Participants were instructed to find ways to intentionally “cheat” the trackers (for example, by shaking a phone while seated to get the tracker to detect walking). In a clever study, researchers gave participants smartphone-based activity trackers that used an accelerometer and a gyroscope (for rotational velocity around each axis). Tracker accuracy relies on pattern recognition. Why you shouldn’t be able to fool trackers This can throw off estimates of distances covered, calories burned, and other metrics
STEP COUNTER 1 STRIDE 2 STEPS FREE
Trackers may not accurately count steps done during sports agility tasks (such as shooting free throws and ladder drills).Trackers may greatly underestimate steps taken during household chores (such as vacuuming and making a bed).Trackers worn on the wrist may not detect steps if the arms are stationary while walking.Trackers are less accurate at slow walking speeds (Research studies on activity tracker step accuracy have generally found:
![step counter 1 stride 2 steps step counter 1 stride 2 steps](https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/F91/7B6Q/HYWT5AL8/F917B6QHYWT5AL8.jpg)
The studies typically compare a variety of consumer trackers to some sort of gold standard. Lots of research studies have analyzed tracker accuracy. Hence different trackers can give a range numbers for the same activity. Each company has different algorithms (typically proprietary) with different thresholds for what ultimately gets counted as steps. Many data characteristics may be considered, including the amplitude and frequency of the 3D accelerations and the patterns of stepping bouts and pauses. Trackers use algorithms to analyze the raw data from the accelerometer to determine what gets counted as a step. How trackers count steps and why they vary This is a key reason that a tracker’s location on your body is very important. However, if you’re moving over an uneven surface, the sensor may pick up wrist vibrations, giving you step counts that may or may not correspond with your actual steps. Thus a wrist-based tracker may not measure activity done while your arms are motionless (cycling, carrying groceries, or pushing a stroller or lawnmower). Conversely, if the sensor can’t detect your changes in speed, it may not count steps. Hence steps for napkin folding (confessed by a waitress), drum playing, and more. (To view great examples of raw accelerometer data for several activities, visit Unfit Bits: Research.) If you wear a fitness tracker on your wrist and you move your arms around (even if you aren’t taking any steps) the sensor detects accelerations, which may be counted as steps. The planes are X, Y, and Z, which are your accelerations from front to back, side to side, and up and down. Devices typically measure acceleration in 3 planes, hence they are known as triaxial or 3D. This detects acceleration, which is your change in speed relative to time. Most popular activity trackers and smart watches (such as products from Apple, Amazfit, Coros, Fitbit, Garmin, Honor, Huawei, Polar, Samsung, Suunto, Withings, and Xiaomi) use an accelerometer to sense movement. Why it’s so easy to trick fitness trackers To rack up fake steps you can sit on a couch and shake your wrist toss your fitness tracker in the dryer or attach your tracker to an electric saw blade, power drill, paint can shaker, ceiling fan, metronome, dog, bike wheel, or hamster wheel.
STEP COUNTER 1 STRIDE 2 STEPS HOW TO
There are videos and tutorials on how to cheat step counters (see video below).
![step counter 1 stride 2 steps step counter 1 stride 2 steps](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/uGwAAOSwNItfDfkQ/s-l300.jpg)
![step counter 1 stride 2 steps step counter 1 stride 2 steps](https://www.thegreatapps.com/application/upload/Apps/2015/12/my-stepcounter-154.png)
The ease with which activity trackers can be fooled into counting steps has turned into an entertaining game for people trying to drum up big numbers to win friendly bets and workplace rewards. Unfortunately, activity trackers can be notoriously inaccurate. What quirky activities have you done that your fitness tracker or smart watch falsely counted as steps? What about playing the drums, folding napkins, or directing a choir? How about opening and closing the refrigerator door or washing your hands? These are all activities that netted people “steps.” If you’re like the majority of people in a survey, you consider accuracy to be the most important feature of wearables.