The first day of Apple’s annual worldwide developers conference called attention to some upgrades for its Apple Watch with the OS4 smartwatch software, particularly for health and fitness, in a livestreamed version of the event. Most significantly, built-in Bluetooth has been added so the Apple Watch will be able to better work with other connected devices such as DexCom’s continuous glucose monitor, a move that rocketed DexCom’s share price.
The move makes the smartwatch apps less dependent on the iPhone to be in range.
The launch of the bluetooth API for developers stands to expand the number of medtech applications for the Apple Watch and boosts its relevance in the healthcare space at a time when making it more relevant to a wearable landscape.
An enhanced workout app for its fitness experience is intended to make users more inclined to use the device. They can stitch together multiple workouts in a single session, such as using a running machine and then a stationary bike.
Apple also added Gym Connect — a two-way data exchange capability so that Apple Watch users can upload workout activity from gym equipment such as a treadmill or Stairmaster and transmit data from the smartwatch to the equipment. Gym Connect uses an NFC sensor to transmit the information and is expected to be rolled out in the fall.
Kevin Lynch, Apple vice president for technology, said touching the NFC reader with their Apple Watch would launch the workout app. The watch could read the heart rate and transmit it to the gym equipment and incline and speed data could be sent from the gym equipment to the watch. The goal is to sync the data so it matches up. The deal was inked with brands that account for 80 percent of fitness equipment sales, MobiHealthNews noted.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
The Gym Connect feature indicates a recognition from the company at the frustration with disparate data between wearables and fitness equipment with this effort make the data transfer easier. Fitness machines got pilloried for poor calorie burn tracking before wearables did. But factors like incline and speed will impact heart rate and despite the criticism wearables routinely get, these should help better assess the energy spent in a workout.
Apple also enhanced some gaming elements — such as a way to distinguish incremental improvements with performance milestones and celebrate them accordingly.
Wearable shipments soared last year from 82 million in 2015 to 102 million in 2016, according to the annual Internet Trends report from Mary Meeker of Kleiner Perkins Caulfield Byers. Apple has also won the trust of a significant number of users. A Rock Health consumer survey showed that 50 percent of respondents said they would share personal health data with the technology brand. It wasn’t as strong as Google (60 percent), but it was on par with Microsoft and Samsung and beat Amazon, Facebook and IBM.
An Ericsson consumer survey of 4,500 advanced smartphone and mobile broadband users aged 18-69 in Germany, Japan, South Korea, the UK and the U.S., found that consumers view wearables as a way to prevent chronic conditions such as heart diseases and diabetes (60 percent). These consumers also say wearables will lead to healthier lifestyles, and personalized care.
Photos: Apple
