![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Jawbone Review
The UP band provides information about fitness, sleep, and diet patterns. Jawbone released the UP band last year and currently markets it at $129.99
Whether you are running, sleeping, or eating, the UP wristband by Jawbone will have you covered. The UP band is a fitness tracker and accessory that monitors physical activity, sleep patterns, and calorie intake.
Design
5/5 stars
Perhaps one of the most attractive features of the UP wristband is its slender design. The lightweight bracelet comes in eight different colors and has a faint zig-zag pattern over the top. Unlike other computerized pedometers, the UP band does not resemble a utilitarian gadget but rather an everyday accessory. In addition to being aesthetically appealing, it is also quite comfortable, with only one small button on its end. Completely free of pins, buckles, and clasps, the flexible band easily slides onto your arm without any pinching or scraping. Despite my sensitivity to the slightest irritation, I did not have a problem wearing it throughout the day and night.
Usability
4/5 stars
The Jawbone interface is extremely user-friendly. After inputting your age, weight, gender, and goals into the app, the program immediately begins tracking activity, sleep, and diet. The software does require the bracelet to be manually synched with the app at least twice a day, which can be inconvenient — a Bluetooth feature would greatly improve the accessibility of the system. However, the synchronization time takes no longer than a couple minutes.
Wireless sensors in the bracelet automatically track both fitness (number of steps) and sleep. Food intake, on the other hand, must be physically entered into the system by selecting consumed substances. This manual input can be cumbersome, but, at the same time, can spark a more vigilant awareness of diet. Visual bar graphs displaying the degree of success in meeting daily goals are revealed on the home page of the app. By swiping to the main menu, one can then view his or her lifeline trends, goals, and profile, each with a simple tap of a button.
The battery life is marketed to last for 10 days, and stays true to its word. Within two days, the battery was still at 80 percent, making the Jawbone program one of the longest lasting of its kind.
While it may take a few days to discover the many functions of the app, overall, the software is very easy to use, and can quickly become second nature to regular operators.
Performance
4/5 stars
Sleep
One of the most unique features of the UP band is its tracking of sleep patterns. The program monitors when you fall asleep, when you are in deep sleep, when you are in light sleep, and when you wake up, and displays this data in a visual bar graph upon opening the app. The wristband can easily be switched to night mode with the simple press of a button, enabling it to track your sleep. Additionally, the band can be programmed to wake you up at the lightest point of your sleep cycle, a tactic that will leave you fresh and rejuvenated every morning.
Fitness
The wristband’s ingrained pedometer constantly tracks the number of steps you have taken in any given day. The app also displays the number of calories burned, and the longest active and idle times in a day. One major fallback of the software is its inability to monitor activities other than walking or running. You have to manually input the duration and vigor of sports and other physical activities, which can become burdensome.
Personally, I thought it was interesting to see the number of steps I take in a day, and how I compare with the average person of my age and height. Wearing the band actually had a positive effect on me, as it encouraged me to become more active and take the stairs instead of the elevator, just so I could see a rise in the numbers.
Overall
4.5/5 stars
Although the manual input can be inconvenient, the Jawbone UP band is a very appealing, reliable, and practical system. When used to its fullest with all food intakes and athletic activities manually recorded, the software can truly revamp one’s life into a happier and healthier one.
Anokhi Saklecha (12) is the Global Editor for the Winged Post. She has been in the journalism program for the past three years. She loves the creativity,...