The growth of the Apple Fitness+ class library is supported by robotic cameras

Nearly everyone browsing Apple Fitness+ will find a class that fits their needs and interests, and that’s because there are so many to choose from. To create so many classes in a relatively short time frame, there needs to be both an optimal workflow for creation and a great team working with it.

While visiting Apple Fitness+ headquarters in Santa Monica, California, Men Journal writes about the creation process for a class, as well as where it can go.

The main studio is “one huge room” with areas and equipment for different workouts, rather than separate work areas. Together with the brick background, there is a sprung wooden floor in the room.

To record the filming, there is a collection of 15 cameras, 13 of which are controlled by robots. Above the action is a “super dense lighting grid” that can illuminate the room.

The set-up allows for quick switching between set-ups for different workouts, with the equipment going from strength training to cycling class within 15 minutes.

On the floor are several cameramen, a director and producers, all interpreting the requests for recordings from the control room. Before the recording, two previews are recorded with the instructor before the main session is recorded.

The control room has more gear operators, which make sure directions are executed correctly for shots, handle callouts, and make sure other important elements run correctly. One member highlights aspects of the video as images appear on the screen for the user, which are triggered during appropriate training.

Jay Blahnik, Apple’s VP of Fitness Technologies, told the publication that the idea for Fitness+ and the on-screen connection to the Apple Watch was based on the activity rings being very accessible to users.

“Maybe you’re not super-sporty with the Workout app, but you’re really excited to close your activity rings all day long, or maybe you’re training for a marathon with the Workout app. And what we’re finding is that people can use it stats in a way that motivates them on the Apple Watch,” he said.

Adding on-screen stats has been a very useful element to the service. “I think the most important thing we’ve learned is that by seeing yourself on screen, as well as stats that respond to what the trainers say,” Blahnik added. “It’s incredibly immersive.”

The service is also listening to its users when it comes to changes, such as the addition of kickboxing workouts in January. Blahnik says it was “because it was one of the workout types our users asked for the most and we knew a lot of people were also doing kickboxing workouts with their Apple Watch.”

For future training and job changes, Blahnik says it starts with the question, “Can we do it in a way that can attract more people, not just to this service but to that activity? And can we spend a lot of time thinking about how we do that very elegantly and that’s always on our radar.”

When asked more pointedly about what to expect in the future, Blahnik followed Apple’s line of secrecy and offered the obscure quote: “What can we do to make the experience even easier, smoother, something that they’ll be doing more regularly in their lives?” can fit in.”

This isn’t the first time Apple has opened up Fitness+ to external media. In 2022, it invited popular YouTube personality iJustine to tour the studio.