Heart rate monitor -- be honest!

[rhyme]

I suspect some of the variation in HR monitor accuracy reported by reviewers is due to variations in skin color. A monitor that depends on green light to pick up changes in blood flow beneath the skin might work much better with pale white skin than dark skin. The IR sensors provide a back-up in circumstances when the green LED sensors aren't doing well, but the IR sensors may not be as accurate in optimal conditions.

 

[BD1]

I suspect some of the variation in HR monitor accuracy reported by reviewers is due to variations in skin color. A monitor that depends on green light to pick up changes in blood flow beneath the skin might work much better with pale white skin than dark skin. The IR sensors provide a back-up in circumstances when the green LED sensors aren't doing well, but the IR sensors may not be as accurate in optimal conditions.

There is good info in this apple support document, it doesn't mention skin color but does mention what it does for low signal levels:

"The heart rate sensor can also use infrared light. This mode is what Apple Watch uses when it measures your heart rate every 10 minutes. However, if the infrared system isn’t providing an adequate reading, Apple Watch switches to the green LEDs. In addition, the heart rate sensor is designed to compensate for low signal levels by increasing both LED brightness and sampling rate."

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204666

 

[rhyme]

There is good info in this apple support document, it doesn't mention skin color but does mention what it does for low signal levels:

"The heart rate sensor can also use infrared light. This mode is what Apple Watch uses when it measures your heart rate every 10 minutes. However, if the infrared system isn’t providing an adequate reading, Apple Watch switches to the green LEDs. In addition, the heart rate sensor is designed to compensate for low signal levels by increasing both LED brightness and sampling rate."

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204666

Yes, that's the information I was relying on in my comment.

 

[cmichaelb]

For me, the heart rate monitor is like the feature unique to the iPhone 6+: the barometer.

The iPhone 6 does as well.

iPhone 6 barometer

 

[cap7ainclu7ch]

Does anyone know if the watch activates full time HR tracking when it senses "exercise", that is when you do not manually set a workout in the app. I think that it would be a great feature that should be implemented if it already isn't.

 

[BD1]

Does anyone know if the watch activates full time HR tracking when it senses "exercise", that is when you do not manually set a workout in the app. I think that it would be a great feature that should be implemented if it already isn't.

I doubt it. The watch is normally recording HR once every 10 minutes. So you could have up to ten minutes of 'exercise' before it knows to record at a much more detailed level. I'm sure the green LEDs recording (sampling) at a high rate during the workout app consumes battery at a quick rate.

Maybe in future generations of the watch.....

 

[cap7ainclu7ch]

The thing is the watch is constantly monitoring its movement using accelerometers. Once they sense additional movement they should easily be able to tell the watch to activate the HR monitoring. I don't see any logical reason to limit this (both on the hardware and software side).

 

[rhyme]

I wish there was a compromise setting that told the watch to check HR every 5 minutes when it senses activity. I'd like to have it keep track of my morning and afternoon cycle commutes to within 5 minutes, but not go into full power-draining workout mode.

 

[BD1]

The thing is the watch is constantly monitoring its movement using accelerometers. Once they sense additional movement they should easily be able to tell the watch to activate the HR monitoring. I don't see any logical reason to limit this (both on the hardware and software side).

I am sure they are concerned about battery life. In workout mode the watch only lasts 6.5 hours according to apple.

----------

I wish there was a compromise setting that told the watch to check HR every 5 minutes when it senses activity. I'd like to have it keep track of my morning and afternoon cycle commutes to within 5 minutes, but not go into full power-draining workout mode.

Agreed. We will probably see these types of enhancements as Apple gets feedback from millions of users.

And just playing around with the workout app on the demo watches it seems like it could also use some enhancements like showing HR and pace (when running) on the same screen.

 

[macguy360]

For me, the heart rate monitor is like the feature unique to the iPhone 6+: the barometer. It sounds really cool and on the first day it's the best thing ever. Then you stop caring and never use it again.

I don't go to the gym. I'm never going to the gym. There's an awful lot of time and money and weight and space put into the AW to provide a heart rate monitor. How many people are going to use it regularly.

Be honest!

Because a lot of people are talking about waiting till the second generation or even the third. But will Apple add genuinely useful new features, or will it stuff that sounds cool but ultimately really doesn't make that much difference, day-to-day?

Heart rate monitors are pretty good. It is the closest thing to having a portable metabolic cart. For someone doing endurance exercise, nothing else this portable can tell them their rate of exertion better. If you know your body and understand what your max heart rate is and how close you can keep to that max to get the best workout possible, then save time working out and get a more efficient workout too.

To argue that something is useless because you don't personally use it seems a bit ignorant. Sort of like saying "Those backup cameras on vehicles sure are a waste because I always just look out my back window when backing up".

 

[PatrickNSF]

And just playing around with the workout app on the demo watches it seems like it could also use some enhancements like showing HR and pace (when running) on the same screen.

Agreed. I'm replacing a Garmin running watch with the Apple Watch, and the Workout app is a disappointment. While training, I like to see time of day, distance, pace and (when I'm wearing my HRM) heart rate. Having to scroll through screens to see this info isn't practical.

I'm hoping Nike+or RunKeeper improves upon this, though I've read that their apps won't have access to the HRM at this point, which is a big disadvantage.

 

[Alith]

Personally I'm looking forward to it if it's accurate and I never have to wear a chest strap again. I'll be using it every run if it can match my strap.

This. I think Garmin should be very worried. With 3rd party apps there is a lot of room for additional functionality over the stock fitness app. If Nike+ Running or some other similar app integrates training calendars and interval sessions then my Garmin 620 and chest strap is done for.

 

[bjdraw]

Found this interesting:

Did you use a Polar heart-rate strap with the Apple Watch, and did the watch read your heart rate from the strap? — @CharlesRAII, via Twitter

I didn’t use a Polar heart rate strap; I used a Wahoo TickR, which sends data over Bluetooth and ANT+ wireless protocols. If you’re wondering whether your Polar heart-rate strap will work with Apple Watch, you should check the details on which strap you have and whether it’s compatible with Bluetooth 4.0.

One small but noteworthy observation, which I’ll get into more in an upcoming health-and-fitness review of Apple Watch: When you do pair a Bluetooth heart-rate strap with Apple Watch, the watch defaults to that to measure your heart rate. This not only gives you a much faster heart rate reading when you raise your wrist to look at it, but also helps conserve battery life on the watch.

 

[H3rman]

I usually go running 2-3 times a week, so yes I will use it.