[slipperyp]

I look at this and think "finally, someone's found a way to capitalize on the disposable income of people whose homes are already full of exercise bikes being used as coat hangers and whose wrists are nearly ready to collapse under the weight of their fitbits, pedometers, and GPSes."

Here's the secret to health and exercise: you have to want to do it. Another $100 device to tell you "you're still not doing the thing you said you want to do but that you're not making time for" if it's not something you want to do. I run and love to do it. Here's how I know I'm different from other people this way: when I started running a lot (about 6 years ago) I would ask friends if they wanted to go for a run and they would say "no." I wanted to get fit, but I also wanted to run. I know people who ask "how can I run more?" and I ask "well, do you enjoy running?" and usually they say they don't. I don't tell them they need to buy different shoes or gadgets to try to coerce them into doing it, I suggest they look at other kinds of activities that will fulfill them and try to incorporate that into their life.

I believe too many people confuse fitness with the goal of exercise. Happiness should be the goal. It's fair (and probably right) to say fitness will bring happiness, but it's important to keep those in perspective and realize that if exercise (a means to fitness) isn't bringing happiness, then maybe the exercise should change.

Lastly - I have a small ax to grind over people getting pets who aren't prepared to give the pets the attention they need to be happy. Pets need a lot of attention and activity - they express very clearly when they aren't getting enough if you pay attention. And you can calibrate the type of dog that might suit your lifestyle before you get one.

Sorry to rant over problems with fitness and pet ownership that I feel that a product like this brings up - the product itself may be totally fine and I'll probably get downvoted for saying some of this. Clearly there's somewhat of a need for a product like this.

[IanDrake]

>I have a small ax to grind over people getting pets who aren't prepared to give the pets the attention they need to be happy.

While I generally agree, how do you reconcile this with the thousands of dogs euthanized every day in kill shelters because no one will take them?

[yannyu]

I love dogs, I think it's terrible that we have so many in shelters and so many being euthanized. I wish we could provide happy homes for all of them.

That being said, I would rather euthanize a dog than put it in a home or half-a-home where it isn't cared for in the way it should be. I would rather it not suffer at all, than for it to be ignored, not loved, or not looked after.

[slipperyp]

I'm not thrilled about that at all, either. My dog is from a shelter (it was a no-kill shelter but I looked at kill shelters, too). Basically, I think more people need to take care of their pets and more people need to help sterilize pets that there don't appear to be anyone to take care of. My parents got a few ferral cats in Texas "fixed" and I know a guy in rural Peru who was supporting this mostly out of his own pocket. I think those types of things are probably the best approach (and I donate money to a local shelter and know one of the services they perform is sterilization of stray animals). Mostly, though, I think that's just another sad situation in addition to people not taking care of their pets (a mild form of animal abuse) and think they are mostly separate issues.

[bargl]

I agree that the devices don't change your workout habits, but if you have the habits or want the data then this is a cool thing.

I don't think this post has ANYTHING to do with people who aren't prepared to take car of their pets. It's just a way that people can track over the lifetime of their dog, activity and health. I've got a 9 year old dog and have had her since she was 1. I wish I could see where she's declined in activity over those years.

Also, she blew out her knee. This might have helped me see a decline in activity and begin to worry about my dog even before she began to show a limp.

[gummadi]

" I know people who ask "how can I run more?" and I ask "well, do you enjoy running?" and usually they say they don't. I don't tell them they need to buy different shoes or gadgets to try to coerce them into doing it, I suggest they look at other kinds of activities that will fulfill them and try to incorporate that into their life. "

Interesting! But isn't our natural tendency to be lazy, why would anyone prefer to stress themselves rather than sit infront of TV? Shouldn't we just continue running, irrespective of whether we enjoy it or not in the beginning, until we start enjoying it?

[ruswick]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslows_hierarchy_of_needs

The human condition also necessitates expression, realization, aspiration, etc. In many cases, sitting on a couch will bring the most instantaneous pleasure, but it is ultimately empty and ephemeral. Things that are difficult, though instantaneously distressing, are more likely to be fulfilling in the long term.

[krisvage]

I really agree that you have to like running, but sometimes that new pair of shoes or equipment can be what ignites you. For instance I have been using endomondo with gps tracking and a bluetooth heart rate monitor, and getting so much data on each run, and statistics over time really motivate to keep getting better. And for other people getting their fitbit to 10000 each day may be just the extra bit of motivation they need.

[slipperyp]

Tangent from the pet thing, but ... personally and admittedly, I get quite hoity toity about this and don't think I'm spouting any gospel. My $0.02 and observations around this though are: - No one (ok, one exception) I know who trains heavily relies on a GPS, fitbit, etc. Most of them know what kinds of splits they'd turn out for some workout (mile repeats, 800s or some trail they run a lot). - Conversely, I know a lot of people who use a GPS or fitbit who are not in shape and seem to want to get in shape but aren't making noticeable progress over months (based on their satisfaction or what I'd call visible results) - But yeah, I also know a lot of people who exercise casually and incorporate these into their days.

I just see a lot more people who these don't do anything for than those that they do, and I think the device has little-to-nothing to do with the outcome. A MUCH better investment would be to join a group (many are free, many cost less than the devices).

Back to the pet thing, I think you have to want to care for the pet and pay attention to its behavior and needs. This looks like a neat / fine device, but I'd probably sooner make one of the DIY "Cooper the Photographer Cat" cameras (which incidentally run half the cost of the whistle: http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/pe_cc_o1_en.htm)