The History Of The Fitness Tracker

You probably own a fitness tracker or have considered purchasing one, but did you know that this wearable activity-tracking device has a history that dates back nearly a century? While it's become a common piece of technology worn by many, it took lots of trial and error to get to where we are today with fitness trackers.

Lie Detectors And Fitness Trackers

It may seem surprising, but lie detectors were the first step towards the fitness tracker technology we use today. Lie detectors, or polygraph tests, were invented around 1921. They were the first piece of technology that could detect a person's blood pressure and pulse by measuring their galvanic system response (GSR).

This GSR technology is still used today in fitness trackers that feature sensors that detect whether you're not you've been staying active. Those friendly little reminders that you haven't reached your recommended number of steps for the day? Those are rooted in GSR technology.

Counting Steps

We all know that reaching that goal of 10,000 steps per day is important for staying healthy, but have you ever wondered how fitness trackers count those steps and why 10,000 is the magic number?

It all dates back to 1965, when Japanese professor Dr. Yoshiro Hatana determined that 10,000 was the optimal number of daily steps to reach to maintain a healthy weight. After settling on the 10,000 number, he created the pedometer, which is a device that measures each step you take. Almost all fitness trackers you find on the market today have a pedometer included.

GPS and Bill Clinton

What do former President Bill Clinton and the Global Positioning System (GPS) have in common? In 1996, President Clinton gave the go-ahead for the 29-satellite constellation that provides the necessary data that makes GPS function available to civilians.

Without this technology, you wouldn't be able to map your walks and runs that you enjoy sharing on social media and fitness apps. Many fitness trackers now have this technology included or offer the option to download an application for it.

Becoming A Part Of History

If you haven't yet purchased a fitness tracker, now's the perfect time. With the warm weather finally here, you can get the most out of all of your fitness tracker's features. We have several fitness trackers on our website that will help you reach your fitness goals.