A Comparison of a Smartphone App and a Wrist-Worn Fitness Tracker for Self-monitoring of Physical Activity by Older and Younger Users

Wearables capable of monitoring steps are important elements of behavior change interventions to increase physical activity. For intervention studies, there is currently the choice between smartphone apps and fitness trackers for self-monitoring daily steps. We report results from a pilot study, in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSmart Objects and Technologies for Social Good Vol. 233; pp. 331 - 341
Main Authors Kupffer, Rebekka, Wutzler, Melanie, Krems, Josef F., Jahn, Georg
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2018
Springer International Publishing
SeriesLecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering
Subjects
Accelerometry
Behavior change
Mobile health
Pedometer app
Quantifying self
Wearables
Online AccessGet full text
ISBN9783319761107
3319761102
ISSN1867-8211
1867-822X
DOI10.1007/978-3-319-76111-4_33

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Summary:Wearables capable of monitoring steps are important elements of behavior change interventions to increase physical activity. For intervention studies, there is currently the choice between smartphone apps and fitness trackers for self-monitoring daily steps. We report results from a pilot study, in which younger and older participants experienced both types of devices, rated usability, and performed usability tasks. The fitness tracker, which was operated with a single touch-sensitive button, proved advantageous in subjective and objective usability. The discussion includes further aspects of the choice between smartphone apps and fitness trackers for use in interventions.
Bibliography:R. Kupffer and M. Wutzler have contributed equally.
ISBN:9783319761107
3319761102
ISSN:1867-8211
1867-822X
DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-76111-4_33