Download as PDF, PPTX
Uploaded byMichael Kazarnowicz
Activity Trackers
The document compares various activity trackers including Nike Fuelband, Fitbit, Basis, BodyMedia, and Jawbone Up, highlighting their pros and cons. Each tracker has unique features such as battery life, data synchronization methods, goals tracking, and additional functionalities like sleep tracking and social sharing. Overall, the document provides insights into the effectiveness and limitations of each device for potential users.
Activity Trackers
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
- 10. Nike Fuelband -pros • Robust. I’ve been wearing mine pretty much 24/7 for 10 months and it just works. • USB contact built right in, no need for extra accessories to charge or sync • Syncs through USB or Bluetooth (iPhone only though) • Fuel is a relative score, so you can compare with friends regardless of how athletic you are • Doubles as a watch • Social, you can compare and compete with your friends • You can set your own goal • Easy to change time zone (when you’re travelling): the Fuelband is set to the computer’s time zone every time you sync Thursday, May 23, 13
- 11. Nike Fuelband -cons • The wrist is not the best place for an activity monitor. • You can’t export your data, • Expensive for what you get, compared to other similar devices (Fitbit, Basis, Jawbone UP) • You can only set a goal in “Fuel Points”, which is hard to translate to any real activity • No API • No vibration.This is a huge miss on Nike’s behalf. Having vibration (alarms, reminders) would have made up for a lot of the other cons. • Annoying sync on desktop – doesn’t sync in the background and launches Nike’s website when it ends Thursday, May 23, 13
- 12. Fitbit - pros •Syncs with your computer through USB • syncs over Bluetooth to iPhone and Android devices • Logs steps, distance walked and stairs climbed • You can set your own goals – on a weekly basis (imho better than daily) based on steps, distance, stairs or weight • Integrates with Withings wifi body scale • Has an API so that third parties can develop services, like integration with Microsoft’s HealthVault or visualizations on notch.me • Tracks your sleep • Social, you can compare and compete with your friends • Invisible if you want it to be • Vibration alarms Thursday, May 23, 13
- 13. Fitbit - cons •Requires a separate, proprietary USB device to charge it • Requires a proprietary USB device, separate from the charger, to sync through USB • Small and slick – also slippery, especially in dress pants (I lost my One in a cab once after a wedding). Easy to forget in pants when washing them. • Charges you extra to export your data (you need their Premium service, $49 per year) • Hassle to track sleep - need the soft wristband • Confusing process when switching time zones (you have to pair your device again) Thursday, May 23, 13
- 14. Basis - pros •Logs more things than any other of the activity monitors: • Heart rate • Perspiration • Steps • Skin temperature • Sleep • Calories • Very simple interface, showing only time, date, steps, heart rate and calories – the rest is viewed in the web service after sync • Very simple to use, no need to push buttons to log sleep for example • Looks like a pretty low tech watch, so non-geeks needn’t fear it • Promised an open API so that third parties can build new services for the users • Syncs with your computer through USB and in the future with your iPhone/Android device over Bluetooth (apps are not out yet though) • Helps you set new habits, using tricks from games (RPGs) and CBT. • You can set your own goals in ways you can’t with the other devices, for example “morning walks” or “be active at least two hours every day” Thursday, May 23, 13
- 15. Basis - cons •Needs the proprietary charger/sync cable to charge and sync through USB • Must be charged frequently and more often than the other devices (every third-fourth day for me, depending on usage) • Takes a while to charge (but it can be charged and used if you’re not moving around) • No vibrations for alerts/reminders/discrete wake up calls • Bad at logging heart rate • Placement isn’t optimal • No use for several sensors yet Thursday, May 23, 13
- 16. Bodymedia - pros •very accurate in terms of steps and calories (heat flux, galvanic skin response, skin temperature) • tracks sleep • tracks everything seamlessly, just power up and go • syncs via USB to you computer, or through Bluetooth to Android or iPhone • Open API • charges through mini USB • good battery time • discreet (if you wear baggy clothes) • recently bought by Jawbone Thursday, May 23, 13
- 17. Bodymedia - cons •Requires subscription to work - expensive in the long run (~80 USD/year) • few apps (but integrated with Withings) • awkward to wear if sleeping with someone • awkward to wear after workout (wet band) • awkward to wear if travelling (security) • awkward if you wear slim fit clothes • US and Canada only (incl. app store) • App requires iTunes password each time Thursday, May 23, 13
- 18. Jawbone UP -pros • Great battery time (10 days per charge) • Tracks steps, activity and sleep • Timer, nap and reminders • Vibration • Sleep phase wake-up • Simple and intuitive food logging (barcode scanner!) • Social, can share with friends (can keep certain aspects private too) • Open API, two-ways (IFTTT integration!) • withings (in) • sleepio (out) • Analyzes data and gives tips and encouragement • Syncs with both Android and iPhone Thursday, May 23, 13
- 19. Jawbone UP -cons • Proprietary accessory for charging • Timeline gets messy when you have 10+ friends • The button has sharp edges (not cuddle friendly) • Easy to lose the ‘cap’ on the wrist band • Placement not optimal for tracking steps • Other colors than black become dirty • No display • Food database sometimes wacky (and support confused) Thursday, May 23, 13
- 20. A look atstep accuracy Thursday, May 23, 13
- 21.
- 22. Heart rate monitoring Thursday,May 23, 13
- 23.
- 24.
- 25.
- 26.
- 27.
- 28.
- 29.
- 30.
- 31.
- 32.
- 33. Read more aboutall these trackers and more quantified self at www.digitalmcgyver.com Thursday, May 23, 13