Apple Watch's Workout app learns users' strides over time, Turlington Burns diary reveals
Roger Fingas
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.
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88 Comments
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, 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.
This is a good thing that the device will be learning over time. The health app on my phone sometimes thinks I have been cycling when I have not.
[quote name="Benjamin Frost" url="/t/185437/apple-watchs-workout-app-learns-users-strides-over-time-turlington-burns-diary-reveals#post_2698674"]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. 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.[/quote] You just love proving me and Slurpy right don't you? Between you and Mr. Lawyer, all you have to say about the ?WATCH is [B][I]baseless[/I][/B], vitriolic shite...
Most of the learning probably occurs when the wearer is also carrying a paired iPhone, because only the iPhone has GPS.
[quote name="kent909" url="/t/185437/apple-watchs-workout-app-learns-users-strides-over-time-turlington-burns-diary-reveals#post_2698676"]This is a good thing that the device will be learning over time. The health app on my phone sometimes thinks I have been cycling when I have not.[/quote] 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+. [LIST][*] http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/rflkt.html [/LIST]