Apple Watch's Workout app learns users' strides over time, Turlington Burns diary reveals
In the third week of her promotional Apple Watch diary, posted Thursday, model Christy Turlington Burns made mention of a previously unknown feature of the wearable's Workout app that adjusts to a user's gait for more accurate results.
Burns wrote that after running with the Watch and an iPhone "a few times," the app will adapt to a person's stride. This should ultimately produce more accurate results, something Burns suggested is especially important given the difference between running outside and on a treadmill.
During the past week Burns was on vacation with her family in the Caribbean, but nevertheless took some time out to prepare for the London Marathon and shoot promotional photos. Images in the diary showed her switching to a pink strap, and using an animated jellyfish as her watch face.
The diary otherwise described her relaxed training regimen, split between indoor and outdoor runs, tennis, yoga, and walking. She also mentioned filling the Workout app's Exercise ring "almost every day," and having to turn off notifications one afternoon in order to get a nap. One of Apple Watch's health features uses the Taptic Engine to gently tap users on the wrist to remind them that they need to stand once an hour.
In the coming week Burns will be in Los Angeles, doing a 20-mile training run in preparation for London.
Apple is using Burns and her marathon training to help build anticipation for the release of the Watch on April 24. She was a prominent figure during the company's March 9 press event, appearing on stage alongside Apple executives.
Burns wrote that after running with the Watch and an iPhone "a few times," the app will adapt to a person's stride. This should ultimately produce more accurate results, something Burns suggested is especially important given the difference between running outside and on a treadmill.
During the past week Burns was on vacation with her family in the Caribbean, but nevertheless took some time out to prepare for the London Marathon and shoot promotional photos. Images in the diary showed her switching to a pink strap, and using an animated jellyfish as her watch face.
The diary otherwise described her relaxed training regimen, split between indoor and outdoor runs, tennis, yoga, and walking. She also mentioned filling the Workout app's Exercise ring "almost every day," and having to turn off notifications one afternoon in order to get a nap. One of Apple Watch's health features uses the Taptic Engine to gently tap users on the wrist to remind them that they need to stand once an hour.
In the coming week Burns will be in Los Angeles, doing a 20-mile training run in preparation for London.
Apple is using Burns and her marathon training to help build anticipation for the release of the Watch on April 24. She was a prominent figure during the company's March 9 press event, appearing on stage alongside Apple executives.
Comments
This is because we tend to move our wrists a lot more than our hips in day to day use, which means that there will be many erroneous steps counted with the watch. Having your iPhone in your pocket or handbag is much more reliable due to the greater stability in those places.
In fact, the reason for the Apple Watch's need to train itself is likely due to this intrinsic weakness.
In Burns's case, the Watch may not be so inaccurate if she uses it only when running a marathon, as she will adopt a regular motion with her arms. But most people will be using the Apple Watch for counting steps throughout the day, not for a specific workout. In that more common scenario, the iPhone will win for accuracy.
I examined the wrist-worn Fitbit devices and the feedback they have received to arrive at this conclusion. Fitbit do make some non-wrist devices.
Most of the learning probably occurs when the wearer is also carrying a paired iPhone, because only the iPhone has GPS.
Since the 3-axis accelerometer in ?Watch only needs to assume it's placed on your wrist, whereas the iPhone's 3-axis acceloromater needs a more complex understanding of placement, ?Watch should be a lot more accurate in general. Regardless, if you do a lot of biking I would recommend something like the Wahoo Fitness RFLKR+.
But if it means over time you won't always have to carry your iPhone with you that's a good thing.
But if it means over time you won't always have to carry your iPhone with you that's a good thing.
If you read her blog she said exactly that:
So the ?Watch learns in conjuntion with your iPhone and then works well alone.
I have to say that picture she took of the watch does it no favors. It looks like a plastic kids watch. This is definitely a case of needing to see that jellyfish screen in person.
Fascinating to see the bands in action. It looks like there's a metal plug in the center where the latch button is. Unlike a lightning connector, I'm assuming they will only attach one way.
You don't actually know that. I would expect that with all the work Apple has put into this, they likely have thought of this as a potential problem, assuming that it actually is.
Hate to say it, but the Apple Watch will probably be less accurate than the iPhone for counting steps, due to its wrist placement.
This is because we tend to move our wrists a lot more than our hips in day to day use (just look at an Italian gesticulating in everyday speech with his arms), which means that there will be many erroneous steps counted with the watch.
The watch knows when you are just waving your hand and not walking or running. I would expect it can detect an actual gait within a step or two even if you are on a tread mill and your location has not changed. Just more FUD on your part.
NEWSFLASH: the Apple Watch doesn't have GPS. Therefore, it doesn't know your location. All it goes on is your gestures.
NEWSFLASH: the Apple Watch doesn't have GPS. Therefore, it doesn't know your location. All it goes on is your gestures.
If it is paired with your phone it does and if not it doesn't matter because it can identify a gait versus waving goodbye, talking with your hands, writing on a white board, or whatever. It knows what you are doing which is why it recognizes when you raise your wrist to check the time.
Perhaps; we shall see.
However, Fitbit have had years of experience of honing gait patterns, and even then, their wrist-worn devices are still significantly less accurate than the iPhone.
Perhaps; we shall see.
However, Fitbit have had years of experience of honing gait patterns, and even then, their wrist-worn devices are still significantly less accurate than the iPhone.
http://berkeleysciencereview.com/fit-fitbit/
This is an article I found that tested Fitbit and explains the accuracy variables scientifically. It seems to contradict your argument on a couple points.
The iPhone already does this for distance in Healthkit. Go to Privacy, Location Services, System Services. Look what it says there... "Motion Calibration and Distance".
Hey Ben, do they pay you more when you get the first reply to an article?
Perhaps; we shall see.
However, Fitbit have had years of experience of honing gait patterns, and even then, their wrist-worn devices are still significantly less accurate than the iPhone.
“We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone,” he said. “PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.”
Let us know how your predictions pan out...
http://berkeleysciencereview.com/fit-fitbit/
This is an article I found that tested Fitbit and explains the accuracy variables scientifically. It seems to contradict your argument on a couple points.
Newsflash: Ignorant Apple troll is pulling his argument out of his posterior...