Enhanced activity detection based on device orientation and user handedness

A method for determining a device orientation, the method comprising:

• determining, by at least one processor of a wearable device, accelerometer data detected by an accelerometer of the wearable device during a time period;
• determining, by the at least one processor, first accelerometer data of the accelerometer data, the first accelerometer data associated with a first axis parallel to the ground;
• determining, by the at least one processor, second accelerometer data of the accelerometer data, the second accelerometer data associated with a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
• determining, by the at least one processor, a first mean acceleration value based on the first accelerometer data;
• determining, by the at least one processor, a second mean acceleration value based on the second accelerometer data;
• determining, by the at least one processor, that the first mean acceleration value has a positive or negative sign and that the second mean acceleration value has a positive or negative sign;
• determining, by the at least one processor, an orientation, of respective orientations, of a component of the wearable device based on a combination of the positive or negative sign of the first mean acceleration value associated with the first axis and the positive or negative sign of the second mean acceleration value associated with the second axis, the respective orientations including:
• the component of the wearable device being more proximal to a hand of a user or to an elbow of a right limb or a left limb;
• and
• sending, by the at least one processor, an indication of the device orientation to an application of the wearable device.

A wearable device comprising memory coupled to at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to:

• determine accelerometer data detected by an accelerometer of the wearable device during a time period;
• determine first accelerometer data of the accelerometer data, the first accelerometer data associated with a first axis parallel to the ground;
• determine second accelerometer data of the accelerometer data, the second accelerometer data associated with a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
• determine a first mean acceleration value based on the first accelerometer data;
• determine a second mean acceleration value based on the second accelerometer data;
• determine, that the first mean acceleration value has a positive or negative sign and that the second mean acceleration value has a positive or negative sign;
• determine an orientation, of respective orientations, of a component of the wearable device based on a combination of that the positive or negative sign of the first mean acceleration value and the positive or negative sign of the second mean acceleration value
• the respective orientations including:
• the component of the wearable device being more proximal to a hand of a right limb of a user or a left limb of the user, or to an elbow of the right limb or the left limb;
• and
• send an indication of the orientation to an application of the wearable device.