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New HR Recovery interface is bad

Levon
over 4 years ago

TL;DR: Information that was automatically and readily available now requires a series of button pushes and is cumbersome. Nothing is gained by this change. I've been using Garmin watches since 2006 - this is a step backwards.

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I know this has been addressed as part of a different thread, but I think it deserves it's own thread.

I just came back from a run. Previously this would have happened:

  • Stop my watch and start walking as part of my cool-down
  • After 2 minutes exactly, my recovery HR would pop up consistently and automatically (giving me a meaningful basis for comparison with previous runs), and I would stop my cool-down walk and start stretching.
  • I could dismiss it with one button push.

Total number of button pushes: 1  - couldn't have been easier.

Now:

  • Stop my watch and start walking as part of my cool-down
  • 5 button-down pushes to check for recovery HR - it doesn't pop up automatically and consistently after 2 minutes.
    It's there, but how quickly? It seemed to be available immediately. Usually recovery HR is taken after a minute, Garmin has done it after two minutes for years (which is cool) .. now when does it get measured? I didn't wait two minutes to look for it. And is it measured continuously? 
  • And I have to then navigate back to where I was before with several additional button pushes.

Total number of button pushes: 6 or more, and no automatic display, not intuitive or easy.

And, sadly, this information is STILL not made available in the Connect app or on the web, if so, I wouldn't mind the poorer interface now.

I understand this was done because some people were pausing their activity, and then disliked having to have to dismiss the automatic recovery HR screen. If you are pausing for more than two minutes (this is rare for me, and probably most), then I think you can muster an additional button push. Let's say this affect 3% (or 10%) of all activities. 

Everyone (100%) who was getting the recover HR automatically at the end of their activity now has to push the buttons at least 6 times to get this info - doesn't seem like a good trade-off (or UI design).  I love the Garmin interfaces usually, esp on the watches in the last few years. They have been incredibly intuitive. I just helped a friend who switched from an Apple watch to a 235 and she picked it right up. But this is a step backward.

Please make the recover HR available in the connect app/web and consider going back to the previous way (or at least making this an option).

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Yes, I know this is a first-world problem, but it's a small device and UI considerations matter. I've been using Garmins for a long time and have enjoyed the progress they have made. I'd like them to continue in that direction.

  • 0 over 4 years ago
    Levon said:
    I understand this was done because some people were pausing their activity, and then disliked having to have to dismiss the automatic recovery HR screen.

    I'm not so sure this is the only reason for the change.  On many occasions I've finished an activity and selected stop, then save only to regret it because I forgot to wait the two mins for recovery HR.  I prefer the new way as I see it as a reminder.  After all, we're talking about a few button presses here that takes a second or two and doesn't require any physical exertion on my part.  It's such a minor thing that I don't think I'd could say the new way is an inconvenience.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows

    "On many occasions I've finished an activity and selected stop, then save only to regret it because I forgot to wait the two mins for recovery HR.  "

    But if you save now, that information is also gone (unless I've not looked in the right place). 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows
    who knows said:
    On many occasions I've finished an activity and selected stop, then save only to regret it because I forgot to wait the two mins for recovery HR.

    Ditto  Rage

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Levon
    Levon said:
    But if you save now, that information is also gone

    Correct.  Previously if I stopped an activity, I'd have to remember to wait 2 mins to see my recovery HR before I selected save.  I was constantly forgetting to do so.  Now when I stop an activity, I see the option for recovery HR (a reminder for me) added to the list of options before I press save.  And like you said, people were pausing their activity and having to dismiss HR recovery because their pause was longer than 2 mins.  (I actually believe more people do this than you suspect).  I may be in the minority, but because I've experienced both situations, I find the new method beneficial and not a nuisance.  I understand people become accustomed to doing things a certain way especially if they've done so for quite awhile, and therefore don't like changes.  We're creatures of habit.  But I don't think we can say the new method is bad.  It's just different.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I  discarded one run becouse I thought I was interrupting the HR recovery test ... not activity.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows
    who knows said:
    On many occasions I've finished an activity and selected stop, then save only to regret it because I forgot to wait the two mins for recovery HR.  I prefer the new way as I see it as a reminder. 

    What reminder? You can now just "Save" as you could before. Nothing has changed on that front. You need to actively remember the recovery HR and select it, or take time from some other source when 2 minutes has been elapsed.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows
    who knows said:
    I see the option for recovery HR (a reminder for me)

    Where do you see it? I see "Resume" and "Save"., and if I go down up step then I see "Resume Later".. Nothing with Recovery HR. It's doowwn there.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to jmto

    After stopping my activity, I now have the following options in order:

    Resume

    Save

    Resume Later

    Back to Start

    Recovery HR

    Discard

    The recovery HR wasn't there previously.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows

    You need to press down three times to see that option. It does not remind you anything without you remembering pressing three times down to see it and four times to select it.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to who knows

    So close to Discard... without info Discard Acrivity not Recovery HR measurment