The Malaysian Insider :: Features

Mobile devices may boost fitness levels: study

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 07:31 AM PST

NEW YORK, Nov 28 — Consumers have options galore when it comes to portable fitness trackers and smartphone apps. But do they actually motivate you to work out harder, longer? Maybe, at least according to a new analysis of 11 studies.

Published last week in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, researchers from the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana looked at studies involving a total of more than 1,350 subjects. Eight of the studies used text messaging to offer motivation, four relied on smartphone apps, and two used self reports on PDAs.

In terms on how the studies measured physical fitness, the tools vary from self-reports on the number of days a week spent walking to pedometer step counts and accelerometer counts per minute.

While three of the studies the researchers examined showed no effect, the others did show a boost in fitness, especially with the SMS-based intervention, study author Jason Fanning told Mobihealthnews. Still, since the data was too slim to draw statistically significant conclusions, he added, more research needs to be done on products such as Fitbit, Jawbone's UP, and BodyMedia's FIT armband.

According to research firm ABI, the market for wearable fitness devices is expecting to explode, and consumers can expect to see 90 million shipments of such gadgets in 2017.

A new survey from Pew Internet Project finds that a fifth of Americans are tracking their health and fitness using an app, mobile device, or website.

Access the study: http://goo.gl/Q5TPZ — AFP-Relaxnews

British Fashion Awards: Stella steals the day

Posted: 28 Nov 2012 06:16 AM PST

Polish model Anja Rubik presents a creation by Stella McCartney during the Spring/Summer 2013 ready-to-wear collection show on October 1, 2012 in Paris. — AFP pic

LONDON, Nov 28 — Stella McCartney took home two top prizes at Tuesday's British Fashion Awards. The London-based designer and daughter of Beatle Paul McCartney was named Designer of the Year and Designer Brand 2012 at the awards, held at the luxury Savoy hotel.

Stella McCartney has had one hell of a 2012: first her time in the spotlight this summer as designer of the Olympic and Paralympic uniforms and Team GB kit, then a series of successful runway collections shown in Paris, and the announcement this fall that the brand has seen substantial growth from 2011 to 2012 -- sales were up 19 percent to £21 million ($34 million).

The year will have ended on a high, as McCartney was announced as the winner of two major gongs at the 2012 British Fashion Awards. Stella picked up Designer of the Year and then took to the stage again to accept the Designer Brand 2012 on behalf of her namesake label.

McCartney shared an anecdote with the attendees regarding the label's origins after she left an unnamed Parisian design house (most likely the Chloé label she headed from 1997 to 2001) where she had been told by a"top man at this brand" that she would fail. As the Telegraph reported, it was this challenge that spurred her on: "I couldn't be more determined to prove him wrong. And with this award I feel like I am at the start of doing that."

Hosted by Gemma Arterton and Nick Grimshaw, the awards welcomed stars from around the world including Amber Valletta, Valentino, Manolo Blahnik, the UK Prime Minister's wife Samantha Cameron, Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton, Christopher Kane and Alexa Chung.

Young catwalk star Cara Delevingne took home the prize as Model of the Year, beating off competition from Jourdan Dunn and D&G man David Gandy. The 20-year-old Delevingne burst onto the scene this fall, walking in shows by Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, and Stella McCartney.

Menswear Designer 2012 went to Kim Jones, former designer at Dunhill and now in charge of the men's collections at Louis Vuitton.

Full list of winners:

Designer of the Year- Stella McCartney

Designer Brand - Stella McCartney

Special Recognition - Harold Tillman

Outstanding Achievement in Fashion - Manolo Blahnik

Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator - Professor Louise Wilson

Accessory Designer - Nicholas Kirkwood

New Establishment - Erdem

Menswear Designer - Kim Jones

Emerging Talent Award - RTW - J.W.Anderson

Emerging Talent Menswear - Jonathan Saunders

Emerging Talent Award Accessories - Sophie Hulme

Model - Cara Delevigne

Red Carpet Award - Roksanda Ilincic

British Style Award - Alexa Chung

— AFP-Relaxnews

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Rabu, 28 November 2012

The Malaysian Insider :: Features

The Malaysian Insider :: Features

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan