Development and testing of the FitBears app
The University of Salford working with Rangers FC Charity foundation to support the development of ‘FitBears’. FitBears is a smartphone app that helps fans keep up to date with Rangers FC club news, fixtures and social media. It also includes automatic tracking of walking and running through the phone or a wristband.
The project was funded by the Nesta ‘Healthier Lives Data Fund’. The app allows Rangers fans to create a friendly competition, win prizes and think more about active, healthy lifestyles. The app is designed to increase fitness awareness and empower fans and players with just a basic smartphone. More than 7000 Rangers fans have downloaded the app. In just two months, Rangers fans clocked up the equivalent of walking around the earth five times in terms of miles.
‘Before I got the app I wasn’t that active, I’d walk at work and that, but when I got the app I was walking nearly all the time, at the time I was using the cross training, I’ve actually bought a bike as well… Before we’d have tea and watch the TV now I go out at night walking … I’ve lost a stone in weight as well’
Garry McGuire, Rangers fan, FitBears competition winner
‘As I’m a full-time driver instructor, when people were cancelling lessons I was going for runs, for 10K runs as well, so my fitness has changed dramatically since the app… the main thing is the prizes that entice me to keep at it’
William Tosh, Rangers fan, FitBears Competition winner
Team: Alex Fenton, Anna Cooper-Ryan