This week’s article is definitely an open call for comments. I do not know anything about fitness trackers. I have never used one. If you use one or have experience with them (good or bad) then tell us about it in the comments.

From what I can tell from my daughters using their Apple watches and online “research,” fitness trackers and apps claim to help you move more, sleep better, and improve your overall health. The most basic application is a step counter that is built into an app in your phone.

A step up from there are watches, bracelets, and chest straps. These will measure your heart rate by shining light into your skin and measuring blood flow. It’s funny, back in the 60s this would have been considered science fiction. I mean it seriously. This is some Star Trek (The Original Series, thank you) level stuff. But I digress.

Fitness trackers can track your sleep. They watch for movement using a three-axis accelerometer to a more sensitive degree than they do during the day when you are walking, running, or wanking doing other activities. Most devices offer graphs in their companion app showing the duration of your light, deep, and REM sleep. Some also track your overnight respiration (the number of breaths you take per minute). Some can even track your snoring. I suppose that makes it a good Christmas for the man in your life. Amirite ladies and/or gay Glibs?

 

 

Maybe I am a luddite, but I don’t see the use for most people. I can see why a sport-specific watch is useful. Runners want to time themselves, may want split times, and may want a countdown timer for sprints or time specific movements. I have no doubt bikers and swimmers have needs specific to their sports.

I am sure the elite athletes among you and maybe those of you with certain health concerns have a use for more sophisticated tracking. For me personally, I have all I need in my digital watch. Let us know in the comments how and why you use your fitness tracker.

This week’s music is inspired by fitness trackers. I’m not exactly sure how it is related but it popped into my head.