The Wonders of Progress

Have you ever stopped to consider how we ever lived without our Smartphones? Imagine. I used to go for a walk without ever knowing how many steps I took or flights I ascended. I might have walked the 4.4 miles I did yesterday without ever knowing that I expended 304 calories of active energy and 1,390 calories of resting energy. I wouldn’t have had the slightest clue that my walking speed was 1.5 miles per hour, my step length was 20.5 inches and my double support time (the percentage of time during a walk that both feet were on the ground) was 31.1%.  I certainly wouldn’t have been aware that my walking asymmetry, the percent of time that one foot is faster or slower than the other foot, was 6.4 %.  I mean really, how did we do it?

 

And if I called a cab, like I did yesterday, I wouldn’t have gotten the ping that the cab was on its way and another ping that it’s still on its way, but getting closer and soon, descriptions of the driver and the notification that he just took a left turn and then hit a red light that will last 1 minute and 15 seconds, perhaps delaying the estimated 10 minute arrival time. 

 

I can also check out my sleep cycles in my Health Ap, spend more minutes on screen finding out how much screen time I’m using and I’m sure there’s an Ap somewhere measuring my biorhythms and telling me how I’m actually feeling. 

 

Isn’t progress wonderful?