The Secret History of Wearable Tracking: From 19th-Century Pedometers to Modern Tech
In a world saturated with wearable technology, it's easy to forget that tracking our steps, movements, and habits is not a new phenomenon. Long before Fitbit or Apple Watch, pedometers served as tools of surveillance, self-improvement, and sometimes subversion. This 19th-century precursor to today’s quantum media tells a fascinating story of human behavior, societal norms, and the lengths people would go to game the system.
Tracking Husbands, Employees, and Elite Women
The earliest anecdotes of pedometer use reflect a mix of humor and distrust. In 1860, the Vincennes Gazette featured a woman wishing for a device to track her husband’s nightly escapades. A Boston wife took this idea quite literally, secretly attaching a pedometer to her husband. By morning, she discovered he had “walked” 15 miles—around a billiard table.
This playful anecdote belies the broader implications of wearable tracking at the time. For instance, in 1895, a naval admiral handed pedometers to his watch officers, only to find their nightly movements suspiciously low. When the officers responded by shaking the pedometers to artificially inflate their numbers, the hack was too effective—an 89-mile reading exposed their ruse.
Similarly, women’s use of pedometers in the late 19th century reflected societal pressures. Debutantes at high-society balls wore them to track their dance mileage, a trend that was both glamorous and subtly surveilling. Yet, as one cartoon suggested, this fixation on numbers distracted from the dances’ social and matrimonial purposes, turning them into competitive athletic events.
Subversion: Gaming the System
Where there is measurement, there is resistance. From naval officers attaching pedometers to pistons to husbands shaking them to simulate exercise, pedometer users quickly devised ways to subvert these early forms of surveillance. These hacks mirror modern attempts to outwit digital surveillance, such as people swinging Fitbits to meet step goals or spoofing GPS data to fake location-based activity.
This recurring theme highlights the uneasy balance between tracking for accountability and the human instinct to resist control.
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The Rise of Quantified Life
As pedometers became more accessible, they transitioned from tools of surveillance to symbols of health and status. Publications like Scientific American lauded the devices for promoting fitness, while doctors prescribed them for tracking patient activity. By the late 19th century, pedometers were tools of self-improvement, signaling a shift toward personal accountability in health and recreation.
Yet, the tension persisted. While elite women donned pedometers as fashionable accessories, others were monitored to reinforce domestic and social norms. A frail young woman who avoided housework was sent to a dance with a pedometer, revealing she had danced 31 miles—a “slap” at her avoidance of traditional duties.
Lessons for Today’s Wearables
The history of pedometers offers striking parallels to our relationship with wearable tech today. Whether it’s fitness trackers or workplace monitoring devices, the same themes emerge:
Moving Forward
As wearable technology continues to evolve, it’s worth asking: Are we using these tools to enhance our lives or simply to meet external expectations? And how do we navigate the tension between self-improvement and surveillance in a way that respects human autonomy?
The pedometer’s journey from a whimsical gadget to a tool of accountability underscores one enduring truth: while technology may change, the human desire for freedom and agency remains constant.
What’s your take on wearable tech? Are we walking toward a future of empowerment or oversight? Let’s discuss in the comments!