We don’t hear much about pedometers and it is not even hard to believe that many who have heard of it don’t know what it does, how it works or what it is used for. The pedometer, also sometimes known as a stepometer, is just a device that can measure the distance traveled by the person wearing it while they walk or run. The pedometer is able to calculate the distance by monitoring the movements made by the wearer’s hips. However, information regarding the individual’s stride length has to be entered and this is usually around 2.5′ for men and 2.2′ for women.
A pedometer is portable and can be attached to the waistband of the person wearing it. Other than that, it can just be ignored during the time it is worn. Since the calibrations necessary are already built into the device, the distance traveled for the day is easily calculated using the number of steps taken. Due to the fact that a pedometer doesn’t have to be monitored, it is a comfortable and hassle free way of collecting information on your activity.
Pedometers have been around for a long time and similar devices were even used by Roman soldiers to see how far they have traveled. The first modern pedometer was inventing by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. Since he didn’t patent the device, it is not for certain if he invented it or just made it popular. Originally pedometers worked like a pendulum, were attached to the waist and steps were counted as the wearer would walk or run. Modern pedometers are much more accurate, though.
So who uses the pedometer? The single greatest reason for using the device currently is medical. Doctors are requesting some of their patients to use the device to ascertain how much effort they are putting into their daily leaving. It is common with patients who are trying to get into a regular exercise routine for health reasons. Technology has even gone a step further to make it such that the information collected from these devices is posted directly to a server online, where the doctors can monitor the patient’s progress.
Another reason for using the pedometer is simply exercise. Some people are using the pedometer to make their exercise routine more efficient. Using the pedometer, the user can be able to monitor his/her exercise program more closely. One can also be able to set realistic goals to increase their exercise threshold based on the information that they have collected using the device.
Another way that pedometers are used is for research purposes. Since they are now part of many GPS or GPRS enabled equipment, any data collected by the pedometer can be posted online right away. Some medical research firms actually use pedometers for voluntary programs on people to study human behavior and routines.
For those who are in need of more info on pedometer, check out this blog for more details about exercise.
