ive been exploring mit app inventor recently and experimenting with its components like the location sensor and clock i got inspired by the idea of a walking tracker and i want to figure out how i can make something similar using only the tools available in app inventor? i am interested in creating a way to measure distance walked and see movement updates in real time but i am not sure how to organize the components to make it accurate and reliable
to clarify a walking tracker is basically a digital step tracker with distance display that calculates the distance someone walks based on sensor data usually gps or steps and provides a visual representation of that distance i find this idea motivating because it turns walking into something interactive letting users see progress and track their activity without extra devices or complex setups i really like how it can give a simple but clear measure of how far i have walked and it seems like a concept that could be done using mit app inventor’s existing components if approached the right way
i have been trying to use the location sensor to get latitude and longitude readings and the clock component to trigger updates at intervals but i am not sure how to connect them so the distance measurement stays accurate? i know i could calculate the distance between each new location reading and the previous one but i am unsure about the best way to do this in app inventor to avoid exaggerating or underestimating distance sometimes gps readings shift slightly even when standing still and i dont want those small jumps to affect the total distance i have thought about ignoring very small changes below a certain threshold but i dont know what value works best for normal walking speeds or how to implement that efficiently
another part i am thinking about is how to visualize the walking route i dont need a full map or complicated graphics but i would like to show a line or some kind of path that updates as i move so i can see the route i have taken i am wondering if plotting points on a canvas by connecting latitude and longitude positions is the right approach or if there is a simpler way to show movement that still feels accurate and responsive i would like it to feel smooth while walking and not lag behind too much so the updates look realistic
i am also curious about timing and performance if i set the clock to update frequently will that affect accuracy or responsiveness i dont want the tracker to freeze or use too much battery so i am thinking there might be a balance between update frequency and smooth distance tracking i am not sure what interval works best for walking speeds maybe a second maybe more and i would love to hear what others have tried.
so my main question is how can i set up a simple walking tracker in mit app inventor using the location sensor and clock so that it measures walking distance accurately shows movement in real time and handles small gps variations smoothly.