In this episode of Widget Wednesday, Chris Twiest explores how curated metrics simplify dashboarding and improve data quality, using the Average Wi-Fi Signal Strength Over Time widget as a practical example inside ControlUp dashboards.
The focus of this session is on how pre-defined metrics help teams move faster while maintaining accuracy and consistency across their dashboards.
Understanding the metric
Chris begins by explaining how Wi-Fi signal-strength data is collected and why curated metrics exist. By defining commonly used metrics upfront, dashboards can surface meaningful insights without requiring custom logic or complex configuration for each widget.
Accuracy through built-in filtering
The episode highlights how curated metrics automatically apply guardrails to the data. For Wi-Fi signal strength, values are constrained to the valid range of 0–100, preventing skewed averages from out-of-range readings, such as negative values generated by Ethernet connections. The result is a cleaner, more accurate view of actual Wi-Fi performance across the environment.
Unit families explained
Chris also explains how unit families improve readability and interpretation. Wi-Fi signal strength is displayed as a percentage, while other curated metrics—such as application focus time—automatically convert raw millisecond values into human-readable durations, such as hours and minutes.
Why this matters
Curated metrics reduce noise, enforce consistency, and present data in formats that are immediately usable. By applying structure, units, and smart filters at the metric level, ControlUp dashboards help teams reach reliable insights faster and with less effort.
Watch the episode to see how curated metrics turn raw telemetry into actionable dashboard insights.
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Categories: ControlUp Dashboards, Widget Wednesday - ControlUp Dashboard Videos