I'm exploring a minimal gym logger concept with a specific goal: making digital data entry faster than writing it in a notebook. Many apps fall short due to cluttered interfaces with dropdowns and confirmation screens. I'm considering features like auto-copying the previous set when logging a new one, displaying previous records as placeholder text, and even generating a receipt-style output at the end. I'm curious if anyone else has focused on data entry speed in their design. Does anyone have examples of apps or strategies that successfully achieve this?
5 Answers
I think typing can definitely be faster than writing, especially with tools like spreadsheets and text editors. But it's all about the complete workflow—if an app is complicated to use, it can take longer than jotting it down on paper in two seconds.
There's plenty of data entry apps out there, like SAP, that are built for speed. They utilize hotkeys and quick navigation to ensure rapid input. The fitness apps, however, seem more focused on aesthetics than usability, which I feel slows things down.
Absolutely! Modern fitness apps are more about being pretty than practical. Efficiency definitely gets sacrificed.
Look into apps like Strong; they let you set up pre-registered workouts, so data entry becomes super fast. When you have routines saved, you just click to log a set without entering all the details each time.
Strong works well, but for me, I often adjust what I do based on how I feel that day, so sometimes it takes longer to update all the templates.
I recently tried Hevy, which I found to be fast enough. It has a smooth data entry UI and allows for both planned and spontaneous logging—plus it generates graphs and summaries without much hassle.
Hevy sounds promising! I appreciate when apps provide multiple ways to view data without making the entry cumbersome.
Have you checked out how the athleanx website does their logging? I found it reasonably efficient. It might also help if the app allows you to select pre-planned workouts, making data entry a quick check-off process.
I'm definitely going to look at athleanx. I usually just go with what feels right for training, so I wonder if their flow would fit my style.
I get what you mean about total flow. With apps, it's about the tapping and navigating too. Sometimes it's just easier to write '100x5' quickly in a notebook!