The popular cycling and running app Strava has added a safety 'Beacon' feature to let contacts know where users are training.
Strava users can use the 'Beacon' feature to share a live workout with up to three contacts. The feature will let contacts monitor where users are running or cycling, which is a great safety feature if training early in the morning, later at night, or not in particularly safe areas. Users send a unique URL to their contacts, so non Strava users can access the link to track the user's training. The 'Beacon' feature will show contacts if the user has been paused for a long period of time, if the user has low battery, or if the user has wandered out of cell coverage. The safety feature is only available for Strava premium subscribers.
The 'Beacon' feature is a great safety feature for anyone who trains alone or in off areas of the day.
Safety-Conscious Training Apps
Strava's 'Beacon' Feature Shows Contacts Where Users Are Training
Trend Themes
1. Safety-conscious Training Apps - Strava's 'Beacon' feature sets a trend for safety-conscious training apps by allowing users to share their live workout locations with contacts.
2. Live Workout Tracking - The 'Beacon' feature introduces a trend of live workout tracking, enabling contacts to monitor users' training activities in real-time.
3. Enhanced Safety Features - Strava's 'Beacon' feature highlights the trend of enhanced safety features in fitness apps, offering users peace of mind while training alone or in unsafe locations.
Industry Implications
1. Fitness Apps - The 'Beacon' feature has the potential to disrupt the fitness app industry by appealing to safety-conscious users and setting a new standard for training applications.
2. Mobile Safety Technology - The introduction of safety features like the 'Beacon' feature in Strava opens up opportunities for innovation in the mobile safety technology industry, as more companies prioritize user safety.
3. Wearable Tech - The trend of safety-conscious training apps, exemplified by Strava's 'Beacon' feature, presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the wearable tech industry, incorporating real-time tracking and safety alerts into fitness wearables.