Hey, Counties!
How’s that isolation going? We hope you’re healthy and safe. Reach out and tell us what's up!
As always, each episode of Counter Programming will focus on a "counter" of some sort. Today, we learn about step counters, also known as pedometers.
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In this episode, we share what we're up to during isolation. Arielle started listening to the Harry Potter series via Audible and is confused by the line between the Muggle and the Wizarding world. Yes, she's 20 years late. Shira got an air fryer for her birthday and has been experimenting with frying all sorts of things, including bagels!
Last week, Shira and Arielle decided they'd compete: who could get more steps via their step counters in one week. The results: Shira - 56,626 steps and Arielle - 97,431. And we had a Countie submit her steps: Zari - 96,723. WOW. Close game!
There's some debate over who created the first pedometer:
- First, Leonardo da Vinci, who envisioned a mechanical pedometer as a device with military applications.
- Jean Fernel, a French craftsman, may have invented the first pedometer in 1525. His invention was in the shape of a watch and had 4 dials.
- A mechanical pedometer obtained from France was introduced in the US by Thomas Jefferson.
- Robert Hooke, an English scientist, is also given credit for inventing the pedometer in 1674. His was used by map makers.
- In 1777 Abraham-Louis Perrelet of Switzerland created the first pedometer/wind-watch, measuring the steps and distance while walking; it was based on a 1770 mechanism of his to power a self-winding watch.
- However, the first person to officially receive a patent was English watchman, John Harwood, in 1924 by the Swiss and he exhibited the world’s first self-winding watch at the 1926 Basle Trade Fair.
Our history with pedometers:
- Arielle got one at a bar mitzvah in 2002. Loved.
- Shira's summer camp (2013) gave out pedometers inspired by Michelle Obama.
- We became obsessed with Fitbits/Jawbones when we moved to Jackson because we felt lazy being stuck inside all day.
Come back next week as we explore another "counter"-related entity.
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