Why do cardio machines need two hands to monitor heart rate but smartwatches only need one wrist?
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the cardio machines send electronic signals through your body so from one hand to the other. Smartwatches just calculate by like tracking the blood flow in your wrist and counting.
A smart watch uses light and a sensor to ‘see’ the blood pulsing through your skin.
A cardio machine runs a little bit of electricity through your body and because your heart uses electricity to beat it can see changes in how the electricity comes back. Because you need to complete a circuit that includes your heart it uses two points on your hands.
I know that smartwatches use light to capture the changes in light as blood runs under your skin as blood absorbs light differently and the veins pulse blood so you get a pulsing reflection, small but detectable. Watches are situated right on top of yoir wrist, an ideal location.
Cardio machines use metal electrodes to detect the minute electrical activity your heart generates. Electrodes need two points, like positive and negative, and your body completes the circuit, allowing the equipment to measure the pulse.
When you take an electrocardiogram with the Apple Watch you need to use the other hand to touch the crown in the device, completing the circuit.
Cardio exercise machines use the technology that requires a complete circuit for two reasons: 1. It is a more accurate heart rate. 2. To ensure you are using the machine properly. By using both hands to stabilize your body, there is less chance of using the machine wrong and injuring yourself.
People are real dumb sometimes and we like to do things the wrong way if seems a fraction more convenient. The exercise machine beeping at us to hold it properly to monitor our heartrate helps keep us in line.
They use two different methods: light vs electrical signal, and the ES one is far, far more accurate than the optical.
The newer Apple watches which has the ECG feature actually use two points of contact just like the cardio machines.
One is a point on your wrist and the other is on the crown which you need to leave your finger on
Just want to add that smartwatch results are far from correct. They should never be taken as professional medical results
I always assumed cardio machines required two hands to ensure that you don’t lose your balance while exercising
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