Exploring Tech Events on Foot
One of the most rewarding aspects of my career as a technology journalist is attending major industry events such as CES in Las Vegas, MWC in Barcelona, and the recent IFA exhibition in Berlin. These conferences are massive, and I have developed a routine of treating each day as an endurance test, monitoring my physical activity using various smartwatches and fitness trackers.
For IFA 2026, I chose to test the new Garmin Cirqa, a screen-free, minimalist wearable designed for comfort and longevity. While it proved to be a reliable device for tracking daily movement, the experience highlighted both the strengths and limitations of such trackers in a high-intensity professional environment.
The Scale of IFA Berlin
On the first day of the event, I recorded nearly 18,000 steps, even before the show officially opened to the general public. The Berlin Messe is an expansive venue filled with hidden corridors and scattered halls. My initial high step count was largely due to navigating the complex and getting my bearings while suffering from significant jet lag. By the second day, having mapped out the location of my meetings, my movement became more efficient.
To put this into perspective, my activity levels at these trade shows are significantly higher than my daily average at home. While my first day in Berlin was demanding, it did not surpass the record I set at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year, where I logged a staggering 20,253 steps in a single day, largely due to the sprawling, pedestrian-unfriendly layout of the city.
Challenges in Data Accuracy
One notable issue I encountered involved the device's ability to distinguish between actual walking and riding public transport. During my commute to the venue, which involved walking to a U-Bahn station and riding the train, the Garmin Cirqa struggled to filter the data correctly.
«The device interpreted my transit time as me moving at near-superhuman speed,» I noted.
This led to skewed metrics, such as an unrealistic average pace and an inaccurate step-per-mile ratio, suggesting that the tracker relies heavily on external data rather than sophisticated movement analysis for transit scenarios.
Final Verdict on the Garmin Cirqa
I opted for the Garmin Cirqa primarily for its lightweight profile and unobtrusive design, which allowed me to wear a traditional mechanical watch on my other wrist. While the comfort of the device is unmatched, the lack of onboard GPS and the difficulty in accurately differentiating between walking and commuting are significant drawbacks for power users.
In the future, I will likely look for a wearable that can more effectively distinguish between various modes of transport, ensuring that my activity data remains precise even when navigating complex international transit systems.