09 May 2008

Nokia Step Counter beta launched!
Every step you take, every move you make,
every single day, I'll tracking you!

Ever wanted to how much you walk or run as you go about your daily life? The Nokia Step Counter not only counts your steps, it also determines the distance you have covered and your energy expenditure.

You can even compare your activity levels on different days by looking up the summaries stored in a handy diary.

Want to know how it all works? Your steps are measured by analyzing the output from an accelerometer in your S60 mobile device.

All you have to do is carry your phone around with you whenever you move, for example in a pocket of your clothing, attached to a belt or your upper arm, or in a handbag worn over your shoulder.

Ole Kirkeby, Nokia Step Counter team: "Nokia Step Counter does what it says on the tin: it counts the number of steps you take by analyzing how you ’shake’ your phone. Since most people have their phone with them everywhere they go, it is natural to use the accelerometer in an S60 product to track your daily activity."

Most commercial step counters require you to attach the measuring device to your belt. We have made an effort to ensure that Nokia Step Counter is accurate regardless of how you carry your phone. It should work fine if you have it in a pocket of your clothing, or a handbag you wear over your shoulder. The most challenging case we are aware of is when you have the phone in your hand while walking because then you ’shake’ it in a way that is not representative of how your body’s center of gravity move!

We are particularly interested in feedback on two topics. The first is the accuracy of the step counter. Can you fool it so that it picks up false steps, for example while you are driving a car with an unforgiving suspension, or can you make it ignore real steps, for example while you are shifting sideways along the shelves in your local supermarket? The second is the feature set of the application. Would you like to see more statistics in graphical format? Or perhaps a more profound summary which goes beyond the obvious steps/calories/distance numbers?

Last, but not least, we would like to hear from women! How do you carry your phone around with you during the day? If you don’t have any pockets in your clothing, or a belt, is it an inconvenience to use a mobile phone as a step counter?