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Fitbit Research Paper

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My computing innovation represented by my computational artifact is Fitbit. Fitbit was created in San Francisco, California by a group of inventors with knowledge in technology (1). Fitbit is a device that is worn, usually on the wrist, that collects data that includes the amount of calories you burn, steps climbed, distance traveled, etc (4). With the data that is collected there is an app that stores it. The Fitbit app keeps all of the data collected by the hardware and compiles it into graphs and charts so it is convenient to view the collected data (1). 2b. I created my computational artifact, representing the Fitbit and associated app, by using the online editing website; Canva (3). When using the online editing website I was able to …show more content…

A beneficial effect of Fitbit is that it tracks any activity that is done, which lets the user know about their health and progress, if any, that is made (2). The odds of a Fitbit user caring about their general health are fairly high. With fitbit, the user knows what their heart rate is which can be helpful if a user has a heart condition in which they can not overexert themselves during an activity. Fitbit also lets the user know how well they sleep and how many hours that were slept (7). This useful information has an effect on society in which the user will have knowledge of their overall health and will know if they are unhealthy and/or have a possible abnormal heartbeat or rest period. With this information they will be able to talk to a doctor and get medical help if necessary. A harmful effect of Fitbit is that it could be inaccurate in providing the user with correct data. When someone buys any type of fitness tracker, accuracy is probably one of the top things on a list of musts this device must have. A study was conducted in which the Fitbit heart rate monitor was inaccurate by 20 beats per minute (5). People that have a heart condition can be negatively affected by this which could put their health at risk …show more content…

Data that the fitbit uses is from the actual Fitbit itself and the Fitbit app that has to be downloaded for the user to view their everyday health. The Fitbit collects data which can include distance traveled, hours slept, calories burned, heart rate, and a few other things through intricate hardware in the actual fitbit itself (1). The data that is collected is stored on the fitbit (1). When the Fitbit connects to internet access the data that was collected and stored is sent to the Fitbit app in which the data is then transformed into convenient graphs, charts, and other ways to easily understand the possible confusing but helpful data that was collected (1). One data privacy is that Fitbit allows users to sync the Fitbit with other mobile apps other than the Fitbit app. These other mobile apps can keep track of the location of where the Fitbit goes; usually along with the user. An example of an app like this is Strava which is responsible for exposing a U.S. military base when a global heat map of where users of the app traveled was updated in November of 2017 (8). Military personnel did not know that this location tracking app, when synced with a Fitbit, could be used to reveal secret military operations/bases by tracking people’s exercise routines (8). Even people who are not in the military can fall victim to location privacy due to location tracking apps that can be synced with the Fitbit device

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