Apple lets users see family members’ Health data
2Reported today on The Verge
For the full article visit: https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/7/22522872/health-app-family-mobility-fall-risk-wwdc-2021
Reported today in The Verge.
Apple lets users see family members' Health data
Apple will let people share the data from their Health app with family members or others, the company announced. It's one of a new slate of health features for iPhone.
With permission, someone can share access to their overall heart rate and movement data. They'll also be able to share access to alerts, which will ping authorized users when the feature notices things like a high heart rate or change in mobility. The person they're sharing the data with can message them directly about any changes.
"Many people around the world are caring for someone, and we want to provide a secure and private way for users to have a trusted partner on their health journey," said Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, in a statement.
The feature could be useful to caregivers who may be keeping tabs on the health of their loved ones, like elderly parents, from a distance. Older adults, though, tend to be less comfortable with this type of monitoring than their caregivers are. Monitoring tools can give peace of mind to caregivers while feeling invasive to the people tracked.
Apple is also adding another health metric, called walking steadiness, to the Health app. It will use mobility data already collected by the iPhone to monitor for any changes to factors like balance or walking patterns, and will tell users if they're at an increased risk of falling. The app will also include some exercises to help increase steadiness. The company says it built the system using data collected through a clinical study that included over 100,000 participants of all ages.
Falls are a major public health challenge. Each year, around 30 million adults over the age of 65 fall, and many falls lead to injuries or other he