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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

    First, I must apologize that it has taken so long for us to chime in with an official response. 

    This design was changed in an effort to improve the user experience and we understand that this feeling is not shared by everyone. No change can be made that satisfies all users, and we do apologize to the users who prefer the previous design. 

    The amount of time between stopping your activity and your Recovery HR being calculated is unchanged at two minutes (2:00). Previously, we did not display a countdown of any sort for your Recovery HR, which is now available and we feel an improvement. Also, the new design will eliminate the possibility of a user actually dismissing the Recovery HR notification with a button press when they actually mean to start their timer again. 

    Feedback is of course appreciated as we like to improve changes when we can, but we currently have no plans to revert this to the previous design and there is no way to re-enable it. Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this causes some. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Blake

    I think the new interface is brilliant!

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Blake
    This design was changed in an effort to improve the user experience and we understand that this feeling is not shared by everyone. No change can be made that satisfies all users, and we do apologize to the users who prefer the previous design. 

    You only improved the user experience for people who use the start/resume functionality and were bothered that the start button did not resume the activity. You did NOT improve the user experience for people who value the recovery heart rate functionality and use it as a valuable feedback metric (as intended).  

    Previously, we did not display a countdown of any sort for your Recovery HR, which is now available and we feel an improvement.

    I concur that this part is an improvement.

    Also, the new design will eliminate the possibility of a user actually dismissing the Recovery HR notification with a button press when they actually mean to start their timer again.
    but we currently have no plans to revert this to the previous design and there is no way to re-enable it. Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this causes some. 
    No change can be made that satisfies all users, and we do apologize to the users who prefer the previous design. 

    I can see alternative solutions which can please both user groups. Have you considered these? Could you consider these?

    Alternative 1: display the recovery countdown/recovery time in a label above the discard / save button. As there's no popup you don't have to dismiss it. As there's no popup it's not in the way of people who use start/resume.

    Alternative 2: keep the heart rate recovery popup, but when you press start you immediately resume the activity (regardless if the popup is there or not)

     

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Blake

    Could you explain the reasoning why the Recovery HR isn't displayed in the app and web, and preferably plotted over time, e.g., like the VO2Max? The value is apparently saved in the fit file, so available for display.

    FWIW, I agree, the countdown timer is an improvement, all the extra steps required to see information that was previously automatically displayed is not.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to peterdedecker
    peterdedecker said:
    You did NOT improve the user experience for people who value the recovery heart rate functionality and use it as a valuable feedback metric

    You don't speak for everyone. I value the recovery HR functionality and use it as a valuable metric and I think it's an improvement.  In case you missed it the first time:

    This design was changed in an effort to improve the user experience and we understand that this feeling is not shared by everyone. No change can be made that satisfies all users, and we do apologize to the users who prefer the previous design.
  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Blake

    Thanks for the reply, Former Member.

    Aside from the design, there is also the recurring question why this metric isn't available on the web-interface. It's is stored in the FIT file and the data is therefore available in platform. This could be an easy solution for people who might not like to press the extra buttons on the watch, but do want to analyse their data. I feel that most data-nuts (like I am as well), always analyse their training data on the web-site or even third party software to get good insights in their training.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Blake

    Hi Garmin-Blake,

    It is good to see your reply. We hope to see more of your replies in the forum. Customer interaction is very important.

    Just giving my 2 cents here.

    RHR is just an activity stat like average HR, average pace, distance, calories, etc. They should be viewed as a stat in the activity summary.

    Some people may need RHR, some people may not need. But there is no harm in providing more information. OK at least from a customer POV. Will this extra stat cause significant loading to your server?

    After pausing an activity, the menu should just stick to Resume, Save, Discard, Resume Later, Lap, Back to start. These menu should be minimal and kept simple. And not more complicated.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Now that I've done a few commutes I hate this interface. Just saying.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Blake

    I really don't mind the new interface .... as long as I can ignore it. It is somewhat of a hassle to remember and access the new setting for recovery HR after every workout.

    I could happily ignore this if only RHR was synced to Connect like all other stats and possibly even make graphs out of it like with vo2x, etc. I also do not manually check those stats on my watch manually after every run but check them all in Connect.

    So WHY is RHR ignored in syncing to Connect?

    Stefan

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to eberends

    Agreed, much of this discussion would be moot if this data was available later.