Apple is not known for “being” a social type company, far from it really, but that doesn’t stop it from recognizing potential for making money but incorporating the new social world within its products. We saw this with the baking in of Twitter to its news iOS offering and it seems that they are also looking into something called social fitness technology .
According to SlashGear this research was tipped off due to a patent filing titled “Interfacing Portable Media Devices And Sports Equipment”. The patent was originally filed back in October of 2011 but only surfaced this week in the trademark and patent office database. Additionally one of the names on the filing is Donald Ginsberg who heads up the Apple Made for iPod program.
The patent apparently outlines a way that your realtime work out data can be shared with any of your friends who are working out with you or on the same type of equipment. I guess the idea that you will be able to compare your data with friends anywhere in the world as you work out is something that Apple feels you will want to do. Personally if you are my friend you are the last person I would want to know how badly I am cheating on my exercise plan.
image courtesy of SlashGear
