Records show that human power measurement was first performed well over 100 years ago in the laboratory. However, it took another 80 years for the power meter to evolve into an accurate measuring tool, useable in the field, then a further 10 years for the data to be understood, stored and analysed in a format that could be easily interpreted. The need for accurate laboratory measurement of power was required by researchers in order that physiological responses could be benchmarked with confidence. This physiological data was often used to profile athletes for research studies; however, the focus was the physiological responses such as VO2 max, anaerobic threshold, gross efficiency and alike, rather than the power output per se. Examples of how power output has been traditionally used are given below. In more recent times, the focus has shifted from the laboratory to the field. Power is the currency of performance and an accurate descriptor of in-field training. Generally speaking, interest has shifted from physiological supply, to power output; the demand side. Since the year 2000, growth in the number of manufacturers developing power meters has been exponential. The power meter, once only a tool for professionals or research institutions, is now at a price point where a serious amateur can afford to invest and enjoy the benefits of training with more data. Along with this increased availability, the number of coaches and scientists using field-based power measurement has also expanded, each building their own significant data sets, stored on a number of different analytic platforms.
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