Fitbit measures everything from sleep to sex

Fitbit uses a 3D motion sensor like the one in Nintendo's Wii to track everything from calories burned to minutes slept.

(Credit: Fitbit)

Amount of steps you took today: 3,451. Miles traveled: 1.4. Calories burned: 348. Calories consumed: 625. Then you went to bed at 12:05 a.m. Time to fall asleep: 23 minutes. Times awakened: 25. You were in bed for 8 hours 2 minutes. Actual sleep time: 7 hours 42 minutes.

The math is easy, sure. But never before has a device tracked so many aspects of an individual's physical movements to measure overall wellness. From caloric intake to activity levels (sedentary, lightly active, fairly active, and very active), Fitbit clips onto clothing or straps around one's wrist and uses a 3D motion sensor similar to the one in Nintendo's Wii to measure multiple aspects of one's physical self.

And much in the way services like Quicken encourage people to measure whether they are living within their means, Fitbit's Web site analyzes all this data and allows users to input goals. The device costs $99 plus shipping.

Perhaps most exciting of all is that Fitbit will now help each of us understand objectively how vigorously we engage in such activities as laughing, having sex, popping open that bottle of champagne, etc. Will Fitbit users suddenly do these activities more vigorously to maximize caloric output? This little gadget could be a far more romantic gift than current marketing suggests.

[Mac User Too]

OK, two questions: How does the Fibit know your caloric intake? and How does it know if you're having sex?

[chrkeller]

My assumption is is measures calories burned versus time, so if you know what time you had sex you could see the amount energy you put into the activity.

[Amyaz]

You have to enter your calories on its website. And it measures your movement, not what activity you are actually doing.

So, really it's a fancy pedometer with a website.

I'm sticking with my free Lose It! iphone app....

[davidwarren]

does it stay on your wrist? I think that would miss a lot of motion.

[DrtyDogg]

Not for me ;-)

[davidwarren]

^^ haha, I knew that was coming.

[PvtPockets]

What a useful and informative article...not. How about telling us if this thing actually works? What is the point, did you get paid to advertise for them?

[James7777777]

I've been looking forward to this product since it was first announced. Thank you for this useful and informative article, it let me know it was finally available for sale. I went and ordered two.

[oldmanangry]

Hey, how about mentioning that one of the co-creators of the devices was formerly at CNET? You know, like how MSNBC, mentions in every story about Microsoft that Microsoft is a partial owner?

[PandaSage1221]

I've also been looking forward to this since it was announced. I'm mainly interested in it for the sleep tracking, but I don't know how well it'll work. It's still probably going on my Christmas list, though.

[healthin]

I would like to know how this works? Its sounds like this might be good for my <a target="_blank" title="health " href="https://www.insurewish.com/cheap-health-insurance-rates.php">health </a> How does it measure sex? Do I have to worry that some one else will have all my details about sex, sleep patterns, eating shedules etc... ?