Embodiments of the relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices for facilitating health and wellness-related information. More specifically, disclosed are systems, methods, devices, computer readable medium, and apparatuses configured to determine activity and activity types, including gestures, from sensed motion signals using, for example, a wearable device (or carried device) and one or more motion sensors. In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a wearable housing and a motion sensor. The apparatus can also include a signal preprocessor, which may include a sample rate controller configured to modify a sample rate of a motion sensor signal to form an adjusted sample rate with which to sample the motion sensor signal. Further, the apparatus can include an intermediate motion signal generator and an activity processor configured to identify an activity based on the intermediate motion signals.