blog as an example.

 

While it is plain to see across the social media sites daily what a benefit the technology brings to the end user, for the facility, there is also supporting evidence what a strategic business advantage it brings.

 

Not only will the active social media communities promote the swimmer’s achievements, but they also bring swimmers to facilities that have the functionality.

 

There are all kinds of similarities with running apps and services like Nike+ and Runkeeper, because you can select special training plans, add friends from social networks, share your swims and even set challenges too. There’s also integration with online charity platform ‘JustGiving’ as well, so you can raise money for your swims and prove that you’ve done them afterwards.

 

Fitness Australia in their article in April 2015 mentioned:

“Technology has enabled the industry to better understand movement leading to the development of more scientifically backed programs, wearable technologies have allowed consumers to take control of their training and track their performance, and the equipment in fitness facilities offers more features and functions than ever before”.

In highlighting SWIMTAG, Fitness Australia summarized it as;

“a data tracker specifically designed for swimmers and available to fitness businesses and leisure centres with a pool. The wristband tracks data such as distance per stroke and stroke rate and is promoted as being a value add for clubs.”

From 3 years of operation, starting in the UK and spreading throughout Europe and into the Unites States of America, data is showing what a difference the technology offers aquatic facilities.

The technology provide pool operators with an interesting insight into pool usage. The leisure centre operator will be able to monitor who is swimming, when, and how often. Local pool information can be fed to the SWIMTAG group via their personal profile page.

“Technology such as this is key to educating local communities on the benefit of physical activity; just half an hour in the pool can burn around 300 calories. Regular swimming and water based activities can help with weight control, cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone, posture and flexibility.”

Phill from side 2

SWIMTAG: An important motivational tool

SWIMTAG has been noted as an important motivational tool but also a great tool for setting tailored personal programs that help motivate individuals.

“It really comes into its own however when the personal trainers take the data from your swim and can analyse it to devise a plan to make you an even better swimmer.” – Counsellor Graham Cain, Cabinet member for Leisure and Tourism, Blackpool Council (UK)

 

Susan Rosetto, Group Health and Wellbeing Manager at DC Leisure (a UK organisation that uses SWIMTAG), comments: “Being able to monitor individual performance, set training programmes and compete with others is a key motivational tool for swimmers.

A recent survey has revealed that 52 per cent of swimmers had been motivated by using SWIMTAG and 62 per cent said it had helped them improve their swimming – thereby increasing member retention at the facility.

An independent survey conducted at one of the Virgin Active (UK) pools found similar results:

  • 52% of swimmers said “keeping motivated” was their main aim in using SWIMTAG
  • 90% of users stated that it helped them achieve this
  • 69% of swimmers said that SWIMTAG helped improve their swimming
  • 62% of users stated they had been swimming more regularly since using SWIMTAG
  • 74% of users stated they spent more time swimming while using SWIMTAG
  • 69% of swimmers said that if SWIMTAG was included as part of the membership it would encourage them to sign up

The start of SWIMTAG in Australia has been successful in replicating the results that have been seen in Europe now for 3 years.

In the UK (where it has been founded and operating the longest), some facilities charge members for the use of the system, while others include it as an increased member offering. Links Modular Solutions suggest initially to offer it as a value-add for swim membership. Links is able to offer the product as a stand-alone system, or for those aquatic facilities who already use Links software, the chance to integrate it into the Links solution.

 

For those swimmers who would like to try SWIMTAG for themselves, go here to find out which facilities have SWIMTAG operating at the moment in Australia.

 

For more information on the SWIMTAG system, check out www.swimtag.com.au or direct your enquiries to swimtag@linksmodularsolutions.com

 

References:

http://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech/wearables-win-at-the-sports-technology-awards-1002
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11690331.Technology_to_help_set_new_swimming_records/
http://www.ptmagazine.co.uk/dc-leisure-introduces-new-swimtag-technology/
http://fitness.org.au/articles/most-recent/award-winning-technology/50/669/184#3
http://www.virgin.com/news/hot-2013-swimtag-explained
https://mikecookonline.wordpress.com/tag/swimtag/
http://www.onenewspage.com/n/Press+Releases/750octnr0/222-Sports-Launch-New-mini-Club-SWIMTAG.htm
https://www.ribblevalley.gov.uk/news/article/659/residents_invited_to_take_the_plunge_for_fitness
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/community-news/new-gadget-at-swim-centre-1-6376638
http://www.goggleblog.com/features/1655/1655.html
http://www.ambervalley.info/newsarticle.asp?newsid=1343
http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Swimtag-makes-splash-fitness-world-Bath/story-16510934-detail/story.html
http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Swimtag-makes-splash-fitness-world-Bath/story-16510934-detail/story.html#ixzz3fvqrBpcb

Written & compiled by Peter Kamper for Links Modular Solutions

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