Apple Watch calibrates/learns to estimate running distance

[Julien]

Good news the Watch learns your stride length and calibrates itself while running with your iPhone. As most runners know (not sprinters) cadence is fairly consistent (about 180spm) while stride length determines your speed. By learning your stride/speed the Watch can better estimate your distance by calculating cadence.

This info is revealed in Christy Burns blog post.
http://www.apple.com/watch/christy-turlington-burns/

It says:

...After you run with Apple Watch and your iPhone a few times, the Workout app knows more about your stride. So you can run on a treadmill or outside without your phone and still get a really accurate workout summary....

Also it shows how easy it is to change bands.

 

[Patriot24]

More of this kind of information about Apple's innovations will become apparent over time. I knew when I saw the lab and heard them boasting about the number of hours of exercise data that they have that this isn't a weak effort. They have clearly dumped a ton of time and resources into getting it right.

 

[mdmt619]

Very cool.

Is it just me or did they do a terribly job photoshopping her thumbs?

 

[dejo]

Is it just me or did they do a terribly job photoshopping her thumbs?

What makes you think that's not an actual photo?

 

[mdmt619]

What makes you think that's not an actual photo?

Look at mid-way down her thumb, where the creases magically disappear and the skin tone changes - leading up to her perfectly manicured nails.

 

[lunaoso]

Seeing these pictures just made me even more excited for the SS watch. Apples promo shots for once don't really do it justice. The random shots of it just look incredible though.

 

[zhenya]

Many gps watches have had a small receiver that goes on your shoes that has been doing the same thing for many years now.

 

[extricated]

Nice catch Julien!

This is extrememly important to me because I was really bummed about the lack of GPS. Not because I like to see a map of where I run, but because I like the accuracy it provides in measuring distance/pace.

I like the thought of being able to do a few known-distance long runs with the watch "learning" my stride. Would be convenient for those times when I don't care whether I have my phone with me (happens from time to time).

 

[Ries]

More of this kind of information about Apple's innovations will become apparent over time. I knew when I saw the lab and heard them boasting about the number of hours of exercise data that they have that this isn't a weak effort. They have clearly dumped a ton of time and resources into getting it right.

That's nothing new, lots of devices already does this... "apple innovation"

 

[Patriot24]

That's nothing new, lots of devices already does this... "apple innovation"

Interesting. Which ones? I've had a Nike FuelBand and a Fitbit - neither of them had any kind of learning capabilities that I was aware of. The algorithms seem to be set in place.

 

[Ries]

Interesting. Which ones? I've had a Nike FuelBand and a Fitbit - neither of them had any kind of learning capabilities that I was aware of. The algorithms seem to be set in place.

The Garmin FR15 will automatically calibrate the footpod via GPS.

 

[Mascots]

It's this kind of thinking that makes me excited and confident in Apple as a company and willing to bet on the  Watch's success.

 

[Patriot24]

The Garmin FR15 will automatically calibrate the footpod via GPS.

Got it. I guess the lesson here is that the Apple Watch will be a step up for those of us that had more casual fitness trackers before. But, if you own specific running watches and such it may be a lateral or potentially a step back.

Either way, it is good to see that they haven't overlooked these details.

 

[cmChimera]

Good news the Watch learns your stride length and calibrates itself while running with your iPhone. As most runners know (not sprinters) cadence is fairly consistent (about 180spm) while stride length determines your speed. By learning your stride/speed the Watch can better estimate your distance by calculating cadence.

This info is revealed in Christy Burns blog post.
http://www.apple.com/watch/christy-turlington-burns/

It says:



Also it shows how easy it is to change bands.

Image

This is pretty awesome. Good find.

 

[Multiverse223]

Got it. I guess the lesson here is that the Apple Watch will be a step up for those of us that had more casual fitness trackers before. But, if you own specific running watches and such it may be a lateral or potentially a step back.

Either way, it is good to see that they haven't overlooked these details.

If the Watch isn't a better fitness tracker in every feasible way (set aside lack of GPS), then there is a serious problem with reality. Apple has been testing it extensively, in their rigorous testing labs... No other company comes anywhere close to this. All other companies compared to that, are an absolute joke. It should be a factor of ten better than anything else available. Just based on the appearance of the back sensor alone, you can infer that they've spent far more time/money into the accuracy of that heart rate sensor. I can't wait to see the testing of it, in scientific third party labs.

 

[BD1]

Good update on capabilities.

But I would like to see more about Heart Rate tracking and reporting after a workout. I wonder if it is not being highlighted because of battery life concerns when the sensors are being used? Maybe Apple is just emphasizing the occasional HR check vs ongoing workout monitoring.

 

[Julien]

...But I would like to see more about Heart Rate tracking and reporting after a workout. I wonder if it is not being highlighted because of battery life concerns when the sensors are being used? Maybe Apple is just emphasizing the occasional HR check vs ongoing workout monitoring.

If HR is was not full monitoring during a workout it would be worthless. Apple also says it will be on during a workout.

...The custom heart rate sensor in Apple Watch detects your heart rate during workouts, which helps determine your intensity level, and improves the accuracy of your active calorie burn measurements.

...Apple Watch and software paired with an iPhone using preproduction software with a workout session active and the heart rate sensor on....

 

[rcarter3636]

Nice find.
Christy mention she played tennis.
I wonder if she set this exercise in the workout app or was followed in the activity app.
I have noticed the workout app has "other" listed and wished someone would tap on that during demo

 

[technosix]

If the Watch isn't a better fitness tracker in every feasible way (set aside lack of GPS), then there is a serious problem with reality. Apple has been testing it extensively, in their rigorous testing labs... No other company comes anywhere close to this. All other companies compared to that, are an absolute joke. It should be a factor of ten better than anything else available. Just based on the appearance of the back sensor alone, you can infer that they've spent far more time/money into the accuracy of that heart rate sensor. I can't wait to see the testing of it, in scientific third party labs.

It's quite a gamble to make the statements I see above without researching the companies that have been specialists in sports fitness monitoring on the global scene.

I appreciate your dedication to Apple, but accuracy serves everyone best. It is trendy to love Apple, but be careful of the hype. They're masters...

 

[DreamPod]

If the Watch isn't a better fitness tracker in every feasible way (set aside lack of GPS), then there is a serious problem with reality. Apple has been testing it extensively, in their rigorous testing labs... No other company comes anywhere close to this

I dunno if I'd say that, I'm sure companies that only make dedicated fitness wearables have done just as much health research - I mean, that's their entire business, health devices. Also, don't forget that Apple researched a whole lot more than they put into the Apple Watch - they removed any sensor that would require government approval or was just too hard for them to get reliably perfect, for example. So a lot of that research didn't end up in the 1.0 watch.

 

[kdarling]

If the Watch isn't a better fitness tracker in every feasible way (set aside lack of GPS), then there is a serious problem with reality. Apple has been testing it extensively, in their rigorous testing labs... No other company comes anywhere close to this. All other companies compared to that, are an absolute joke. ...

Apple's only been playing with collecting some employee data for a relatively short time. Other fitness tracker makers have been collecting data for much longer.

For example, Nike has had an R&D lab since 1980. They've collected magnitudes more information than Apple has, and they've put it to use creating products both to wear and to monitor the user.

As for other makers, we really don't know what they've done.

 

[BD1]

If HR is was not full monitoring during a workout it would be worthless. Apple also says it will be on during a workout.

I would just like to see a HR graph and report showing HR results (e.g. average HR, max HR, etc.) from a workout. We have seen the 3 circles in the the activity app but not much if anything from the new Workout app.

 

[Julien]

Apple's only been playing with collecting some employee data for a relatively short time. Other fitness tracker makers have been collecting data for much longer.

For example, Nike has had an R&D lab since 1980. They've collected magnitudes more information than Apple has, and they've put it to use creating products both to wear and to monitor the user.



As for other makers, we really don't know what they've done.

A couple of things come to mind.

1) Most labs test 1 (or a small number) of clients at a time (equipment limited). Apple has groups testing concurrently (at least in the PR video), has lots of test equipment (millions of dollars) available and has 18,000 hours amassed.

2) Apple has close ties with Nike and has hired a lot of their fitness people like Jay Blahnik. It could be Apple has licensed or acquired some fitness data.

 

[matrix07]

I have noticed the workout app has "other" listed and wished someone would tap on that during demo

She tapped on it, using it for when she was doing Yoga.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Good news the Watch learns your stride length and calibrates itself while running with your iPhone. As most runners know (not sprinters) cadence is fairly consistent (about 180spm) while stride length determines your speed. By learning your stride/speed the Watch can better estimate your distance by calculating cadence.

I've got an iPhone app that already can determine my cadence, stride, and speed but it uses GPS to assist. It matches what my GPS watch reports so not sure this is all that new. Now if the Watch can do this w/o the needing the iPhone for support THAT is new and advanced. I haven't come across a non-GPS activity band that is pinpoint accurate to say the least.

Also I wouldn't define cadence as constant, even on a single run. One gets tired and bound to get sloppy which leads to slower cadence. I wouldn't say all runners achieve 180 either. Most are below that, more like in the low 170s. The goal is to achieve 180 or higher. Now stride is constant, or should be. You don't want to over stride or you'll get injured quick enough -- foot should not land in front of the knee with their heels but on their mid-foot under the knee. Stride is really determined by the length of your legs.