Abstract
Understanding interaction between the coach and learner is pivotal in fitness training, yet most fitness technologies emphasize functional metrics over the dynamics of human interaction. To inform the design of more interaction-aware wearable coaching systems, we examined how instructional exchanges unfold during squat training, an activity that requires frequent feedback. We conducted a two-phase interview study involving eight professional coaches and eight adult learners. Through hybrid thematic analysis, we identified two complementary types of cues: action-oriented cues, which specify how to move, and sensation-oriented cues, which direct the learner’s attention to internal bodily sensations. These cues are delivered through verbal, visual, and tactile channels, either in real- time or post-exercise, each with distinct benefits and trade-offs. Our findings underscore the importance of adaptive, learner-sensitive feedback strategies. Based on this, we propose three design implications for wearable coaching systems: (1) mapping instructional language to multimodal feedback; (2) segmenting movement to alleviate feedback overload; and (3) enabling contextual replay to reinforce learning between coached sessions. This study maps how instructional interactions unfold in real-world fitness coaching, from the perspectives of both coaches and learners. It presents an interaction framework suggesting system requirements and design opportunities for user-centered wearable design.
Keywords
Personal training; Wearable technology; Multimodal feedback; Bodily awareness
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.1192
Citation
Kim, Y., Park, J.,and Nam, T.(2025) Understanding coach–learner Interaction in Fitness Training for Next-Generation Wearables, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.1192
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 9 - Healthcare Design
Understanding coach–learner Interaction in Fitness Training for Next-Generation Wearables
Understanding interaction between the coach and learner is pivotal in fitness training, yet most fitness technologies emphasize functional metrics over the dynamics of human interaction. To inform the design of more interaction-aware wearable coaching systems, we examined how instructional exchanges unfold during squat training, an activity that requires frequent feedback. We conducted a two-phase interview study involving eight professional coaches and eight adult learners. Through hybrid thematic analysis, we identified two complementary types of cues: action-oriented cues, which specify how to move, and sensation-oriented cues, which direct the learner’s attention to internal bodily sensations. These cues are delivered through verbal, visual, and tactile channels, either in real- time or post-exercise, each with distinct benefits and trade-offs. Our findings underscore the importance of adaptive, learner-sensitive feedback strategies. Based on this, we propose three design implications for wearable coaching systems: (1) mapping instructional language to multimodal feedback; (2) segmenting movement to alleviate feedback overload; and (3) enabling contextual replay to reinforce learning between coached sessions. This study maps how instructional interactions unfold in real-world fitness coaching, from the perspectives of both coaches and learners. It presents an interaction framework suggesting system requirements and design opportunities for user-centered wearable design.