A smartwatch, depending on the brand and manufacturer, can be inaccurate by 40% (or more) when it comes to determining the key rate or drive from which caloric expenditure is measured, according to studies.
To address this flaw, researchers at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, developed a leg tracker system, as opposed to those worn on the wrist, which is more accurate in monitoring daily activity.
Another important feature: It measures energy expenditure in real time, similar to laboratory quality systems that require gas masks and connections to bulky equipment.
New foot trackers have a cumulative error rate of 13% on all activities, such as walking, running, stair climbing and cycling, as opposed to the 42% to 44% error rate for smartwatches. It requires two small foot sensors, a battery and a microcomputer, all of which are light, portable and cheap.
The objectives of the research team include promoting availability to help people better understand and improve their health. “We have everything in open source in the hope that people will take it and run with it and make products that can improve the life of the public,” said the author of the study, Mykel J. Kochenderfer, PhD, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics and computer science at Stanford University.
The findings of the survey are available in Nature Communications (2021; 12 [4312]).
Source: ideafit.com
