Inspire Firmware Effects On Steps

[MrCrankyPants]

I owned a Fitbit Charge that had recently gave up the ghost so I decided to get the Inspire to continue to track my steps. After recently receiving my new Inspire I found that a few of reviews regarding the inaccuracies of step counting of the Inspire were true. My Inspire over counts my steps. I washed my hands today and received 64 steps for that activity WOW! My observations after doing a few simple tests are these. While performing a 100 step test with the Inspire set to my Dominant hand but placed on my non-dominant hand the steps counted were close but still a little high. While typing this comment on my iPad mini I gained about 30 more steps just now. The issue, in my opinion, seems to be the gain applied to the sensor in the firmware. In my day job I fully understand how difficult it is to get the gain on a sensor correct especially when there are so many variables to consider in the solution. I believe a solution could be implemented by adding a user interface, probably as an advanced setting for steps, to change the sensor gain allowing the user to adjust the computed sensitivity of the sensor to match the users arm motion of both steps and non step activities (I.e. washing my hands). This new value would save by the device until reset or changed then saved again. The users could adjust the sensitivity via trial and error such that non step arm motions are not counted as steps and actual steps are counted correctly. I believe the basic firmware sensor algorithms can get the 80% solution but the last 20% of the solution should be achievable by the individual user. Don’t get me wrong, I want the Inspire to be a successful part of my fitness program and I think this recommendation may allow that to be realized. What do you think?

[SilviaFitbit]

@MrCrankyPants A warm welcome to the Community. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with Inspire. 

Your feedback regarding an improvement to the sensitivity of the sensor is appreciated. We're always striving to improve our Fitbit trackers. The best place to make your voice heard is our Feature Suggestion board, those ideas are reviewed by our team and the status will change based in Fitbit's plans. 

In the meantime, you may want to learn more about the accuracy on Fitbit devices by checking this article. 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[MrCrankyPants]

Thank you for your quick reply. I have added my comment to the feature suggestion board. Are the spec’d sensor errors available for the current Inspire?

[SilviaFitbit]

@MrCrankyPants Thanks for getting back. I'm glad to hear that you added your comment to our Feature Suggestion board. 

I would like you to provide me with more details about what you mean by the spec's sensor error available on the Inspire. In the meantime, check out the Inspire's specs here. 

Keep me posted.