Journal article
The bit doesn't fit: Evaluation of a commercial activity-tracker at slower walking speeds
Gait & posture, v 59, pp 177-181
Jan 2018
PMID: 29049964
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Accelerometer-based commercial activity trackers are a low-cost and convenient method for monitoring and assessing health measures such as gait. However, the accuracy of these activity trackers in slow walking conditions on a minute-by-minute basis is largely unknown. In this study, the accuracy of a hip-worn commercial activity tracker (FitBit Ultra) was examined through step counts. Accuracy was evaluated through four minute trials of treadmill walking at speeds representative of older adults (0.9, 1.1, and 1.3m/s). Minute-by-minute step count was extracted through the FitBit API and compared it to observer counted steps through video recordings. Results highlighted a significant over-reporting of steps at the highest speed, and a significant under-reporting of steps at the slowest speed, with the FitBit Ultra failing to count steps for one or more minutes at the slowest speed for 11 participants. This study highlights problems with using the FitBit Ultra by slow-walking populations, and recommends that researchers and clinicians should carefully consider the trade-off between accuracy and convenience when using commercial activity trackers with slow-walking populations.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- The bit doesn't fit: Evaluation of a commercial activity-tracker at slower walking speeds
- Creators
- Christopher K Wong - University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyHelena M Mentis - University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyRavi Kuber - University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Publication Details
- Gait & posture, v 59, pp 177-181
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Information Science (Informatics)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000415235300032
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85031725043
- Other Identifier
- 991021916802804721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences
- Orthopedics
- Sport Sciences