Last Updated on July 29, 2026 by pg@petergamma.org
Two years ago we learned about cm accuracy GPS from Andreas Spiess:
Centimeter accuracy GPS. Would that not be revolutionary?
After dealing with smartwatches to use for scientific studies, we came to the conclusion, that smartwatches are only of limited use for scientific studies to measure speed and distance. They use accelerometer data or GPS signals to measure speed and distance. From DC Rainmaker we learned that foot pods are the most accurate devices for smartwatches do measure speed and distance. But we do not know of a singe paper which would reproduce these findings of DC Rainmaker.
Scientists do not seem to use smartwatches, foot pods and GPS for scientific studies. They use treadmills such such as the Schiller CS 200 instead:
Also the Swiss Federal Institute of Sports in Magglingen does Physiology on treadmills indoors.
But what about centimeter accurate GPS. Would that not be revolutionary? With that accuracy, would GPS not also be interesting for scientists to measure speed and distance? But what happened two years later? Are we at the level of NATURE paper now?
Now, we are at the level of a paper of the University of Otago from New Zealand:
University of Otago researchers have developed algorithms that improve the precision of location tracking in smartwatches, a world-first development.
A paper from the University of Otago from New Zealand, and not a NATURE paper, but why? Does this not remind us that also the Pinephone was promoted by a robotic student from New Zealand, before almost anyone retreated from the Pinephone?
What does this mean? Are there any issues with centerimeter accuracy GPS we do not know? Can these data not be reproduced by other people?