The Technology Behind Fitbit: Capabilities and Limitations of Modern Accelerometers

Activity sensors and motion trackers seem to be everywhere today. They are flipping our smartphone displays, tracking our fitness from wrist bands, stabilising cameras and Segways, controlling video game characters from the console remotes and keeping us safe by deploying airbags on impact, not to mention numerous industrial applications.  And the tide continues, with new wearable gadgets and apps that find inventive uses for accelerometers appearing regularly.

In this session, Stav Zaitsev will discuss the underlying technology of modern embedded activity sensors – microelectromechanical accelerometers and gyroscopes, explore their capabilities and outline the limitations.  We will also try to get a feeling about what does it take to create a new gadget or app that uses these ubiquitous devices to connect the real world of action with the realm of smart electronics.

About Stav Zaitsev

Stav Zaitsev is a consulting engineer helping technological startup companies to get their innovative products off the ground and beyond. Since completing his PhD in the field of micro-optoelectromechanical systems five years ago, he has been involved in various research and development projects in the areas of activity tracking, optical sensing, analogue electronics and optical microsystems.

Stav works primarily with US startups, he sees a great potential for a growing technological and electronics startup scene in South Australia and hopes that one day he will be able to focus all his efforts locally.