ian-apple

Q: Driving = moving?

I just drove for five solid hours and my watch congratulated me my longest moving streak (the watch is quite new!).

 

I actually choose to sit quite still whilst driving.

 

Methinks Apple needs to be able to be able to tell when the wearer is just driving, as opposed to maybe wandering round an office burning a few calories.

 

Or is there some secret or hidden setting?

Apple user since 1982, iOS 9.3.2, Mac, MacBook, iPad, iPhone, Watch

Posted on Jun 19, 2016 7:18 AM

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Q: Driving = moving?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jonathan UK,Apple recommended

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jun 19, 2016 8:42 AM in response to ian-apple
    Level 7 (33,905 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 19, 2016 8:42 AM in response to ian-apple

    Hi Ian

     

    When tracking your activities during general daily wear (ie when not recording a workout via the Workout app), the Activity app relies on data from the built-in accelerometer. The watch measures and interprets your arm movements, translating them into steps and other estimations (calories, exercise, distance, etc).

     

    For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around.

     

    For more accurate estimations, calibrate your watch (instructions via the article linked below). Calibration teaches your watch how your arm movements relate to your stride lengths at different speeds when you are walking and/or running. It does this by comparing data from the accelerometer with GPS (Location Services) data from your iPhone.

     

    Activity-related estimations also depend on your personal information. To check that this is accurate (and to update it over time):

     

    - On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Health > Edit (upper-right).

     

    For the best performance from your watch, also keep both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi permanently enabled on your iPhone.

     

    More information:

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jun 20, 2016 12:21 PM in response to ian-apple
    Level 10 (122,043 points)
    Apple Music
    Jun 20, 2016 12:21 PM in response to ian-apple

    Hi,

     

    You aren't alone.

     

    Please check out this discussion >  My apple watch tracker gets confused on long car rides.

     

    If you want, you can provide feedback directly to Apple here > http://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html

     

    And you can report the issue to Apple directly on Twitter:  @AppleSupport

  • by ian-apple,

    ian-apple ian-apple Jun 22, 2016 4:00 AM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 22, 2016 4:00 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Wow.  Seems like an update is required where the iPhone's GPS and other sensors, along with the watch's, can identify when speed of travel and/or rate of acceleration and/or lack of swinging arm motion is inconsistent with walking or running.

     

    Like when driving, with minimal arm movement.

     

    As for advice like "For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around" I'm going to look like a stroppy teenager flouncing around!

     

    Basic stuff.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jun 22, 2016 4:11 AM in response to ian-apple
    Level 7 (33,905 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 22, 2016 4:11 AM in response to ian-apple

    ian-apple wrote:

     

    As for advice like "For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around" I'm going to look like a stroppy teenager flouncing around!

     

     

    The aim of calibration is to teach your watch how your natural arm movements relate to your stride lengths at different walking / running speeds.

     

    For the most accurate ongoing estimations from the Activity app and Workout app, try to allow your arm to move naturally (for you) both during calibration activities and afterwards, during general daily wear.

     

    If flouncing happens to be your natural style, be sure to also flounce when calibrating your watch.

     

    More information:

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

  • by ian-apple,

    ian-apple ian-apple Jun 22, 2016 4:13 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 22, 2016 4:13 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Jonathan, I use my natural arm movements all the time.

     

    Whose do you use?

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jun 22, 2016 4:25 AM in response to ian-apple
    Level 7 (33,905 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 22, 2016 4:25 AM in response to ian-apple

    Your previous post suggested that you believed allowing your arm to "swing naturally" would involve using exaggerated arm movements (which I was seeking to explain is not the case), rather than your own natural style:

    ian-apple wrote:

     

    As for advice like "For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around" I'm going to look like a stroppy teenager flouncing around!

     

  • by Winston Churchill,Solvedanswer

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jun 22, 2016 4:37 AM in response to ian-apple
    Level 10 (103,708 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 22, 2016 4:37 AM in response to ian-apple

    I believe that a longest moving streak means you have now gone the most days since you got the watch and achieved your move goal, not that you have just spent the most time ever moving all at once, this seems quite a logical achievement if you haven't had the watch for long which you haven't. So I actually think you misunderstand what your watch is telling you.

     

    However if your watch is clocking up steps while you are driving it's because you are either waving your arm around unnaturally and/or it isn't calibrated correctly.

     

    I often walk to the pub to pick up my vehicle from the night before, since I do this regularly I know the distance to be 1.89 miles. Yesterday I forgot to turn off the outdoor walk activity before driving back but my distance was still 1.89 ml when I arrived home. The separate step/distance counter also gave the same information.

     

    I do lots of activities with my watch and yesterdays experience was quite typical, the watch is quite capable of telling the difference between walking and other forms of travel.

  • by ian-apple,

    ian-apple ian-apple Jun 22, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 22, 2016 5:45 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thanks Winnie, have a cigar.

     

    What you say makes good sense, and looking at the logs I can see what you mean - lots of 'activity' but few calories burned.

     

    And I shall certainly take Jonathan's advice and let my left arm move naturally - I've been doing it a long time and am quite good at it. 

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jun 22, 2016 5:57 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 7 (33,905 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 22, 2016 5:57 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Good catch