The Myth of 10,000 Steps: A New Approach to Smartphone-based Health Apps for Supporting Physical Activity

Tom Ulmer, Edith Maier, Ulrich Reimer

2020

Abstract

This paper introduces an alternative approach to conventional pedometer apps which measure the wide-spread goal of 10,000 steps a day. Instead we focus on the intensity of physical activity, which is in line with recent recommendations of renowned health institutions such as the WHO. These promote a minimum of moderate to vigorous physically active time per week to achieve the desired health benefits. The paper discusses how the guidelines have been implemented. It also outlines how we help maintain user motivation over time (e.g. by integrating and personalising "nudges") and how we intend to solve the challenges posed by different fitness levels and personal lifestyles.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Ulmer T., Maier E. and Reimer U. (2020). The Myth of 10,000 Steps: A New Approach to Smartphone-based Health Apps for Supporting Physical Activity. In Proceedings of the 13th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies (BIOSTEC 2020) - Volume 5: HEALTHINF; ISBN 978-989-758-398-8, SciTePress, pages 641-647. DOI: 10.5220/0009142106410647

in Bibtex Style

@conference{healthinf20,
author={Tom Ulmer and Edith Maier and Ulrich Reimer},
title={The Myth of 10,000 Steps: A New Approach to Smartphone-based Health Apps for Supporting Physical Activity},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 13th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies (BIOSTEC 2020) - Volume 5: HEALTHINF},
year={2020},
pages={641-647},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0009142106410647},
isbn={978-989-758-398-8},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 13th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies (BIOSTEC 2020) - Volume 5: HEALTHINF
TI - The Myth of 10,000 Steps: A New Approach to Smartphone-based Health Apps for Supporting Physical Activity
SN - 978-989-758-398-8
AU - Ulmer T.
AU - Maier E.
AU - Reimer U.
PY - 2020
SP - 641
EP - 647
DO - 10.5220/0009142106410647
PB - SciTePress