In this third ideas post, Andy describes his ideas for a social network for a specific interest – fitness.
The Current Situation — Why do we need this
In current social networks, users share daily routines with their friends.
However, it is hard to filter out certain information for user’s specific interest. For example, running enthusiasts, existing social network cannot provide a suitable communication mechanism so that they can exchange running information easily, especially with more adoptions in runners with products like Nike+ and Fitbit. Currently, these two products allow users to share their data on Twitter or Facebook. Unfortunately, not everyone in those two social networks is interested in this data, the interactions between runners are intended to be weak.
The solution
Nike+ and Fitbit are the devices which can track users’ running activities, like distance, speed and calorie consumption. With Fitbit, it can even track sleeping time and the steps made during a day. Therefore, we can create a social network specifically for the runners. Fitbit has an official API while data in Nike+ needs some hacks to obtain. Deploying these two APIs so that data uploaded by users can be displayed or used in the network. As a result, a Nike+ user can have updates from a Fitbit user, vice versa. Therefore, they are not separated because of different tracking devices.
The values to the users
Because users’ running data is imported into the network, some machine learning metrics/algorithms can be utilised to analyse user behaviours and then the application can make recommendations to users. For example, suggesting nearby runners to users, suggesting diets and training plans and even provide gym membership comparisons. Users can have better advices for their exerises meanwhile they are able to meet new friends who are also interested in running.
Similar Apps
Path is a mobile application that just supports users upload their Nike+ data(12 March). However, it is still a Facebook-like application but focus more on mobile clients.
Challenges and Issues
As mentioned previously, retrieving data from Nike+ is not as easy as fetching it from Fitbit. Moreover, Nike+ and Fitbit themselves have already built up networks that allow users share running information. More importanly, keeping users actively using the application is not an easy task since Facebook, twitter and other social networks have taken their most of the time.