Q: how does apple watch know or calculate the intensity of my workouts?
Hi all,
I have used my apple watch now for some time in combination with the activity app for different types of workouts such as running etc and I am curious about the watch or the activity app knows the intensity of a workout such as a run.
Does the watch or app rate each run similar just as a run or does it somehow make a difference if a run is more or less "hard"?
I am interested in this because I think there is a difference if you go on a relaxed 10km run or if you for example do a very hard run up a mountain. Can the watch / app know if you are for example running up hill?
I have recently been on a quite relaxed run of about 10km together with my girlfriend. After such a run I dont feel very exhausted but the activity app anyway stated that I burned quite some kalories. Now another day I went for a really hard and fast run up a hill which was much however shorter, only about 6km. In this case the activity app stated that I burned less calories than on relaxed run and I can not really believe that if I am working out very hard compared to a relaxed run.
Therefore I wanted to know how this actually works and hope somebody can answer me.
Thanks and Regards,
Thomas
Apple Watch
Posted on Jul 24, 2016 10:00 AM
Hi Thomas
When you track an activity using the Workout app and specify an activity type, your watch uses the most appropriate sensors and data sources to estimate the results of that workout.
For example, when recording an Outdoor Run:
- If you also take your iPhone along (with Location Services and Bluetooth enabled), your watch can access GPS data from the iPhone when estimating pace and distance.
- If you do not take your iPhone along, the watch relies on data from the built-in accelerometer when estimating pace and distance.
- Data from the heart rate sensor is used when estimating Active Calories, including calculations that are tailored to the different activity types.
Calibrating your watch helps to improve the accuracy of various estimations made by the Activity app and Workout app. More information and instructions for calibrating your watch are available via the link below.
Estimations of results 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 - tap and adjust items, then tap on Done.
More information:
Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support
Posted on Jul 24, 2016 10:26 AM