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 03/08/2011 02:03:55 PM · #1
i looking to buy my mother a birthday gift, she walks alot and has mentioned she would like a nice pedometer. problem is i have no idea what a good brand is and what features are desirable.

beside picking the highest rated one on amazon, i am lost.
 03/08/2011 02:07:32 PM · #2
Don't know anything about pedometers. Does she have an iPhone? I really like GPS Motion X.
 03/08/2011 02:08:47 PM · #3
Originally posted by hahn23:
Don't know anything about pedometers. Does she have an iPhone? I really like GPS Motion X.


nope, she has an android, and short of facebook, im not sure she knows how to use it.
 03/08/2011 02:17:06 PM · #4
There are three basic technologies used:
- Stride sensing
- GPS-based time/distance monitoring
- Accelerometer-based sensing

Stride sensing is the "cheap and dirty" method. Requires calibration to user's stride length.
GPS sensing is the high-tech alternative, definitely the most accurate, but has high power demands (read short battery life) and somehwat higher cost, though not that much higher these days.
Accelerometer-based sensing can be quite accurate, has *much* lower power demands than GPS, and does not need to be calibrated to the user. One example is this item. Im not making a personal recommendation, but if I were buying such a device, I'd look at that technology as the best compromise between function, accuracy, cost and convenience.
Now, if she already has an iPhone or other good smart phone, it may well be possible for her to use a purely software-driven solution, since the phones already have GPS capability.

Edit for typo

Message edited by author 2011-03-08 14:18:07.
 03/08/2011 02:24:48 PM · #5
ease of use is key.

my wife has a garmin gps running and it takes a few minutes for the gps to sync up before she can start, so accelerometer might be the better bet.
 03/09/2011 10:41:35 AM · #6
I got a really nice Omron from Amazon for under $30. Easy to use, and seems pretty accurate.
 03/09/2011 11:04:19 AM · #7
Yes, I understand the need for "ease of use". You're doing the right thing!

Just one more pitch for an iPhone with GPS capabilities. Just watched "127 hours". Yikes, I do that kind of solitary hiking in the wilderness all the time. While I always tell my wife where I'm going, I think she doesn't always pay attention. The problem with writing down my expected destination is I often change my mind and head to a different location.... depending on the light, weather and sky. I hate cell phones, but I love my GPS capability on my iPhone. The GPS capability is NOT dependent on cell phone coverage. If you can see the sky, your GPS will work. As long as there is battery life and my iPhone is "on", my wife can go to Find my iPhone to locate me (if the iPhone is in my pocket. Always is.) Yeah, I know... being "on the grid" is a two edged sword.
 03/09/2011 11:14:54 AM · #8
I use for over 10 years the same Omron pedometer - just measure the stride and input the height and weight. A great friend for walking. Amazon has a wide choice.
 03/09/2011 11:30:27 AM · #9
Originally posted by hahn23:
Yes, I understand the need for "ease of use". You're doing the right thing!

Just one more pitch for an iPhone with GPS capabilities. Just watched "127 hours". Yikes, I do that kind of solitary hiking in the wilderness all the time. While I always tell my wife where I'm going, I think she doesn't always pay attention. The problem with writing down my expected destination is I often change my mind and head to a different location.... depending on the light, weather and sky. I hate cell phones, but I love my GPS capability on my iPhone. The GPS capability is NOT dependent on cell phone coverage. If you can see the sky, your GPS will work. As long as there is battery life and my iPhone is "on", my wife can go to Find my iPhone to locate me (if the iPhone is in my pocket. Always is.) Yeah, I know... being "on the grid" is a two edged sword.


just to note, while gps capability does not require cellphone coverage, im pretty sure "find my iphone" does. i think it uses cell tower triangulation to locate, which is why it isn't extremely accurate, my windows phone is only accurate to a few hundred feet intially and then it goes through a length refining. however the gps is almost spot on.

keep that in mind if you are counting on someone to be able to find you that way.

i am basing this off my wp7 phone, your iphone may work differently (but i doubt it) but still you may want to verify that.

just put your phone into airplane mode and see if it works. if i have cell data use off (or airplane mode), i just tried, i cant find or lock my phone remotely, as soon as i take off airplane mode, it locks and shows up on the map.

03/09/2011 11:32:32 AM · #10
Originally posted by mariuca:
I use for over 10 years the same Omron pedometer - just measure the stride and input the height and weight. A great friend for walking. Amazon has a wide choice.


thanks i saw lots of those, never heard of the brand before, the reviews seemed good. i did find one with an accelerometer that got good reviews but everyone said it was overly complicated.
 03/09/2011 11:37:57 AM · #11
Originally posted by mike_311:
...
just to note, while gps capability does not require cellphone coverage, im pretty sure "find my iphone" does. i think it uses cell tower triangulation to locate, which is why it isn't extremely accurate, my windows phone is only accurate to a few hundred feet intially and then it goes through a length refining. however the gps is almost spot on.

keep that in mind if you are counting on someone to be able to find you that way.

i am basing this off my wp7 phone, your iphone may work differently (but i doubt it) but still you may want to verify that.

just put your phone into airplane mode and see if it works. if i have cell data use off (or airplane mode), i just tried, i cant find or lock my phone remotely, as soon as i take off airplane mode, it locks and shows up on the map.

Thanks for the info. I'll check this out. I know a place in a canyon where I have zero cell phone coverage, but good GPS. I'll see if my wife can find me via Find my IPhone. You may be right. I learn something at DPC every day.

eta: Initial research indicates Find my IPhone is based on triangulation of cell phone signal. I stand corrected. Oh, well. At least I will know where I am, (along with the "black helicopter" people).

Message edited by author 2011-03-09 11:39:53.
 03/09/2011 11:38:17 AM · #12
Omron is into a lot of things; in particular they are a big name in industrial controls. They are a quality outfit, and I personally would not hesitate to buy something with the Omron brand.
It's too bad that you haven't found an accelerometer-based unit that is simple to use. I agree that simplicity is an absolute necessity. If it's too complicated, it simply won't be used.

ETA: Here is the link to the manual for the product I linked earlier. Initial set-up does seem like it is futzy, but perhaps if you helped her through the set-up, she'd be good to go? Dunno, you'd have to look through the manual and judge based on your knowledge of her "tech aversion level."

Message edited by author 2011-03-09 11:48:44.
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