Unfitbits
September 27, 2015 4:07 PM Subscribe
Does your lifestyle prevent you from qualifying for insurance discounts?
Do you lack sufficient time for exercise or have limited access to sports facilities?
Maybe you just want to keep your personal data private without having to pay higher insurance premiums for the privilege? Unfit Bits provides solutions. Check out their website for more
Accidentally sent my fitbit flex through the washer and dryer last week. Kinda pissed me off that it only registered 3,000 steps during that adventure.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:55 PM on September 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:55 PM on September 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
I can't believe MetaFilter, of all places, would encourage this kind of big data shaming.
Edit: if ever there was a beautifully ironic place to use “hamburger”, this is it.
posted by Riki tiki at 5:20 PM on September 27, 2015
Edit: if ever there was a beautifully ironic place to use “hamburger”, this is it.
posted by Riki tiki at 5:20 PM on September 27, 2015
I wear my fitbit pretty religiously, but if I'm ever given incentives to link it to an insurance program, I'm totally doing this, just as a matter of principle. I'm not doing the metronome, though, because I'm pretty sure that would be annoying.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:28 PM on September 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:28 PM on September 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
Years ago I worked on a webapp that integrated with similar hardware, and we found it easier to use the actual API rather than stubbing it out during development, so devs shaking their devices vigorously, like a bunch of wanking code monkeys (myself included), was a familiar sight. We tried lots of variations, but the most efficient way to rack up the score really was a jerkoff motion with the wrist while holding the device in hand.
posted by idiopath at 5:58 PM on September 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by idiopath at 5:58 PM on September 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
wanking code monkeys
...is the name of my new band.
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:06 PM on September 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
...is the name of my new band.
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:06 PM on September 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
For specific examples - the power-drill doesn't register as steps because there isn't enough change in velocity, the device was looking for a specific "footstep" event where the force was amplified because of a bounce as found with a natural stride. This also prevented wheels and dog collars, and spinning the device on top of a pencil from being as useful as they could have been otherwise. Of course the fitbit is a different device, and might be less picky about the shape of its motion data input.
posted by idiopath at 6:11 PM on September 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by idiopath at 6:11 PM on September 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Do fitbits still work if you walk with your arms straight down at your sides, like an alien unaccustomed to a human body?
Asking for a friend.
posted by adept256 at 6:49 PM on September 27, 2015 [13 favorites]
Asking for a friend.
posted by adept256 at 6:49 PM on September 27, 2015 [13 favorites]
There are assorted linkages you could power with a simple drill that would fool any of these devices.
posted by Mitheral at 7:57 PM on September 27, 2015
posted by Mitheral at 7:57 PM on September 27, 2015
Do fitbits still work if you walk with your arms straight down at your sides, like an alien unaccustomed to a human body?
I think so.
They also recognize plenty of non-walking stuff as steps. On my ride to work (about 20 miles) I'll rack up about 10k steps and at least 30 or 40 stories of stair climbing.
posted by RustyBrooks at 8:11 PM on September 27, 2015
I think so.
They also recognize plenty of non-walking stuff as steps. On my ride to work (about 20 miles) I'll rack up about 10k steps and at least 30 or 40 stories of stair climbing.
posted by RustyBrooks at 8:11 PM on September 27, 2015
What about fucking? Do you leave it on during sex?
(I can't imagine a future where I get a fitbit, so I assume I'll never have to answer this question.)
posted by sneebler at 9:16 PM on September 27, 2015
I wear my fitbit pretty religiously, but if I'm ever given incentives to link it to an insurance program, I'm totally doing this, just as a matter of principle.
And this is why we'll never be given those incentives. Insurance companies have no reason to offer discounts when their customers would obviously and undetectably commit fraud.
Aside: Paul Cegila attached his GPS house arrest bracelet to a "crudely built ceiling fan-style machine with a stick on it" in order to escape.
posted by Rangi at 9:59 PM on September 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
And this is why we'll never be given those incentives. Insurance companies have no reason to offer discounts when their customers would obviously and undetectably commit fraud.
Aside: Paul Cegila attached his GPS house arrest bracelet to a "crudely built ceiling fan-style machine with a stick on it" in order to escape.
posted by Rangi at 9:59 PM on September 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
What about fucking? Do you leave it on during sex?
(I can't imagine a future where I get a fitbit, so I assume I'll never have to answer this question.)
Same here, but for the opposite reason.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:33 PM on September 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
(I can't imagine a future where I get a fitbit, so I assume I'll never have to answer this question.)
Same here, but for the opposite reason.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:33 PM on September 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
I really don't understand activity trackers. You are not suddenly going to get in better shape because you are now tracking the random walking or whatever you did during the day, and having a computer praise you for it. And if you want to track real exercise, there are better devices to do it (including your cell phone).
posted by Mitrovarr at 11:04 PM on September 27, 2015
posted by Mitrovarr at 11:04 PM on September 27, 2015
You are not suddenly going to get in better shape because you are now tracking the random walking or whatever you did during the day
I entirely disagree. Without knowing how much you're walking, are you walking enough? It may be a semi-arbitrary step-count threshold, but it's one I can look at and go "Almost there, let's go a bit further". It's the same concept behind calorie-counting apps. How much are you actually eating? Where's it all going?
Though cell phone tracking's gotten better, definitely.
posted by CrystalDave at 11:16 PM on September 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I entirely disagree. Without knowing how much you're walking, are you walking enough? It may be a semi-arbitrary step-count threshold, but it's one I can look at and go "Almost there, let's go a bit further". It's the same concept behind calorie-counting apps. How much are you actually eating? Where's it all going?
Though cell phone tracking's gotten better, definitely.
posted by CrystalDave at 11:16 PM on September 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
CrystalDave: I entirely disagree. Without knowing how much you're walking, are you walking enough?
Well, here's a hint; did you go out and walk, rigorously and continuously, for a reasonable length of time? If you didn't do that, then no. And if you did, you might as well track that with your cell phone or something. There's no point in a special device, and no point in wearing it the rest of the day. Unless you have a very physically demanding job or commute a meaningful distance by bike or by leg, the rest of your day is just not going to constitute a meaningful amount of exercise.
posted by Mitrovarr at 11:23 PM on September 27, 2015
Well, here's a hint; did you go out and walk, rigorously and continuously, for a reasonable length of time? If you didn't do that, then no. And if you did, you might as well track that with your cell phone or something. There's no point in a special device, and no point in wearing it the rest of the day. Unless you have a very physically demanding job or commute a meaningful distance by bike or by leg, the rest of your day is just not going to constitute a meaningful amount of exercise.
posted by Mitrovarr at 11:23 PM on September 27, 2015
Does your lifestyle prevent you from qualifying for insurance discounts?
Insurance fraud is not the best way of getting into shape.
posted by three blind mice at 2:07 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Insurance fraud is not the best way of getting into shape.
posted by three blind mice at 2:07 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Mitrovarr, you are clearly wrong, it's weird to fight the battle this late when the results are already known: for a large subset of people, these things work wonders, drive competitive urges, and convince lots of people that their random walking *isn't* enough.
I've--umm--heard stories of people running up and down the stairs before bedtime to hit their goals. People who would otherwise merely forget that exercise was a thing.
posted by anotherpanacea at 3:43 AM on September 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
I've--umm--heard stories of people running up and down the stairs before bedtime to hit their goals. People who would otherwise merely forget that exercise was a thing.
posted by anotherpanacea at 3:43 AM on September 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
I walk between 7-10 miles a day during my work day as a gardener. Never would have known that if it weren't for the Fitbit app on my phone. I've also been able to show the direct correlation between miles walked and how tired I am at the end of the day. This didn't correlate with amount of heavy lifting which surprised me.
So yes, it is a useful tool other than the competitive facet.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:38 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
So yes, it is a useful tool other than the competitive facet.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:38 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
So, you want to sit on the couch, eat Funions, and watch TV. But, if you agree to wear a FitBit and share data, you get a discount on your insurance. So, you sign up (presuming agreeing to wear it legit), and hook it up to a drill.
That's fraud, and not fair to the folks who are actually wearing it and making an effort. Right now, I wear my FitBit, log every calorie I eat, and work to manage my health. I get up early on weekends to exercise when I'd much rather drink coffee and read. Right now, I'm not offered a discount for doing this, but I'd be upset if the couch potato in the next cube also got it thanks to a metronome.
I certainly understand questioning big data, and privacy, and the like. Perhaps the argument should be against insurance companies being able to do such a thing. I certainly understand the slippery slope that leads to requiring the FitBit and giving a surcharge to non-users.
But this notion that one is entitled to a discount, and fraud is a legitimate means to this end, rubs me the wrong way.
posted by MrGuilt at 5:42 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
That's fraud, and not fair to the folks who are actually wearing it and making an effort. Right now, I wear my FitBit, log every calorie I eat, and work to manage my health. I get up early on weekends to exercise when I'd much rather drink coffee and read. Right now, I'm not offered a discount for doing this, but I'd be upset if the couch potato in the next cube also got it thanks to a metronome.
I certainly understand questioning big data, and privacy, and the like. Perhaps the argument should be against insurance companies being able to do such a thing. I certainly understand the slippery slope that leads to requiring the FitBit and giving a surcharge to non-users.
But this notion that one is entitled to a discount, and fraud is a legitimate means to this end, rubs me the wrong way.
posted by MrGuilt at 5:42 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
But this notion that one is entitled to a discount, and fraud is a legitimate means to this end, rubs me the wrong way.
If someone constructs a system that rewards gaming the system, then the system will be gamed. That's just human nature.
posted by davros42 at 6:25 AM on September 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
If someone constructs a system that rewards gaming the system, then the system will be gamed. That's just human nature.
posted by davros42 at 6:25 AM on September 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
Insurance fraud is not the best way of getting into shape.
It is once you start having to run from the police. Let's keep the long game in mind here.
posted by FishBike at 6:26 AM on September 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
It is once you start having to run from the police. Let's keep the long game in mind here.
posted by FishBike at 6:26 AM on September 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
I certainly understand the slippery slope that leads to requiring the FitBit and giving a surcharge to non-users.
But this notion that one is entitled to a discount, and fraud is a legitimate means to this end, rubs me the wrong way.
I once had a disagreement with an appliance store salesman who overheard me tell my wife that delivery was built in to the marked price on the appliances. He rushed over to tell us that I was wrong, wrong, wrong. "Delivery is free" he said.
posted by werkzeuger at 6:31 AM on September 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
But this notion that one is entitled to a discount, and fraud is a legitimate means to this end, rubs me the wrong way.
I once had a disagreement with an appliance store salesman who overheard me tell my wife that delivery was built in to the marked price on the appliances. He rushed over to tell us that I was wrong, wrong, wrong. "Delivery is free" he said.
posted by werkzeuger at 6:31 AM on September 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
He rushed over to tell us that I was wrong, wrong, wrong. "Delivery is free" he said.
My favourite is a restaurant I used to live near which advertised, "Free Delivery! Walk-in Discount!"
posted by clawsoon at 6:40 AM on September 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
My favourite is a restaurant I used to live near which advertised, "Free Delivery! Walk-in Discount!"
posted by clawsoon at 6:40 AM on September 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
Toward the bottom of the "website" link, they show a fitbit in a c-clamp, wobbling in a drill. An eccentric load like that is a sure-fire way to quickly kill your drill. :(
posted by xedrik at 7:01 AM on September 28, 2015
posted by xedrik at 7:01 AM on September 28, 2015
We had a program like this at a former employer of mine for insurance discounts. It was pre-fitbit, so it was some other belt clipped "not a pedometer". The only issue is that it had a six inch tether attached, so towards the end of the day, it wasn't unusual to walk through the office and see a sizable portion of the office twirling the device by the tether while working at their desks to reach the daily goal. Or just clipping the device to your belt by the tether so it bounced around a lot more as you walked.
One day I was wearing mine while flying cross country. Apparently all the movement of the take-offs and landings gave me a massive score for a day where I was sitting around a lot more than usual. I think it was my all time highest score ever. It was even tied to a social media platform, and I had the high score for that day across the entire system.
posted by Badgermann at 7:14 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
One day I was wearing mine while flying cross country. Apparently all the movement of the take-offs and landings gave me a massive score for a day where I was sitting around a lot more than usual. I think it was my all time highest score ever. It was even tied to a social media platform, and I had the high score for that day across the entire system.
posted by Badgermann at 7:14 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Lots of insurance companies already do this, so this isn't theoretical. Mine (via my employer) doesn't use a tracking device, but relies on self-reporting exercise on a website. Are there people logging exercise they didn't do? I would guess that's 100% likely. Does it bother me, someone who rides a bike to work every day and maxes out the points one can earn for self-reported exercise within a few months? Nope. It's actually kind of amazing how many people don't even try to get the wellness discount.
In our case, the vast majority of the points are earned by submitting to a wellness exam (filling out a survey and getting a BP reading and blood draw for fasting glucose, cholesterol, etc measurements). The exercise reporting is just an easy way to get the rest of the way to the points minimum for the discount. Other options include smoking cessation and weight loss programs, taking online health-related "courses", going to the dentist or your GP for regular checkups, etc.
posted by misskaz at 8:36 AM on September 28, 2015
In our case, the vast majority of the points are earned by submitting to a wellness exam (filling out a survey and getting a BP reading and blood draw for fasting glucose, cholesterol, etc measurements). The exercise reporting is just an easy way to get the rest of the way to the points minimum for the discount. Other options include smoking cessation and weight loss programs, taking online health-related "courses", going to the dentist or your GP for regular checkups, etc.
posted by misskaz at 8:36 AM on September 28, 2015
In our case, the vast majority of the points are earned by submitting to a wellness exam (filling out a survey and getting a BP reading and blood draw for fasting glucose, cholesterol, etc measurements).
I know that this is completely normal - especially since I'm living in the US, but I'm still reading this thread completely boggled at how normal it is.
We really do live in a future dystopia. The fitbit is just a different, slightly more invasive type of tracking; it's the whole concept of submitting to this kind of tracking in order to "earn" health care "discounts" that boggles me.
The fitbit just adds some extra dystopian window dressing.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 9:44 AM on September 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
I know that this is completely normal - especially since I'm living in the US, but I'm still reading this thread completely boggled at how normal it is.
We really do live in a future dystopia. The fitbit is just a different, slightly more invasive type of tracking; it's the whole concept of submitting to this kind of tracking in order to "earn" health care "discounts" that boggles me.
The fitbit just adds some extra dystopian window dressing.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 9:44 AM on September 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think healthcare cost expansion is too enormous of a problem not to tackle it with technologies like this. Sure it makes you feel bad when you're a couch potato and your coworkers are getting an extra hour of PTO or 20 bucks off their monthly premium because they're taking measures to improve their health and reduce their burden on the healthcare system.
These things fucking work, anyone doubting them needs to question their mindset and what's in it for them to shit on something that so obviously keys into human nature (for so many of us, anyway).
I use my Samsung Health tracker to remind me just how much time I spent standing, walking, or running. I can visually tell the difference between an active day and a lazy day and can go run up 3,000 steps at the end of the day when I realize my base activity wasn't enough to keep me moving towards my goals. The app and technology is not perfectly accurate but it's hell of a lot better than winging everything and tapping into pure willpower without data to support your motivation.
The technology helps me assess whether I truly have been "active enough" doing my regular routines each day. And now suddenly I'm hitting 10k before noon. Haters gotta learn moar
posted by aydeejones at 10:16 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
These things fucking work, anyone doubting them needs to question their mindset and what's in it for them to shit on something that so obviously keys into human nature (for so many of us, anyway).
I use my Samsung Health tracker to remind me just how much time I spent standing, walking, or running. I can visually tell the difference between an active day and a lazy day and can go run up 3,000 steps at the end of the day when I realize my base activity wasn't enough to keep me moving towards my goals. The app and technology is not perfectly accurate but it's hell of a lot better than winging everything and tapping into pure willpower without data to support your motivation.
The technology helps me assess whether I truly have been "active enough" doing my regular routines each day. And now suddenly I'm hitting 10k before noon. Haters gotta learn moar
posted by aydeejones at 10:16 AM on September 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
(I was the couch potato for 6 years straight, not trying to smear anyone else, I know not your struggles)
posted by aydeejones at 10:17 AM on September 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by aydeejones at 10:17 AM on September 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, watching children use step counters is a good way to observe how they tap into our competitive nature. Competing against you, yesterday is a worthy objective, but just running numbers up knowing you can't really overdo it (vs squats in the gym for exampe, which I need to go do but one day I'll need to decide when to cut back and what to do instead) is a deeply satisfying thing once you accept it. I remember thinking "down" about a contractor who happened to be much squatter and fatter than me many years ago. Not because he was fatter but because he was wearing a pedometer and trying to improve himself. Ha!
posted by aydeejones at 10:21 AM on September 28, 2015
posted by aydeejones at 10:21 AM on September 28, 2015
These things fucking work, anyone doubting them needs to question their mindset and what's in it for them to shit on something that so obviously keys into human nature (for so many of us, anyway).
Coincidentally, that's also my main argument in favour of Candy Crush and assorted Skinner boxes.
posted by ersatz at 11:18 AM on September 28, 2015
Coincidentally, that's also my main argument in favour of Candy Crush and assorted Skinner boxes.
posted by ersatz at 11:18 AM on September 28, 2015
This is basically the exact same thing we did in 1989 on the NES Power Pad and that track running game. Instead of running on the pad, you sit next to it and slap the thing with your hands to go superfast, and then stop when you want to do the long jump. Just remember to slap it again after a few seconds or the game recognizes you for a dirty cheater and your 40' long jump turns into a terrible faceplant.
posted by FatherDagon at 1:25 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by FatherDagon at 1:25 PM on September 28, 2015
Anecdotally, fucking does count. A friend of mine tracked several hundred calories being burned during the aforementioned activity.
posted by BobtheThief at 6:24 PM on September 28, 2015
posted by BobtheThief at 6:24 PM on September 28, 2015
aydeejones: These things fucking work, anyone doubting them needs to question their mindset and what's in it for them to shit on something that so obviously keys into human nature (for so many of us, anyway).
Well, I'd be interested to see the research (seriously, I'm not being sarcastic here). My doubt comes from the general impression that walking (normal walking, not sustained, hard exercise walking) is a pretty weak form of exercise for most adults. I mean, it's better than nothing, and suitable for people who can't do anything harder, but almost any other form of exercise is better. So, if you are doing anything else, it feels unnecessary, and if you aren't, it feels like you'd be better off getting a more intense form of workout in, if you aren't prevented by health or time or something. Unless you're using it to track runs or cycling or serious exercise walking or something - that I do consider useful (and I basically always track my exercise in this fashion).
posted by Mitrovarr at 8:45 PM on September 28, 2015
Well, I'd be interested to see the research (seriously, I'm not being sarcastic here). My doubt comes from the general impression that walking (normal walking, not sustained, hard exercise walking) is a pretty weak form of exercise for most adults. I mean, it's better than nothing, and suitable for people who can't do anything harder, but almost any other form of exercise is better. So, if you are doing anything else, it feels unnecessary, and if you aren't, it feels like you'd be better off getting a more intense form of workout in, if you aren't prevented by health or time or something. Unless you're using it to track runs or cycling or serious exercise walking or something - that I do consider useful (and I basically always track my exercise in this fashion).
posted by Mitrovarr at 8:45 PM on September 28, 2015
That's fraud, and not fair to the folks who are actually wearing it and making an effort. Right now, I wear my FitBit, log every calorie I eat, and work to manage my health. I get up early on weekends to exercise when I'd much rather drink coffee and read. Right now, I'm not offered a discount for doing this, but I'd be upset if the couch potato in the next cube also got it thanks to a metronome.
Can you explain how this is is different than say, manufactured spending to cash in credit card rewards?
This is not a finite resource, and you're not fucking anyone over by cheating it. You're essentially equating piracy with theft, here.
Just because someone else gets a cookie for gaming the system that you got for exercising doesn't mean you don't get a cookie.
I certainly understand the slippery slope that leads to requiring the FitBit and giving a surcharge to non-users.
Isn't that essentially what offering a discount is? If the discount is not a quantity-limited thing, then that is essentially the new price. And anyone who isn't getting the discount is essentially being charged an extra fee. The normal price is bullshit in the same way that the "suggested retail price" of items that are always on "sale" is.
I dunno, something about this just rubs me the wrong way and i 1000% support gaming it. If you just got some kind of reward points, or something, it wouldn't bother me as much. But when it's actually "we take less money out of your pocket!" it really chaps my hide.
I wonder if someone who actually can't exercise in a way that would count as steps on one of these will eventually file a discrimination lawsuit. Hell, if my knee gets any more fucked up i wonder if that will end up being me.
posted by emptythought at 2:59 AM on September 29, 2015
Can you explain how this is is different than say, manufactured spending to cash in credit card rewards?
This is not a finite resource, and you're not fucking anyone over by cheating it. You're essentially equating piracy with theft, here.
Just because someone else gets a cookie for gaming the system that you got for exercising doesn't mean you don't get a cookie.
I certainly understand the slippery slope that leads to requiring the FitBit and giving a surcharge to non-users.
Isn't that essentially what offering a discount is? If the discount is not a quantity-limited thing, then that is essentially the new price. And anyone who isn't getting the discount is essentially being charged an extra fee. The normal price is bullshit in the same way that the "suggested retail price" of items that are always on "sale" is.
I dunno, something about this just rubs me the wrong way and i 1000% support gaming it. If you just got some kind of reward points, or something, it wouldn't bother me as much. But when it's actually "we take less money out of your pocket!" it really chaps my hide.
I wonder if someone who actually can't exercise in a way that would count as steps on one of these will eventually file a discrimination lawsuit. Hell, if my knee gets any more fucked up i wonder if that will end up being me.
posted by emptythought at 2:59 AM on September 29, 2015
This is not a finite resource
I don't fault anyone for gaming the system here, but it absolutely *is* a finite resource. The reason you get a discount for exercising is because exercise lowers health costs. If a lot of people get the discount without actually exercising, health costs will be higher and premiums will go up.
This is especially true under Obamacare, with the profit-caps. It used to be you could say that you were only picking the pocket of the insurance company, but now unspent premiums get refunded so you're literally picking the pocket of your fellow workers.
That said, we should get whatever benefits the pedometer craze can produce and not worry too much about fraud. It's too easy to game to build much of a subsidy into it.
posted by anotherpanacea at 3:23 AM on September 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
I don't fault anyone for gaming the system here, but it absolutely *is* a finite resource. The reason you get a discount for exercising is because exercise lowers health costs. If a lot of people get the discount without actually exercising, health costs will be higher and premiums will go up.
This is especially true under Obamacare, with the profit-caps. It used to be you could say that you were only picking the pocket of the insurance company, but now unspent premiums get refunded so you're literally picking the pocket of your fellow workers.
That said, we should get whatever benefits the pedometer craze can produce and not worry too much about fraud. It's too easy to game to build much of a subsidy into it.
posted by anotherpanacea at 3:23 AM on September 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
I don't have a problem with incentivizing exercise, anotherpanacea, but only it its done in a way that protects workers' privacy. A fitbit is not a pedometer. At the moment, my fitbit contains a lot of information about me: what time I go to bed; whether I wake up in the middle of the night; whether I engage in semi-vigorous exercise when I wake up in the middle of the night, about which one might draw all sorts of conclusions; what time I wake up; whether my pulse spikes in the middle of a meeting with my boss. I think that we can assume that fitbits will add more sophisticated features, such as GPS tracking, in the near future. I don't think my employer has any business knowing all that stuff about me, and I don't think that wearing an electronic tracking device should be the price of having affordable healthcare.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:16 AM on September 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:16 AM on September 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
I don't think that wearing an electronic tracking device should be the price of having affordable healthcare.
Well said.
posted by sneebler at 7:46 AM on September 29, 2015
Well said.
posted by sneebler at 7:46 AM on September 29, 2015
A fitbit is not a pedometer. [...]I don't think that wearing an electronic tracking device should be the price of having affordable healthcare.
Then wear a pedometer, and take it off when you have sex. Or better yet: buy your insurance through the health insurance exchanges rather than through your employer. Employer-supplied health insurance is bad and we need to be rid of it asap.
posted by anotherpanacea at 9:42 AM on September 29, 2015
Then wear a pedometer, and take it off when you have sex. Or better yet: buy your insurance through the health insurance exchanges rather than through your employer. Employer-supplied health insurance is bad and we need to be rid of it asap.
posted by anotherpanacea at 9:42 AM on September 29, 2015
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