Apple introduced its long-awaited iPhone 6 along with its first-ever smartwatch on September 9, in an event that made headlines and took over social media worldwide. One of the most highlighted aspects of the new devices has been their potential in the health care department, as they come with numerous possibilities to track fitness and encourage healthy living.
Even before the public unveiling of the new smartphone and smartwatch, Apple was making inroads in the health care market with HealthKit, an application programming interface (API) for its new mobile operating system iOS 8, which will go public on September 17. HealthKit allows developers, who have already been granted access to iOS 8, to work on software that will integrate with the Health app. This app will function as a database of a user’s medical records, and the HealthKit API is one of a few that Apple is introducing to encourage custom application development.
The Apple Watch will have its own API, WatchKit, for software to adapt to the new device’s particular capabilities and interface. The Apple Watch promises to monitor the wearer’s heart rate and other physiological information, as well as physical activity. It has been noted that businesses could take advantage of these features to encourage healthier lifestyles among their employees. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act outlined ways in which companies can reward workers for adopting healthy habits, and a wearable device such as this can help track these activities.
As far as healthcare IT solutions go, the Apple Watch has the potential to be a game changer, leading to increased fitness and well-being for users, and new opportunities for app developers.