Ana Espinal, a 23-year-old fitness influencer, has found an unconventional solution to a problem she faced with her Apple Watch on her tiny wrist during gym sessions. She discovered that strapping the watch to her ankle using an adjustable Velcro strap solved the issue of the app shutting down due to lack of registration. This is not an isolated incident; several users have adopted this method to overcome various issues, such as skin conditions or wrist tattoos that interfere with smartwatch sensors.
Medical professionals, like Shaniece Gale, who uses a smartwatch to track her steps, have found alternative methods when strolling with their newborns. Zoe Hughley Beasley, a loan officer from Missouri, now wears the watch on her ankle while pushing her baby in the stroller, citing accurate tracking of metrics such as heart rate and calories.
While some users may view this trend as unconventional, many swear by its effectiveness. Jason Rogers, an actor, initially found himself wearing an ankle monitor due to a 2019 arrest; however, he attributes his experience with the situation positively, stating it taught him a lesson. Despite the initial shock from others upon noticing the watch on their ankles, most users acknowledge that this method provides accurate health statistics.
The use of smartwatches on non-wrist areas has sparked debate about calibration and validation for these devices. Apple has stated that certain features are specifically calibrated for wrist wear, but wearing them elsewhere can lead to misunderstandings. Nevertheless, Espinal’s community of ankle-watch enthusiasts remains undeterred in their pursuit of innovative solutions to technological limitations.
Source: https://www.dtnext.in/edit/an-ankle-monitor-no-thats-my-smart-watch-822416