Pebble makes fitness algorithms public, to launch mood-tracking ‘Happiness’ app

NEW DELHI: After tracking fitness, Pebble now wants to track people’s happiness too, with a new mood-tracking app called ‘Happiness’. The company has also released two of its fitness tracking algorithms to public, to help standardize measurements.

In a post, Stanford PhD student and Pebble collaborator Nathaniel Stockham said, “I am making these two algorithms available to the public to encourage the use of a standard set of measures.”

Read also: Pebble Time 2, Pebble 2 and Pebble Core launched
One of the algorithms detects motion, whereas the other counts steps. Pebble is also working with Stanford University for its ‘Happiness’ app. According to reports, the app will function in weekly cycles and prompt users to rate their mood and energy levels daily.

‘Happiness’ app will also ask for details from users like who they are with, current location and activities they are doing. The data is then aggregated into a report.

“The first algorithm is for a general measure of motion called VMC. My version is a variant on an algorithm called Proportional Integrating Mode (PIM), which researchers in sleep and sports medicine have used for years.The second algorithm for step counting, is slightly more complex. I designed it with Ron Marianetti specifically for the Pebble,” explained Stockham.


The app intends to help users to make changes in their lifestyle and surroundings in order to be happier. Pebble promises to keep the this personal data to its app only and not share it.

The company recently introduced its Pebble 2 and the Pebble Time 2 smartwatch, along with a new fitness device called Pebble Core. Both smartwatches come with built-in heart rate monitors for better fitness tracking. Pebble 2 is priced at $99 and will start shipping in September, whereas Pebble Time 2 costs $169 and will launch in November.