It doesn't take a doctor to know that many residents of the Emirates should slip an extra workout or two into their schedule each week, although making fitness fun is always the challenge.
Q&A: Technology is creeping into all kinds of workouts, including those conducted in water.
Last Updated: May 31, 2011
What kinds of gadgets can be used underwater? There are a number of waterproof MP3 players that come with waterproof headphones, such as the Merlin Swim MP3. It's sold for US$89 (Dh327) in the UAE and stores more than 1,000 songs.
Are there other brands available? Yes, although they may have to be purchased through online retailers in the US or UK. H20 Friendly produces a model that can play FM radio underwater. The Finis SwiMP3 player is unique in that it uses bone-conduction technology to transmit sound to the ear through water.
How many consumers are using technology while working out? A survey in the US by the Consumer Electronics Association found nearly half of consumers have used fitness technology, while 37 per cent anticipate purchasing a fitness gadget by August.
Fortunately, more consumer electronics manufacturers are rolling out health-related gadgets, including souped-up scales that provide much more than a person's weight and can be a good starting point before beginning a new workout regimen. The Binatone BS-8045 bathroom scale, which is priced at Dh109 (US$29.67) on souq.com, includes a fat analyser feature and enough digital memory to store data for a dozen individuals.
For $159, the Withings Wifi Bodyscale crunches an individual's fat mass and body mass index. It even posts the data wirelessly to a smartphone app or via Twitter and Facebook updates, for those brave enough to share such information publicly.
Aspiring runners might be encouraged to know they can boost endurance by 15 per cent, and actually feel more positive when hitting the treadmill at high intensity, if they plug into a digital music player that blasts motivational rock or pop songs. At least that's what past research from the School of Sport and Education from Brunel University in the UK has found.
Apple, which sells the tiny clip-and-go iPod shuffle, still dominates the digital music space. But there are some other options worth considering. The Philips Activa, for one, is an MP3 player that analyses a music library and later matches a person's songs to their aerobic intensity. Last autumn, the official outfitter for the 2011 Dubai Marathon, adidas, started offering a Dh495 tracking tool for runners called the miCoach.
Top 5: Best fitness tech for 2010
1 Nike+ Sportband running sensor
1 Gruve Personal Activity Monitor
1 Wii Fit interactive videogam
1 Samsung MyFit music player plus fat, stress and motion sensor
1 Tweet What You Eat digital food diary
Source: Huffington Post
The device features verbal coaching during a run, plus an analysis following a workout. It has also been used by the UAE's football club, Al Jazira, for the individual training plans of players.
The Life: "If it weren't for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn't get any exercise at all." Joey Adams, the actor and comedian.
nparmar@thenational.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EFor%20Euro%202024%20qualifers%20away%20to%20Malta%20on%20June%2016%20and%20at%20home%20to%20North%20Macedonia%20on%20June%2019%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EGoalkeepers%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Johnstone%2C%20Pickford%2C%20Ramsdale.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDefenders%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alexander-Arnold%2C%20Dunk%2C%20Guehi%2C%20Maguire%2C%20%20Mings%2C%20Shaw%2C%20Stones%2C%20Trippier%2C%20Walker.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMidfielders%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bellingham%2C%20Eze%2C%20Gallagher%2C%20Henderson%2C%20%20Maddison%2C%20Phillips%2C%20Rice.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EForwards%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFoden%2C%20Grealish%2C%20Kane%2C%20Rashford%2C%20Saka%2C%20Wilson.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
