Data from Garmin smartwatches can be visualized with an open-source software (Image source: Yevhenii Dubrovskyi on Unsplash)
An open-source tool called Grafana allows Garmin smartwatches users to evaluate and display their own data more or less independently of the manufacturer. It also offers more configuration options that may provide deeper insights.
Garmin Connect is not just an app, but also a web interface that can visually process various types of data. Garmin Grafana is an open-source solution that has been available for a while and is quite interesting due to its extensive configuration options. However, using the tool requires some effort during installation, as the software is only available as a Docker container. A script can simplify installation, but it requires Linux, which users can emulate on regular Windows PCs.
In principle, the software retrieves various supported data types from Garmin’s servers. Specifically, users can retrieve oxygen saturation, the number of steps taken, data on stress and recovery and various information about workout sessions. The open-source software advertises extensive configuration possibilities. For instance, users can create custom views and overlay different values. Users can also create and calculate personalized values, export data and set up alarms.
The data is retrieved automatically from Garmin at certain time intervals, so manual synchronization is not required. Users can also display heatmaps for walking activity or sleep, but users must first define these various views themselves. It is even possible to display the data of two users simultaneously, but it should be noted that this is not as easy to set up, as users have to create a second database in the same influxdb instance.
I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.
Translator: Enrico Frahn – Managing Editor Accessory Reviews, Tech Writer – 5571 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.