Fitabase Blog

What Researchers Need to Know About the Fitbit API Transition

This fall, Google is retiring the Fitbit Web API and requiring all third-party apps to migrate to the Google Health API. Join our webinar to learn what's changing and how to keep your study's data flowing.

Fitbit Air: How can Google's screenless tracker work for research?

Fitbit is returning to its screenless roots with the Fitbit Air. Here's how the $99 screen-free device fits into Fitabase's wearable research support.

CIRQA: How can Garmin's screenless device work for research?

Garmin's new CIRQA Smart Band removes the display altogether. Here's how the screen-free device fits into Fitabase's wearable research support.

We're Re-launching Fitabase Engage

Today we're re-launching Fitabase Engage, our unified platform for designing and deploying real-time, interactive research experiences across mobile and wearable devices.

How We're Preparing for Google's New API

Google is replacing the Fitbit API with the Google Health API. Here's what Fitabase is doing to prepare for the transition.

You can now use webhooks with Fitabase!

Webhooks enable real-time notifications when participant connections change, so you can automate your workflow.

Garmin blood pressure readings now available in Fitabase!

The Garmin Index Blood Pressure Monitor has been validated in clinical trials and is recognized by the FDA as a class II medical device.

Reflections on 14 Years In Business and an Exciting 2026

You’d be forgiven for thinking from sparing posts that not much is going on at Fitabase. Not the case; we’ve been quiet because we’ve been very hard at work on a great many R&D projects and new initiatives, all poised to be announced at various times throughout 2026.

Garmin wheelchair metrics now available in Fitabase!

You’ll now be able to see wheelchair metrics for participants who have wheelchair mode activated on their Garmin devices.

Researchers Can Now Capture Enhanced Beat-to-Beat Interval Data from Garmin

For this iteration of the EBBI metric, Garmin has changed the way it processes data, leading to a more accurate dataset, and added a confidence score to each beat rating.

Google Rolls Out Deidentified Accounts for Fitbit Research

Move affirms Google’s commitment to wearable use in studies

New Features in Fitabase for Fitbit & Garmin

We’re excited to share some recently-launched features that will make observing your participants a bit easier, especially when they’re setting up their devices away from your lab.

Research Webinar: What's New and What's Next for Fitbit and Fitabase

Webinar Replay: Back in August, we hosted a webinar with our friends at Fitbit – our first since 2020 – to discuss new investments Fitbit is making in their devices, APIs, and processes for researchers, as well as additions to our own product line.

Join us for a webinar: What's New and What's Next for Fitbit and Fitabase

Join Fitabase and Fitbit for a look at how we're working together to make using Fitbit devices even simpler for research, including a simplified workflow for researchers needing to create Google accounts for participants.

Fitabase in January

Happy new year from Fitabase! We’ve spent the first month of 2024 hard at work on new additions and updates that you might have noticed. Here’s what we launched in January.

December Updates from Fitabase ❄️

We’ve been hard at work on new tools and new data sets. Here’s what you’ll find in the platform once you sign up for a trial or get your project going

Guidance on the Fitbit-to-Google account switchover

We encourage you to consider the number of Fitbit.com accounts your study will need, and create them as soon as possible, well ahead of the Google account requirement deadline of mid-June this year.

Testing out Summer Hours at Fitabase

We’ll work only 4 days a week but don’t worry: we’ll have an on-call rotation for emergencies.

2023's Health Equity Research Initiative Awardees

The Health Equity Initiative was launched in 2021 and supports teams that are looking at new ways to use wearable devices to mitigate health disparities.

Consumer Wearables & Sleep Research in a Post-Actiwatch World

There is some hope that consumer wearable manufacturers may one day partner with scientists to develop standardized metrics and algorithms. Until that day, there are two major keys to using consumer wearables.

A Look Back at Our 2022

We have a lot of exciting things in store for 2023, and can't wait to hear your thoughts on them. For now, here's a quick list of 2022 highlights.

Fitabase Partners with Google for A New Expanded Health Equity Initiative

Two-Factor Authentication: Making Fitabase Even More Secure

What's New with Fitabase Engage

A few new things to check out in our smartwatch messaging tools.

The Benefits of a Project Handbook and How to Make Your Own

One of the primary goals of the handbook is to be the first place someone goes for help before firing up an email about an issue they’ve run into. So, if you want to make your own, keep that in mind and ask yourself these questions.

Writing & Editing for Small Screens

How can we shorten messages for viewing on a smartwatch screen? Let’s edit one together using our top tips for small-screen writing.

New Fitbit Data in Fitabase: HRV, SpO2, and breathing rate

You can now track heart rate variability, blood oxygen level, and breathing rate of your participants the same way you’ve monitored activity and biometric data for years.

Fitbit Health Equity Initiative Awardees Announced

This past April, Fitbit and Fitabase announced the launch of the Fitbit Health Equity Research Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to support underrepresented early career researchers who are actively investigating health disparities in under-resourced communities. Fitbit will award more than a total of $300,000 in Fitbit devices and services, while we’ll provide all projects with access to the Fitabase data management platform to help researchers maximize study participation and analysis.

Now You Can Manage Your Team on Fitabase!

Here’s what you’ll find next time you log into your account and navigate to Project Settings, then Team & Permissions.

Introducing: Text Message Reminders to Sync Your Fitbit

We've heard customers ask us for ways to ensure that they get as much high-resolution data from their participants as possible and reminding them via text message to sync on a regular basis is the best way to make that happen.

Fitabase partners with Fitbit to address disparities in research

Fitabase and Fitbit are partnering to award up to $500,000 worth of devices and services as part of a joint initiative to address disparities. Apply now to the Fitabase & Fitbit Health Equity Initiative

Celebrating two milestones: Fitabase Engage is rolling out and we've supported 1,000 research studies!

Introducing: A new look for Fitabase!

We've been working on something we think you're going to like!

Introducing Engage: A messaging platform from Fitabase

We’ve helped researchers make a leap to messaging directly on a smartwatch. Now, we want to help you make that same leap.

Fitabase & sipIT: Pushing the boundaries of wearables in a just-in-time intervention for promoting fluid intake

Pushing the boundaries of wearables in a just-in-time intervention for promoting fluid intake

A new, faster foundation for Fitabase

If you’ve noticed recently that the platform feels a bit zippier, you’re not imagining it.

Conference season: We're going virtual!

Aaron, Jessica and Hailey will be manning our virtual booth starting April 15!

Just added: Heart rate zones!

Fitbit devices that are equipped with heart rate sensors use a common formula based on the wearer’s age to determine three main heart rate zones: Peak, Cardio and Fat Burn.

To our customers regarding the COVID-19 outbreak

Many of you see participants in person as part of your study protocol and this may become more difficult for a short period of time, causing study delays. This is not something we want to profit from nor squeeze your budgets for.

Announcing: Office hours

We're testing a new-to-us idea in the new year: virtual office hours!

There's big news - Google has entered into an agreement to buy Fitbit

Almost nine years ago, I flew up to San Francisco to pitch a Fitbit VP on an idea: research with Fitbits and the right platform to power it. That meeting, the product of a cold email in Fitbit's early days, was a milestone for Fitabase. I had been fascinated with the first Fitbit model since it launched in 2009 and knew there was possibility there for it to do more than a basic pedometer ever could. My confidence in its abilities, the value of what I pitched and my background in research convinced that VP to let me take a swing at the idea myself. Almost a decade later, Fitabase has powered more than 650 research projects all around the world.

A new integration: Fitabase and Dexcom!

New year, new datasets. Today, we announced a new integration that we hope will make a big difference in diabetes and glucose monitoring research. Dexcom, a pioneer in the glucose monitoring world (and another San Diego-based company, like us!) has now opened made data through an official API available to Fitabase. We’ve been asked about this for a while, so we’re excited to be able to roll this out.

Announcing Garmin Support

Today, we announced something big with our friends from Garmin: data from their entire line of wearable devices can now be gathered by and analyzed using the Fitabase platform.

RTI Wins CDC's Healthy Behavior Data Challenge

RTI was just announced as a winner of the RTI Wins CDC’s Healthy Behavior Data Challenge. We talked to lead researcher, Robert Furberg, about their project and how they used Fitabase to quickly capture the data they needed.

Research Library Update

Check out our latest update to the Fitbit Research Library!

New Features: Dashboard Filters & Compliance Data

We're excited to announce a feature and new data exports!

Five Years & 500 Fitbit Research Studies

Celebrating five years of Fitabase and supporting 500 research studies.

Announcing Activity Log Support

New support for Fitbit activity logs including workout details and exercise sessions.

Fitabase Announces Support for City of Santa Monica Wellbeing Project

Partnership with City of Santa Monica for innovative community wellbeing research project.

Announcing Sleep Stage Data Support

New support for Fitbit sleep stages including light, deep, and REM sleep data.

Fitabase Extension For Those Affected By Hurricane Harvey

Offering service extensions for customers affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Fitabase & Wearable Research at ISBNPA

Recap of Fitabase presence at the ISBNPA 2017 conference.

See Fitabase at ACSM 2017

Join us at the ACSM Annual Meeting 2017.

Fitbit Reminders To Move Show Impact

Research shows Fitbit's Reminders to Move feature increases physical activity.

RecyleHealth: A Conversation with Lisa Gualtieri

Interview with Lisa Gualtieri about the RecycleHealth initiative for wearable device donation.

Announcing Support for BodyTrace Scales

Fitabase now supports BodyTrace cellular-connected scales for weight tracking.

Talking Sleep: A Conversation with Dr. Michael Grandner

Interview with sleep researcher Dr. Michael Grandner about wearables and sleep research.

Clinical Trials With Fitbit

Guide to using Fitbit devices in clinical trial settings.

Feature Update: Multiple Timeframes

New feature allows setting different observation windows for different participants.

Blending Physical Education with Fitbit

Case study of Joliet Township High School's innovative PE program using Fitbit devices.

Announcing the Fitbit Research Library

Launching a comprehensive library of peer-reviewed research using Fitbit devices.

Fitbit and Fitabase Reach Research Milestone

Celebrating a major milestone in Fitbit research partnerships.

Fitabase at Fitbit Captivate 2016

Recap of Fitabase presence at Fitbit's Captivate developer conference.

Tracking ZZZs with Fitabase

Overview of sleep tracking capabilities in Fitabase for research.

Prox

Introducing Prox - a new way to track proximity interactions in research.

Can BuzzFeed Be Trusted To Write About Science

Commentary on science journalism and the importance of accurate reporting.

Health Data Exploration Project Selects Small Steps Labs and ASU Team For Agile Science Grant

Small Steps Labs awarded Agile Science Grant from the Health Data Exploration Project.

Fitabase Comes Out of Beta with Same Day Support For Fitbit Heart Rate Models

Fitabase officially launches with support for Fitbit heart rate devices.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins using Fitbits and Fitabase in Innovative School Health Initiative

Johns Hopkins researchers partner with Fitabase for school-based health research.

Small Steps Labs and Fitabase Highlighted in New Report by Calit2 and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Fitabase featured in report on the future of personal health data.

The Fitbit Force is a Great Research Device

Early review of the Fitbit Force for research applications.