Pedometer
Encyclopedia
A pedometer is a device, usually portable and electronic
or electromechanical
, that counts each step a person takes by detecting the motion
of the person's hip
s. Because the distance of each person's step varies, an informal calibration
, performed by the user, is required if presentation of the distance covered in a unit of length
(such as in kilometres or miles) is desired.
Used originally by sport
s and physical fitness
enthusiasts, pedometers are now becoming popular as an everyday exercise
measurer and motivator. Often worn on the belt
and kept on all day, it can record how many steps the wearer has walked
that day, and thus the kilometres or miles (distance = number of steps × step length). Some pedometers will also erroneously record movements other than walking, such as bending to tie one's shoes, or road bumps incurred while riding a vehicle, though the most advanced devices record fewer of these 'false steps'. Step counters can give encouragement to compete with oneself in getting fit
and losing weight. A total of 10,000 steps per day, equivalent to 5 miles (8 km), is recommended by some to be the benchmark
for an active lifestyle, although this point is debated among experts. Step counters are being integrated into an increasing number of portable consumer electronic devices such as music players and mobile phones.
tool for people wanting to increase their physical activity. Various websites exist to allow people to track their progress; however, many will also find entering their daily step count and a heart comter onto a calendar to be motivational as well.
Pedometers have been shown in clinical studies to increase physical activity, and reduce blood pressure
levels and Body Mass Index
. A study published in the Journal of The American Medical Association Nov. 2007 concluded, “The results suggest that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure.”
A daily target of 10,000 steps was first proposed.
The target has been recommended by the US Surgeon General and by the UK Department of Health. The main criticisms of setting a universal target are that it is not achievable for older persons with mobility problems or people with chronic diseases, but on the other hand, the target is too low for children.
One criticism of the pedometer is that it does not record intensity, but this can be done by making step goals time limited (for example, 1000 steps in 10 minutes counts as moderate exercise).
calibrated to steps to measure distances for military and civil purposes, although technically this is not a step counter. Leonardo Da Vinci
envisioned a mechanical pedometer as a device with military applications. The modern all-mechanical pedometer was introduced later to the Americans by Thomas Jefferson
. Jefferson obtained a unit from France, but it is not known if he modified the design, or introduced it to the US as is. Although this pedometer is widely attributed to Mr. Jefferson, proof is difficult to obtain as he never applied for any patents on any of his inventions.. In 1780, Abraham-Louis Perrelet
created the first pedometer, measuring the steps and distance while walking.
In 1965, a pedometer called a manpo-kei (meaning "10,000 steps meter" 万歩計) was marketed in Japan by Y. Hatano. Y. Hatano promoted "manpo-kei pedometers" from 1985, after his research was accepted as proving that 10,000 Steps A Day was the proper balance of caloric intake and activity-based caloric expenditure to maintain a healthy body, and Jiro Kato who is Yamasa Tokei Keiki Co., Ltd., Tokyo Japan founder, Akira and Yasuji Kato's Father, manufactured pedometers recognized to be accurate, and, named them, "manpo-meter" (later known as "manpo-kei") as the world first invented devise to measure number of steps of walking. "Manpo-kei" is a registered trademark of Yamasa Tokei Keiki Co., Ltd.
The longest running pedometer tracking map is at www.stepsout.com. Starting in 2004 EDIS Computers created virtual maps that have circumnavigated the globe. They are fun and interactive and are designed to motivate steppers to do 10,000 steps a day.
inertial sensors and sophisticated software to detect steps. These MEMS
sensors have either 1-, 2- or 3-axis detection of acceleration. The use of MEMS
inertial sensors permits more accurate detection of steps and fewer false positives. The software technology used to interpret the output of the inertial sensor and "make sense of accurate steps" varies widely. The problem is compounded by the fact that in modern day-to-day life, such step-counters are expected to count accurately on locations where users frequently carry their devices (attached to the belt, shirt/pants pocket, hand bag, backpack).
Although traditional step counters get affected dramatically when placed at different angles and locations, recent advances have made them more robust to those non-ideal placements. Still, most step counters falsely count steps when a user is driving a car or makes other habitual motions that the device encounters throughout the day. This error accumulates for users with moderate commutes to work. Accuracy also depends on the step-length the user enters.
Best pedometers are accurate to within ± 5% error.
by Apple
features an integrated pedometer.
and Nike, Inc.
offer the Nike+iPod Sports Kit
, which uses a shoe sensor that communicates with a wireless MP3 Player receiver to transmit workout information such as elapsed time, distance traveled, and calories burned.
pedometer. The sensor is made by ADI. This handset was introduced in Japan in 2004 and has sold over 3 million units.
Sports Phone uses an embedded 3 axis MEMS
inertial sensor to detect the steps a user takes. The pedometer application tracks steps taken, time elapsed and distance traveled. However the application cannot run continuously as it drains the phone's battery and is therefore of limited use.
features pedometer for Nokia Symbian
phones with a Accelerometer
. Accelerometers are included in phones to save correct orientation on photos and to improve gps positioning feature.
and W580 walkman phones use embedded 2 axis MEMS
inertial sensors to detect the steps a user takes. The W710 is a clamshell phone and displays the user's steps on the external display. The W710 must be closed in order for it to count steps. When the step counter is activated, it counts detected steps during the day, and at midnight it stores the counter in a day-by-day history and resets it to zero.
released the Nintendo DS
title , which includes two pedometers. They connect to the game card via infrared
signals.
On September 12, 2009, Nintendo released Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
in Japan. Each game comes bundled with a device called a Pokéwalker, which functions as a pedometer and allows players to transfer one Pokémon from their game to the Pokéwalker via infrared signals. Unlike the Personal Trainer: Walking pedometers, the Pokéwalker features a small LCD screen and multiple buttons. Walking with the Pokéwalker earns experience points for the Pokémon.
The Nintendo 3DS, released March 27, 2011, features an internal pedometer that counts and records daily step counts while in sleep mode. Evey hundred steps earns a Play Coin, which can be spent on a variety of extras and bonuses.
. This MP3 capable pedometer measures aerobic intensity and matches songs on the playlist to keep the user engaged and motivated.
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
or electromechanical
Mechatronics
Mechatronics is the combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, control engineering, and systems design engineering in order to design, and manufacture useful products. Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering, that is...
, that counts each step a person takes by detecting the motion
Motion (physics)
In physics, motion is a change in position of an object with respect to time. Change in action is the result of an unbalanced force. Motion is typically described in terms of velocity, acceleration, displacement and time . An object's velocity cannot change unless it is acted upon by a force, as...
of the person's hip
Hip (anatomy)
In vertebrate anatomy, hip refer to either an anatomical region or a joint.The hip region is located lateral to the gluteal region , inferior to the iliac crest, and overlying the greater trochanter of the femur, or "thigh bone"...
s. Because the distance of each person's step varies, an informal calibration
Calibration
Calibration is a comparison between measurements – one of known magnitude or correctness made or set with one device and another measurement made in as similar a way as possible with a second device....
, performed by the user, is required if presentation of the distance covered in a unit of length
Unit of length
Many different units of length have been used across the world. The main units in modern use are U.S. customary units in the United States and the Metric system elsewhere. British Imperial units are still used for some purposes in the United Kingdom and some other countries...
(such as in kilometres or miles) is desired.
Used originally by sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s and physical fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
enthusiasts, pedometers are now becoming popular as an everyday exercise
Physical exercise
Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...
measurer and motivator. Often worn on the belt
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
and kept on all day, it can record how many steps the wearer has walked
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
that day, and thus the kilometres or miles (distance = number of steps × step length). Some pedometers will also erroneously record movements other than walking, such as bending to tie one's shoes, or road bumps incurred while riding a vehicle, though the most advanced devices record fewer of these 'false steps'. Step counters can give encouragement to compete with oneself in getting fit
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
and losing weight. A total of 10,000 steps per day, equivalent to 5 miles (8 km), is recommended by some to be the benchmark
Benchmarking
Benchmarking is the process of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and/or best practices from other industries. Dimensions typically measured are quality, time and cost...
for an active lifestyle, although this point is debated among experts. Step counters are being integrated into an increasing number of portable consumer electronic devices such as music players and mobile phones.
Usage
Pedometers can be a motivationMotivation
Motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic. The term is generally used for humans but it can also be used to describe the causes for animal behavior as well. This article refers to human motivation...
tool for people wanting to increase their physical activity. Various websites exist to allow people to track their progress; however, many will also find entering their daily step count and a heart comter onto a calendar to be motivational as well.
Pedometers have been shown in clinical studies to increase physical activity, and reduce blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
levels and Body Mass Index
Body mass index
The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
. A study published in the Journal of The American Medical Association Nov. 2007 concluded, “The results suggest that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure.”
A daily target of 10,000 steps was first proposed.
The target has been recommended by the US Surgeon General and by the UK Department of Health. The main criticisms of setting a universal target are that it is not achievable for older persons with mobility problems or people with chronic diseases, but on the other hand, the target is too low for children.
One criticism of the pedometer is that it does not record intensity, but this can be done by making step goals time limited (for example, 1000 steps in 10 minutes counts as moderate exercise).
History
The Romans used an odometerOdometer
An odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
calibrated to steps to measure distances for military and civil purposes, although technically this is not a step counter. Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
envisioned a mechanical pedometer as a device with military applications. The modern all-mechanical pedometer was introduced later to the Americans by Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. Jefferson obtained a unit from France, but it is not known if he modified the design, or introduced it to the US as is. Although this pedometer is widely attributed to Mr. Jefferson, proof is difficult to obtain as he never applied for any patents on any of his inventions.. In 1780, Abraham-Louis Perrelet
Abraham-Louis Perrelet
Abraham-Louis Perrelet, , born in Neuchâtel in Switzerland was a Swiss horologist.Perrelet invented a self-winding mechanism in 1770 for pocket watches...
created the first pedometer, measuring the steps and distance while walking.
In 1965, a pedometer called a manpo-kei (meaning "10,000 steps meter" 万歩計) was marketed in Japan by Y. Hatano. Y. Hatano promoted "manpo-kei pedometers" from 1985, after his research was accepted as proving that 10,000 Steps A Day was the proper balance of caloric intake and activity-based caloric expenditure to maintain a healthy body, and Jiro Kato who is Yamasa Tokei Keiki Co., Ltd., Tokyo Japan founder, Akira and Yasuji Kato's Father, manufactured pedometers recognized to be accurate, and, named them, "manpo-meter" (later known as "manpo-kei") as the world first invented devise to measure number of steps of walking. "Manpo-kei" is a registered trademark of Yamasa Tokei Keiki Co., Ltd.
The longest running pedometer tracking map is at www.stepsout.com. Starting in 2004 EDIS Computers created virtual maps that have circumnavigated the globe. They are fun and interactive and are designed to motivate steppers to do 10,000 steps a day.
Technology
The technology for a pedometer includes a mechanical sensor and software to count steps. Early forms used a mechanical switch to detect steps together with a simple counter. If one shakes these devices, one hears a lead ball sliding back and forth, or a pendulum striking stops as it swings. Today advanced step counters rely on MEMSMicroelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
inertial sensors and sophisticated software to detect steps. These MEMS
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
sensors have either 1-, 2- or 3-axis detection of acceleration. The use of MEMS
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
inertial sensors permits more accurate detection of steps and fewer false positives. The software technology used to interpret the output of the inertial sensor and "make sense of accurate steps" varies widely. The problem is compounded by the fact that in modern day-to-day life, such step-counters are expected to count accurately on locations where users frequently carry their devices (attached to the belt, shirt/pants pocket, hand bag, backpack).
Accuracy
The accuracy of step counters varies widely between devices. Typically, step counters are reasonably accurate at a walking pace on a flat surface if the device is placed in its optimal position (usually vertically on the belt clip).Although traditional step counters get affected dramatically when placed at different angles and locations, recent advances have made them more robust to those non-ideal placements. Still, most step counters falsely count steps when a user is driving a car or makes other habitual motions that the device encounters throughout the day. This error accumulates for users with moderate commutes to work. Accuracy also depends on the step-length the user enters.
Best pedometers are accurate to within ± 5% error.
Integration in Personal Electronic Devices
Apple iPod Nano
The 5th and 6th generation iPod NanoIPod nano
iPod Nano is a digital media player designed and marketed by Apple Inc.. The first generation of iPod Nano was introduced on September 7, 2005 as a replacement for iPod Mini. It uses flash memory for storage. iPod Nano has gone through six models, or generations, since its introduction...
by Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
features an integrated pedometer.
Nike&iPod
AppleApple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
and Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
offer the Nike+iPod Sports Kit
Nike+iPod
The Nike+iPod Sports Kit is a device which measures and records the distance and pace of a walk or run. The Nike+iPod consists of a small accelerometer attached to or embedded in a shoe, which communicates with either the Nike+ Sportband, a receiver plugged into an iPod Nano, or directly with a...
, which uses a shoe sensor that communicates with a wireless MP3 Player receiver to transmit workout information such as elapsed time, distance traveled, and calories burned.
Pedometers for iPhone/iPod Touch
Since iPhones/iPods Touch are enhanced with an integrated accelerometer it is possible to introduce pedometer functionality to the devices. This option was successfully realized by a number of iPhone/iPod Touch applications developers, enabling any fitness savvy iPhone/iPod Touch owners track the number of taken steps as well as passed distance and burnt calories.NTT DoCoMo Fujitsu Pedometer Phone
This is the first integrated phone with a pedometer that works 24/7 and counts step like an OmronOMRON
is a Japanese electronics company based in Kyoto.Omron was established by Kazuma Tateishi in 1933 and incorporated in 1948. Omron's primary business is the manufacture and sale of automation components, equipment and systems, but it is generally known for medical equipment such as digital...
pedometer. The sensor is made by ADI. This handset was introduced in Japan in 2004 and has sold over 3 million units.
Nokia 5500 Sports Phone
The Nokia 5500Nokia 5500
Nokia 5500 Sport is one of the third edition, Nokia S60 platform mobile phones with version 9.1 of the Symbian operating system. It is not binary compatible with software compiled for earlier versions of the Symbian operating system...
Sports Phone uses an embedded 3 axis MEMS
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
inertial sensor to detect the steps a user takes. The pedometer application tracks steps taken, time elapsed and distance traveled. However the application cannot run continuously as it drains the phone's battery and is therefore of limited use.
Nokia Sports Tracker
Nokia Sports TrackerNokia Sports Tracker
Nokia Sports Tracker, later Sports Tracker was originally a piece of software for Symbian Series 60 phones that allowed its user to track their route, speed, timings and energy expenditure, while engaging in a sport activity such as...
features pedometer for Nokia Symbian
Symbian
Symbian is a mobile operating system and computing platform designed for smartphones and currently maintained by Accenture. The Symbian platform is the successor to Symbian OS and Nokia Series 60; unlike Symbian OS, which needed an additional user interface system, Symbian includes a user...
phones with a Accelerometer
Accelerometer
An accelerometer is a device that measures proper acceleration, also called the four-acceleration. This is not necessarily the same as the coordinate acceleration , but is rather the type of acceleration associated with the phenomenon of weight experienced by a test mass that resides in the frame...
. Accelerometers are included in phones to save correct orientation on photos and to improve gps positioning feature.
Nokia Step Counter
Nokia Step Counter is a free application available at Nokia Beta Labs which works on a wide range of N-Series Nokia phones. The pedometer application tracks steps taken, time elapsed and distance traveled. This application can be left running all day as it is not a huge drain on the battery.Sony Ericsson W710 walkman phone, W580 walkman phone
The Sony Ericsson W710Sony Ericsson W710
W710 is a mobile phone produced by Sony Ericsson.The W710 was announced on May 18, 2006. It is one of two clamshell Walkman-brand phones, and shares many characteristics of the Z710...
and W580 walkman phones use embedded 2 axis MEMS
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
inertial sensors to detect the steps a user takes. The W710 is a clamshell phone and displays the user's steps on the external display. The W710 must be closed in order for it to count steps. When the step counter is activated, it counts detected steps during the day, and at midnight it stores the counter in a day-by-day history and resets it to zero.
Nintendo DS
On November 1, 2008, NintendoNintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
released the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
title , which includes two pedometers. They connect to the game card via infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
signals.
On September 12, 2009, Nintendo released Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
are enhanced remakes of the 1999 video games Pokémon Gold and Silver. The games are part of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, and were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS...
in Japan. Each game comes bundled with a device called a Pokéwalker, which functions as a pedometer and allows players to transfer one Pokémon from their game to the Pokéwalker via infrared signals. Unlike the Personal Trainer: Walking pedometers, the Pokéwalker features a small LCD screen and multiple buttons. Walking with the Pokéwalker earns experience points for the Pokémon.
The Nintendo 3DS, released March 27, 2011, features an internal pedometer that counts and records daily step counts while in sleep mode. Evey hundred steps earns a Play Coin, which can be spent on a variety of extras and bonuses.
Philips Activa Workout Monitoring MP3 Player
Released May 2010, by PhilipsPhilips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
. This MP3 capable pedometer measures aerobic intensity and matches songs on the playlist to keep the user engaged and motivated.
External links
- Pedometer Information Sheet fron Alberta Centre for Active Living