Counting Accuracy

[LunchWalker]

I am transitioning from an older, trusted, and accurate pedometer that is no longer supported online to a One, after using a Zip for a couple of years. Both the Zip and the One are usually about 10% behind in counts to the older one.  I have checked on my intentional walking times and they seem to track similarly.  Maybe it's the shorter walks in the office and at home that are not recorded so well.  Do the Zip and One start counting as soon as you start walking?  Or do they delay counting?  I have heard of some pedometers that ignore walks of less than 10 steps.  Or is it the more energetic steps that are counted reliably?

[MariamV]

Thanks for joining us @LunchWalker! It's nice seeing new faces around in the Community! Actually your One and Zip will start counting your steps as soon as you start walking. I love my One, I find it to be very accurate. However, if you feel that your step count is inaccurate, double check that you entered your height correctly. Since your tracker uses height to estimate your walking and running stride lengths, you may want to measure and manually adjust these values if your legs are longer or shorter than average. 

Also, please keep in mind that Fitbit trackers, including your One, use a 3-axis accelerometer to understand your motions. An accelerometer is a device that turns movement (acceleration) into digital measurements (data) when attached to the body. By analyzing acceleration data, Fitbit trackers provide detailed information about frequency, duration, intensity, and patterns of movement to determine your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep quality. The 3-axis implementation allows the accelerometer to measure your motion in any way that you move, making its activity measurements more precise than older, single-axis pedometers.

Your One has a finely tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking. The algorithm determines whether a motion's size is large enough by setting a threshold. If the motion and its subsequent acceleration measurement meet the threshold, the motion will be counted as a step. If the threshold is not met, the motion won’t be counted as a step. It's possible for the algorithm to undercount (not meet the required acceleration threshold). Examples here include walking on a very soft surface such as a plush carpet. 

For better accuracy, you can wear your Fitbit One comfortably in or on your pocket or on a bra. The silicone clip will keep it secure.

Always use the silicone holder when clipping your One to a bra or waistband; Please keep in mind that the One is not designed to be in close contact with the skin. For this reason, don't wear the One inside your bra. Hope this helps. Keep me posted!