Not many people are well aware of the fact that the simple act of walking can allow you to lose weight. Therefore, it would be a good idea to stop taking the bus or your personal car each time you leave the house. Just walk for 2-3 kilometers each day to your workplace and back, and you’ll surely see some differences in a few months if you have some extra pounds!
But given that we live in an era when technology plays a crucial role in our daily routines, guess what? Your own smartphone can lend you a helping hand in order to track those steps you take each day. Most smartphones nowadays have a built-in pedometer that you can use at any time to track your steps to see exactly how many you’ve made during a specific time.
What is a pedometer?
A pedometer on an Android phone or iPhone is a feature or app that uses the device’s built-in sensors, usually the accelerometer, in order to track and count the number of steps you take during the day. In other words, your smartphone can motivate you even more to lose weight through walking. The main purpose of a pedometer is to monitor your physical activity level, particularly the number of steps you take as you walk or run.
A lot of people wonder how exactly a pedometer on a smartphone works. Some of them are even skeptical and claim that there’s no way for an app to know exactly how many steps you take. In other words, they believe that it’s all just a hoax.
But we know better, so let’s see just how a pedometer on a smartphone works:
Accelerometer: Smartphones are also equipped with an accelerometer, meaning a sensor that’s able to detect changes in acceleration. When you move your smartphone, the accelerometer will automatically detect these movements.
Step Detection Algorithm: The pedometer app also uses a step detection algorithm that analyzes the data from the accelerometer to identify the user’s steps. It’s able to detect patterns in motion that correspond to the typical motion of walking or running.
Step Counting: As the user walks or runs, the pedometer app counts the number of steps based on the data recorded by the accelerometer. Each time the algorithm identifies a step-like motion pattern, it adds to the step count.
Data Display: The app displays the step count on your phone’s screen, allowing you to monitor your progress during the day.
Additional Features: Some pedometer apps might offer extra features, such as tracking distance traveled, setting goals, estimating calories burned, and providing historical data to help you track your physical activity over time.
Pedometers on smartphones are also often used as part of health and fitness apps, so there’s no use underestimating the importance of such a function! Pedometers are always able to indirectly encourage users to engage in more physical activity and lead a healthier lifestyle. Pedometers can provide the needed motivation by allowing you to set your goals, track your progress, and even compete with yourself or others.
It’s worth noting that the accuracy of pedometer apps can vary depending on factors like the quality of the smartphone’s accelerometer and the algorithm used by the app. While they provide a general indication of your activity level, they might not be as accurate as dedicated fitness trackers or wearable devices designed specifically for fitness tracking.
Tim M. Hill helped bring Digital-Overload from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a writer to Digital-Overload, Tim mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.
