Healthcare facilities have yet to find an effective and universal system that will transfer data to and from the masses. And there is currently no system that can analyze that data. However, Apple’s interest in the industry may suggest they are working on finding that holy grail system, and more.
Apple Watch
Health apps for the iPhone and Apple Watch have existed for awhile now, but what they can’t do is interpret the data. In hopes of filling the missing gaps in their HealthKit software, Apple is looking to developing a sleep monitoring app and an app that interprets the data from the heart rate monitor.
According to Bloomberg, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, hopes that their new focus on software will make customers more dependent on their products, thus securing revenue. And delving into the $8 trillion global industry that is healthcare, isn’t the worst way to start.
Gliimpse Inc. created an important software that extracts data from health records from various databases and formats, then conveniently stores them in one location. This software fits perfectly with Apple’s future prospects, so it came to no surprise that earlier this year they bought Gliimpse Inc.
Apple’s recent interest in healthcare software and accumulation of experts in the industry points to something much bigger than just a few new apps. Tech experts believe they are working on tools and technology that could have the ability to diagnose a HealthKit user. In order for that to happen, Apple needs to get their hands on data and lots of it.
But that may not be too far off in the distant future, as Apple already has the wheels set in motion to acquire such data. Naturally, their recent purchase of Gliimpse Inc. helps in this quest. But their other software, ResearchKit, is what could take the Apple Watch to the next level.
ResearchKit is a software to conduct clinical studies through iPhone apps. Drugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, started their first clinical study through ResearchKit just in July. And some universities have been reported to using HealthKit to predict seizures and even diagnose autism. It may work well for drugmakers and research institutions, but will Apple’s HealthKit prove to be a reliable source to medical professionals?
In a conference in Amsterdam, Cook said, “If you drive for a while and your car gets too hot, it says pull over. If you need an oil change, it says check your oil. What’s the equivalent for the body?”
