Sleep stages do not add up to time asleep.

[Zardoz99]

I can see how some sleep recording problems can exist as Sleep mode depends on heart rates and movement.  But my issue is clear cut so I am either missing some information or the Charge 4 can't add. 

Basically, the "Time Asleep" does NOT equal REM + Light + Deep.   My time Asleep is always LESS than the three stages added up BUT always more than a combination of any two of them.   So could someone explain what I'm missing? 

Thanks! 

[SallyOz]

Oz is a colloquialism for Australia. So basically I am Sally in Australia (South Australia to be precise - a not very inventive name for a large southern state established in 1836). We are a new country. 
I had a career in zoology and later in information technology. Both fields involved a lot of research analysis.  My hobby is now genealogy- so I still like putting data jigsaw puzzles together. Hence my interest in anomalies in the Fitbit data. I have the Charge 5 and have only been a user for 2 months. 
I admire what Mark is doing and have been playing with voice recognition software recently and it has certainly improved dramatically since I last dabbled with it (over 20 years ago). I do a great deal of writing (keyboard) and my right wrist is suffering so I am experimenting with dictation. 
Again full circle from when I used a dictafone and my secretary typed it up. Like Mark my first operating system was DOS. 
I am interested in wellness. I’ve never had a weight problem and I am not into any kind of gym or other workout routines. I am interested in sleep analysis and heart data. 

[SallyOz]

Hi Mark

I am very pleased to hear technology has improved your quality of life. It has been promising a lot ever since Scotty talked to his computer on the USS Enterprise back in the 70s. 
I am sure these tracking devices will evolve over the next few years and hopefully diversify into multiple streams to satisfy the many different types of users and their specific needs. 

[SallyOz]

Hi mark

The area where I live is a bit like Massachusetts but not quite as cold. It’s a hilly area behind the city of Adelaide about 40 minutes from some beautiful surf beaches and it is a wine growing region. We have pretty autumns like New England. I did live in Boston for a while. 

[Danai]

I don’t know if my problem started with this update, or earlier:

There’s a discrepancy this morning where the front page says 16% 48min Awake, but two pages in it says Awake 30m in the Deep and REM page.

When you click on the Sleep Stages picture, at the top it says Awake 10% 30m.

[Podunk]

Welcome to this thread. We have been trying to figure out what has happened and I can give you some information as to what we have learned from experience and other threads in the community. The home screens on the app and the dashboard are virtually identical. However, if you look at the sleep data you will find that it does not match that of the dashboard. when compared to the app.

This has occurred as part of a recent Fitbit update and inquiries made to fit moderators and community moderators I’ve not been reassuring.

We have provided some information about I will work experience so that those members of the community and those Fitbit moderators who readUs well now that we speak from diverse life experiences and responsibilities and that we would be embarrassed to turn out a product like the Fitbit app or database without properly vetting it for user usability.

I am a blind user who has never seen the Fitbit screens and because the Fitbit software is not fully compatible with the Apple voiceover application I have not been able to accept access the information cited users receive. I have made a feature suggestion asking the Fitbit developers use screen reading software such as apples voiceover to ensure compatibility and access to people who are blind and otherwise reading disabled. I am pleased that the number of community members have voted for my future suggestion.

[SallyOz]

I have the same problem Danai. Every day. I have a Charge 5. Using the latest software. I only synchronise with my iPhone but I transfer all daily data to a spreadsheet (I am a retired research analyst). No one seems to be able to tell me (or anyone else who asks) why these numbers are different. The time asleep field (today) says I was awake 1hr 29 minutes. When I click Deep and REM field it says I was awake 1hr 5 minutes. I don't know where the 24 minutes went or why. There is a discrepancy EVERY day. Same again today

[SallyOz]

I used the chat service and was told to change my sleep setting from normal to sensitive then back to normal and see if anything changes in the next 24 hours. I’m doubtful… but I’ll let you know. 

[SallyOz]

The reset (normal to sensitive and back) changed nothing. Used the chat service again. New iOS upgrade 2 days ago (for iPhone). Advised to do an app update and see if the problem changes. I’ll let you know if that works. 

[Zardoz99]

Thanks for the updates. At first, it seems so strange as it is just a mathematical algorithm and you think why can't they get it right? But then I realized this is not the programming I used to do at University and the interfacing between the operating system (iOS in this case) and app is probable pretty complex.   Oh well, it seems they are just hoping it goes away. 

[SallyOz]

After three chats over a period of 7 days it is agreed that it is not our device, nor is it a re-boot or the latest upgrade. It’s a problem that needs a fix. Most likely tiny amounts of awake time get rounded out of asleep time on the ‘Time Asleep’ screen and those tiny amounts get rounded into light sleep on the ‘Sleep Stages’ screen. Makes sense and basically we are not awake as much as we might think and those tiny movements are probably done in light sleep. They said they are ‘working on it’. 🙄

[Podunk]

is SOMEDAY anywhere on your calendars

Sent from my iPhone hi Sally, you have the patience of a saint!!! so the solution is coming someday.

I decided I wanted a reminder on the day Fitbit said the sleep data would be fixed. So I asked Siri to add to my iPhone calendar. Siri search the calendar high and low and was unable to find Sunday so I guess I won’t be able to add the date to my calendar.

[SallyOz]

Always keep your sense of humour mark. I’m a retired research analyst and I dislike mysteries. I’m fairly certain I know what is happening but it shouldn’t happen and there is no reason it can’t be fixed. 

[Podunk]

Hey I read an article from the Google android advisor. It stated that Fitbit would be

[Podunk]

Today I read an article from the Google android advisor. It stated that Fitbit accounts will be migrated over to the Google platform starting in 2023 through 2025. I am hoping that with the migration newly written software containing improved accuracy, new features, and excess those who are blind or otherwise physically or hearing disabled.

I would not be surprised to find out that the Fitbit application software was just being patched in anticipation of the 15th account migration and hopefully new and improved software for all of the Fitbit users.

I have dictated this on my iPhone and hope that you will be able to make some sense out of this note.

[SallyOz]

Hi Mark

the software does a good job of writing your spoken words. Quite impressive. 
fitbit was rumoured to have the best sleep analysis software (superior to Apple) and rumour suggested this was one of the motivators for Google buying Fitbit - to create a Google watch to rival Apple Watch. 
It will be interesting to “watch” that all unfold (pardon the pun). 
Servicing minority groups is a ‘nice to have’ feature but mainstream users will be where the money is. So if you want to guess what happens next - follow the money. 
24 hour Heart Rate Variability is a big one and I think that will be one of the goals for the new watch.

I think they will have to ensure all sleep data, displayed in all formats, all add up and align exactly. If they can’t do that, then all other data becomes suspect. 
Whilst I suspect there will eventually be a Google watch, they may retain the Fitbit brand and streamline the models (there are way too many) and come back to a tracker model for the gym junkies and a health tracker (I see that as two categories) and add a much high priced watch that would combine those, plus add tech features like messaging. 

A lot of ‘wait and see’ but I think someday is on somebody’s calendar somewhere. 

[Podunk]

Best wishes Sally, the article I read said the new Fitbit devices just introduced our branded as Fitbit by Google. It does not identify them as Fitbit by google in the community so maybe they are waiting for A big relief.

I can’t wait for Sunday when maybe somebody or somebody else we’ll have something to say about the upcoming update and somehow and somewhere in the community we will hear something !!!!!!!

[SallyOz]

Hi Mark

fitbit is a strong brand. I think Google would be foolish to mess with that until they want to enter the watch market. I image they will keep Fitbit trackers and introduce a Watch (either as Google Watch or as the next generation Fitbit).

Right now Fitbit are known as good trackers and own the fitness tracker market at their price point. Garmin are heavy contenders for the outdoor adventurous types with a bigger price tag. Given the price of the Apple Watch they will need to have a special offering before revealing any new Watch product. The Apple Watch own the iPhone market so they would need to target the android users and / or have some compelling features to get a good foothold in the Watch market. 
Before they even think about that, they need to have impeccable metics in their Fitbit trackers - simple things like time awake adding up to the same amount on two different pages … sigh …

[Podunk]

Went to the Fitbit homepage. As I scrolled through the page my screen reader said quotation marks logo by google close quotation marks

I tried doing the search from the homepage and was unable to enter data in the search field.

Maybe I have been too optimistic about improvements once google transition

[SallyOz]

Miraculously the two screens that show the time awake are now the same! It appears to have rolled back across all records. Are you getting the same result? 

[Podunk]

Hi Sally,

I wish I could answer your question but because I only get partial information from the screens I am forced to do mental calculations and estimate values. It has become Remely frustrating so I do the minimal amount in order to get the data I want.

A while ago I made a feature suggestion in the community asking that the software developers use voiceover software to check screens for accessibility and ease of use for those who are blind, reading disabled or have other disabilities.

I hope things are well in Australia. Soon the leaves in Podunk will be changing colors and I only wish that I could still see them because I know how beautiful they are and I still can see them in my memory.

mark