Knowledge is power, and the Quantified Self revolution is helping individuals make better decisions with their health and other aspects of their lives.  2013 has been an amazing year for the Quantified movement, with fitness trackers, smartphones and other gadgets connecting us to the data that matters most.  With 2014 just around the corner, we take a look back at the top developments in Quantified Self technology.

Top 10 trends for the Self Quantified in 2013

10. Spreadsheets

This is an app that monitors how good you are in bed.  Spreadsheets takes data from a user’s movement and audio levels through the accelerometer and microphone to provide statistical and visual analysis of their performance in bed.  It does not save audio for playback, so this isn’t a tool for one of your kinky escapades.  But the app does monitor how many thrusts you made, how long a session lasted, and how loud you get during the performance.  It could very well be a great way for you to monitor if your stamina in bed is declining and if you are fully satisfying your partner.

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9. Beam Brush

This unique toothbrush is one of the first that monitors your oral hygiene and connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth.  You can manually sync your hygiene habits, or automatically sync while using the brush.  The Beam Brush app plays a two-minute song while you’re brushing, as two minutes is the recommended brushing time.  Reports from the app can be sent to your dentist so they’ll know what recommendations to give you in order to keep your mouth healthy.

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8. Whistle

People aren’t the only ones who need monitoring. Even our lovable canine companions need Quantified Self gadgets so we can better understand their needs and ailments. Whistle is a small device that fits on your dog’s collar that monitors activities such as walking, running, playing, eating, resting, sleeping, and even relieving himself. All the data gathered by Whistle can be accessed via it mobile app so you can put your mind at ease even if Fido is at home alone.

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7. Withings

Wearing a fitness or sleep tracker is one thing, having an arsenal of trackers at your disposal is another.  Withings offers a wide range of products from a Smart Body Analyzer that tracks your weight, body composition, heart rate and even air quality, to Pulse, an activity tracker to help improve your health, and even baby monitors and blood pressure monitors. Almost everything is tied within the Health Mate app so you can easily see your progress and prevent backsliding.

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6. Trace

Most activity trackers are meant for usual activities like walking, jogging, running, cycling, but not for extreme sports.  Trace is a Kickstarter project that received more than its target funding goal because there are a lot of x-game enthusiasts who want to improve their game.

Trace is durable, shockproof, waterproof and adheres to any surface such as a skateboard, snowboard, surfboard or skis to track these very different activities.  It can track how many kickflips a skater landed, how many tre flips were done, or how high their ollies were, while also tracking speed, mapping lines, and offering an idea of how well tricks are landed.  It can be connected to a smartphone app via Bluetooth, and has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to seven hours.

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5. FitBit

Fitbit offers a range of trackers to suit your needs.  It recently released the FitBit Force which is a FitBit Flex that doubles as a watch.  It still comes with all the great features of Flex such as an activity and sleep tracker, wireless data sync, and the ability to see real-time progress across devices, plus a built-in altimeter so you can monitor how many flights of stairs you’ve climbed in a day.  If Force or Flex doesn’t tickle your fancy, FitBit also offers the One activity and sleep tracker and the Zip activity tracker.

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4. Jawbone Up

This tracking bracelet works with the Jawbone Up app for iOS and Android, and lets you do more than just keep track of your exercise routines and calories burned.  Instead, the Jawbone Up system takes a holistic approach towards the Quantified Self revolution.  It features sleep and nap tracking, 24/7 activity tracking, food and drink tracking, mood tracking, an insight engine, idle alert, smart alarm, and has a power nap feature that wakes you up at around 26.5 minutes after you fall asleep.  It has a 10-day battery, is water-resistant, and only has to be plugged in to sync data that’s been tracked with your smart devices.

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3. Nike FuelBand SE

This is the upgraded version of Nike’s original fitness tracker, the FuelBand.  It now comes in various colors such as Volt, Pink Foil,Total Crimson, and Black, and in time for the holidays, a limited edition Rose Gold.

The FuelBand SE tracks the intensity of your workouts with Nike+ Sessions, counts steps, enables sleep tracking, tells the time, displays your progress in real time, and keeps you and your friends motivated through Nike+ Groups.  You can check your progress via the web or through the Nike+ FuelBand app for iOS.

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2. Memoto

They say pictures speak a thousand words, so what better way to log your life than through photos?  Memeto is a lifelogging tool, capturing special moments without you having to stop to take snapshots.  This little camera helps you log your life by capturing photos automatically, while the mobile app organizes it for you so you can avoid those hangover moments where you can’t remember anything that happened in the last 24 hours.

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1. Tikker

This device delivers a different take on the Quantified Self revolution.  Instead of pushing you to achieve your goals by presenting you with a log of your activities, Tikker tells you how much time you have left.  The knowledge of how much time you have left in this world can spur people do more things, live life to the fullest, and appreciate whatever good they already have in their lives.  It’s like a tool to make you more appreciative.  Though Tikker is not an exact science, having a clock that counts down to your alleged last remaining second in this world can bring a new perspective on the here and now.

photo credit: Transguyjay via photopin cc