2020 TSMA

29 in the sporting goods industry. Helped by sales to international brand hotels and fitness center chains, production of such equipment in Taiwan for the first half of 2019 reached a record NT$11.9 billion, up 34.5 percent year on year, with more than 90% being ex- ported. In developing more advanced products, Taiwan fitness equipment makers could consider incorporat- ing green energy, IoT or other emerging technologies being fostered in Taiwan so as to increase the interna- tional visibility of their wares. Through the use of ICT technology, rapid integration design, exercise man- agement and smart fitness systems, as well as motion dynamics and ergonomic design, and also big data and verification testing to build consumer trust, cut- ting-edge smart fitness equipment with high added value can be developed catering toward the commer- cial market. In recent years, many Taiwan enterprises have eager- ly moved into tech fitness. For example, virtual coach assistants have been developed with sensors that attach to treadmills or stationary bikes to collect and provide users with physiological data, making these features akin to having a personal trainer. Users are able not only to work out anywhere but also to ensure they maintain the right workout posture through sen- sor technology and image recognition. Wearable de- vices, meanwhile, can help monitor users’ heartbeat data, allowing virtual coaches to give appropriate advice accordingly. These devices make smart fitness more efficient and reduce the chances of injuries. Another benefit of such devices is that they can col- lect users’ data when exercising for analysis and as- sessment of exercise effectiveness, thereby helping to realize the goal of smart gym. With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), Taiwan sports and leisure enterprises make their business strategies through the AIoT ecosystem, and take a proactive approach to help construct or simply join the AIoT ecosystem in order to enjoy first-mover advantage and create new commercial opportunities. The government has also been mak- ing big strides in promoting digital connectivity for smart manufacturing in the supply chain, which seeks to accelerate industrial upgrading of our nation through information streaming between upstream and downstream supply chains, as well as introducing an AI-based design plan for services and system integration. We sincerely hope that, through the concerted efforts of government, business and society, we can bring about a revolution in the sports and leisure industry, creating unprecedented busi- ness opportunities by establishing a sports service system based on added value creation and smart technologies.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjIwMjA1