Re: Steps counting apps

Jim the Geordie <jim@jimXscott.co.uk> wrote:

In article <v9chhkxloa.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>, robin_listas@es.invalid
says...

 
On 2024-05-16 11:43, Jim the Geordie wrote:

Just out of curiosity I thought I might try a STEPS counter app.
Many seem to come with all sorts of health monitoring extras, which I'm
not bothered about, but happy to enter and not use.
However there are massive differences between them on the numbers of
steps they claim I have taken and some don't appear to work at all.
I'm not wanting to start a thread about the health benefits, just to
find the simplest, accurate, free one.

 
A cheap smart watch will do it easily and accurately.

 
Got a perfectly good analogue watch thank you.
BTW Watches are not used to tell the time, they are used to tell how
long it is before...
Wait for someone to look at their watch, then ask them what time it. I
bet they look again. :)

Carlos didn't say "watch".  He said "smart watch".  The latter have
force sensors that can detect when you step.  Of course, if you glide
then there is no impact for a step measure.  Some people step on their
heels to rotate forward on their feet.  Some stomp down on their entire
foot.  And some step down on the ball of their feet.  I suspect those
that step soundly on the heels of their feet giving the most impact
would measure more reliably than the other walking styles.  When
running, some runners cushion their impact rather than pound their feet.
Ever notice how some horse riders bounce in the saddle while others ride
more smoothly by using their knees as shock absorbers?

https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/fitness-app-step-count

As mentioned, where you position your phone on your body when walking or
running significantly affects the reliable of measuring the impacts of
your style of movement.  Are you stowing your smart phone on your hip,
like in a waistband or belt, or in a pants pocket?  Having your smart
phone in your hand to monitor the swing of your arms in another good
location, and why Fitbits or other smart watches are worn on the wrist.
Quite often steps are not measured when there is no hand movement.  For
example, steps may not be measured when pushing a lawn mower, because
you're arms are fixed on the handle bar, not swinging.  Don't be looking
at your phone when monitoring steps as that changes the rotation.  Some
apps won't start counting steps until a threshold has been reached, like
10 continues steps have occurred, not a couple steps, then none, then
some more.  Have the option for when to start and stop counting steps.
Automatic measurement could include "steps" from vibrations when riding
in a car, on a train, or while on a moving walkway.

To see what sensors you unmentioned phone has, you can lookup its
specifications, like at GSMarena.  That your smart phone has an motion
sensors (accelerometers, gravity, gryroscopes, and rotational vector)
means it can measure acceleration and rotational force along 3 axes.
That doesn't make them good footstep counters.  There are various types
of sensors in Android phones, but not all are employed in every smart
phone.  See:

https://developer.android.com/develop/sensors-and-location/sensors/sensors_overview