Having worked with many consumer product-oriented tech companies, I can assure you that this is a "feature" the product includes simply because it can. They stuff hardware and software into a small package (the wrist bracelet) and then figure out all the things they can do with what's there. So the device's system assumes that when movement ceases or slows during nighttime hours that you're sleeping and they then present it that way. No big deal. It would probably have the same interpretation if you took it off when going to bed.

You can be certain no human is looking at what you're doing. Your's is just one set of data among tens or hundreds of thousands. No one cares.

"No big deal."

The whole point of my post, which you missed completely in your eagerness to show off, is that I'm not sure whether it is a big deal to me or not. I'm thinking it over.

And to me it is somewhat creepy to have that sort of data available, it is by no means anonymous data, it is my data.

My fitbit does the same thing. Not a big deal to me.

I was sharing prior experiences I had in the thought that it would help you understand the whys and whats of your device. That isn't showing off. Ignore my comments as you wish, continue feeling puzzled and invaded if that's what you prefer.

I didn't see her as being puzzled at all. Just invaded. I know you see "privacy" as a non-issue, but it's pretty important to loads of people. To the point of, what most of us call privacy, isn't privacy to you.

ETA: so important a US issue, that, while there's nothing specific in the Constitution with regard to privacy, courts have stare decisis, down through the ages.

I think what concerns me is how everything is linked to everything else, whether you want it to be or not. I look at shoes on line, days later ads pop up for shoes I looked at.

It is weird to be congratulated on your sleeping habits when it's something you did not plan on tracking.

Go easy on Elmer. He is our male in the room. He just a slightly different way of presenting what many of us already know.

I think if you take it off while sleeping you will probably get the same data. There should be a shut off switch for when you don't want your activities tracked.

I have a Fitbit and it tracks sleep but not how you think it does. Basically, it detects movement, or lack thereof, by using internal motion detectors. Much in the same way it tracks your steps; simply in reverse. The "lack of motion" indicates sleep time. You must have slept long enough to reach the "pre-determined sleep goal".

The website/smartphone app can probably be adjusted to either reset the sleep goal to a longer period or not track sleep at all. Or you can just take it off at night and wear it during the day to track your steps. It may still register the time you're not wearing it as sleep. Please check the Garmin website/app settings and check your preferences. You may be able to turn that off and/or update what information may be shared. I don't think you're at a risk for compromised data but I understand the feelings you are having. I think it was unexpected for you.

An important part of overall fitness is ensuring one gets adequate sleep. The Vivofit is a fitness tracker so it has that feature.

Dee's comments caused something to click in my mind Lucille that might help you decide. Sleeping is a big part of being healthy. If you've wanted to track health enough to buy the device, why not go whole hog and track it too? If that helps any.

If you are so creeped out by it tracking your sleep, why not be creeped out by it tracking your steps? It also has a nap mode, more to be creeped out by.

Sleeperblues,

I don't know. Perhaps because I bought it in order to keep track of my steps. I have not put it back on, still thinking it all over.

Well, I do know that when I bought one of the first fitbit wrist trackers, they made a big deal out of it being able to track your sleep. I didn't find it particularly useful since I knew I slept well by how I felt. I didn't need a wristband to tell me that.

Perhaps you should check to see if your phone is tracking your every move, too.

At work they've twice announced that they were raising our health care premiums but if you participate in their new fitness tracking program they would give you a reward nearly equal to the rise in premiums. Which they call a "reward" program "If you participate you can earn money!" it strikes me as the opposite of that "If you don't participate 'voluntarily' we charge you more money".

For the second time they offered the "reward" program they also offered free fitbit wristbands provided you would link the device up to report the results to them.

A local newscaster tested 3 different kinds of fit-bits. He wore them on the same arm and walked a set distance. All 3 recorded very different steps walked, and calories burned.

A new service has popped up among dog-walkers and that is walking your Fitbit. A company issued Fitbits to its office employees in hopes of encourgaing them to walk more. It was part of a wellness program; the employees could earn Fitbit points to lower their health insurance cost. Dog walkers, who were walking their dogs, offered for a fee to also walk their Fitbits. They wold wear the Fitbits during their normal day and pile on a bunch of points for their client.

The Vivofit has its quirks. It seems to record steps via hand movement, when I do a lot of bicycling it does not record that as steps done. However, some months back I was using a hand saw on some branches, and the walk score that day was astronomically high, the Vivofit had apparently recorded each sawing motion as a step.

It's not surprising really. A lot of people today are OBSESSED with knowing and tracking everything about themselves. It is why such trackers are so popular.If it was just as simple as tracking steps to improve ones health,you can get a pedometer at the dollar tree. But people now want to know steps,calories,miles,sleep hours,body fat percentage,heart rate, Yada Yada Yada. It's all about personalization now. That's why,IMO,these mail order genetic tests I see commercials for are gaining popularity. People want to know MORE MORE MORE. I have even heard about people having their DNA profile blown up and framed to hang on their walls. Bizarre. I have a fitbit one,obtained for the sole purpose of participation in my employers wellness program. The benefit I get from participating is worth the slight privacy issue,but I can see why that would creep you out. My fitbit doesn't track sleep unless you hold down the button to put it in sleep mode,then hold it down again when you wake up. Or you can manually log it. I would be chagrined if I got a message from fitbit complimenting the restful nights sleep I had based on inactivity alone,as I work a 12 hour night shift desk job,and am often stuck in a chair for hours and hours. But at least I know that any notifications or congratulations from them are automated,and it's highly unlikely that someone at fitbit headquarters is looking at my account activity.

On another note,I have heard about the newer trackers using arm movement for counting steps as yours seems to. My sister has one of the newer fitbits that do that.To me,that would not be accurate. Grocery shopping would be worthless wouldn't it? Unless you walk through the store,one hand on the cart,the other swinging away.......