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Apple has released a report on the use of health technologies such as the Apple Watch and how the company continues to work with medical organizations to achieve this.
The full report is described as a "snapshot" of Apple's work in health technology and is divided primarily into two sections. One focuses on the health features of the Apple Watch and iPhone for the public, and the other on Apple's collaboration with medical research around the world. Jeff Williams, Apple's Chief Operating Officer, commented in the press release as follows:
We firmly believe that technology can help improve health and encourage people to live healthier lives. We're excited by the many ways our health and fitness features benefit people, and by the ways third-party developers, institutions, and organizations are using Apple technology to advance health and science. Our vision for the future is to continue to develop science-based technologies that empower people with even more information and act as an intelligent guardian of their health, so they are no longer passengers on their own health journey.
Apple: ResearchKit and HealthKit are a great help
Apple has been active in this field since 2014 with the launch of the Health app and, especially, since 2015 with the Apple Watch. According to the report, users in the US, UK, and Canada can now store over "150 different types of health data" on Apple devices, third-party apps, and connected institutions. The company states that there are over 800 institutions offering health data on the iPhone. Additionally, "tens of thousands" of apps use the HealthKit API, including Nike Run Club, Calm, and WeightWatchers. Apple's ResearchKit allows researchers to recruit study participants from among iPhone and Apple Watch users. ResearchKit has helped with asthma studies, for example. Apple says that the work of ResearchKit and HealthKit is an ongoing goal for the company, but that it's ultimately about changing the way we view health. The company's health efforts continue in iOS 16—more on that below. (Image: Apple)
