Commentary

Fitbit: Best Personal Tech of 2013

by Max Kalehoff , December 31, 2013

I acquired some cool new tech gadgets in 2013. Most gadgets were iterative improvements -- like my Macbook Air laptop and an HTC One smart phone.

The one tech purchase that really changed my life was the Fitbit One personal activity tracker, a wireless-enabled wristband that measures data such as steps walked, quality of sleep, calories burned and more.

Equally important was the Fitbit WiFi smart scale that measures my weight and body fat and instantly integrates those metrics to my Fitbit online dashboard. Also key was Fitbit’s food database and calorie log. All of these data sync with my smart phone app and have made me more conscious of my health and lifestyle.

The result? I gradually lost 20 pounds between the beginning of September and end of December. My round head has regained some definition and my waist size has shrunk from a 38 to 34. The easy access to personal data, along with beautiful graphics, was powerful in modifying my behavior.

These results are why I call Fitbit the best personal tech of 2013.

Additionally, the Fitbit is a great way to experience personal data tracking and optimization. It is a powerful concept and will advance much further in the years to come.

What is your favorite technology of 2013?

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5 comments about "Fitbit: Best Personal Tech of 2013".

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Ted Rubin from The Rubin Organization / Return on Relationship, December 31, 2013 at 10:41 a.m.
Love this post Max, and the insight into Fitbit. For me it's been the Nike Fuel Band. Not only did it help many at Collective Bias get fit (we gave then to everyone last Christmas) and lose weight, but it connected us socially on a regular basis.
P.S. All my very best to you and your family for a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!
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Dan Ciccone from MEDIAFICIONADO, December 31, 2013 at 11:15 a.m.

I'm curious to see how this technology evolves as well as there are terrific communication implications for sponsors. My preference is for the Basis which also includes a heart rate monitor and automatically records information while you sleep. I hope these products have a major evolution in 2014.

Max Kalehoff from MAK, December 31, 2013 at 12:04 p.m.

@Ted: Thanks Ted. I forgot to mention the social element, as I compete against my wife and a few others.

@Dan: I'm sure we'll see a lot of innovation here, and perhaps connect to patient records, other appliances, etc. Privacy/publicity issues are sure to arise as well.

Paula Lynn from Who Else Unlimited, December 31, 2013 at 7:44 p.m.

Is the information secure ? Who, which companies can get their greedy grubby hands on my personal information to sell me things, to sell my information to other companies to sell me things ?

Tanya Gazdik from MediaPost, January 3, 2014 at 11:31 a.m.

Max, I love FitBit, too. And you look great, I noticed the weight drop in your Facebook picture. Their customer service is amazing. When I broke my first FitBit Zip, they were kind enough to quickly send me a free replacement. I recently ordered two FitBit Force wristbands for my husband and I (two week back order!) along with the FitBit Aria scale. I'm excited to take things up a notch. I'm also doing Weight Watchers and have had good results so far. They are another good company. Membership is free for life once you reach your goal weight. What an incentive! I plan to go weekly for the rest of my life to stay on track. My health is worth it.