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Wild Rumor of Apple EarPods with Biometric Sensors Has Roots in Apple's Research
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Well, I'm not an athlete or a hypochondriac, just someone who was getting older and feeling sluggish and wanted to feel (not look) better. I got an UP band over a year ago and was appalled at my first week's stats. I'd thought that I was walking a LOT more than I was, and sleeping a lot more (the UP data shows actual time asleep, not just time in bed tossing and turning). The data I got helped me make real change in my life, and the data I still get helps keep me on track, reminding me (with a vibration) when I've been sitting for too long and showing me when I need to add a walk to my day or go to bed a bit earlier.
Wearable tech isn't about telling you you're fat, it's about helping you to be more healthy, regardless of size.
Or maybe they just apply for every patent they can think of just in case seeing as many of the patents they applied for in the past never came to fruition?
You do realise similar technology is out there as already mentioned in this thread.
The wires are a deal breaker, they are so 1990s. I'll never go back to a wired pair of earphones ever in my life. I'd also be concerned about Apple's piss poor reputation with earphones, I've always viewed the ones that come with my iphone as junk to be thrown in a drawer and forgotten.
Except for everyone who keeps the phone in a holster on his or her belt. A lot of iPhone holsters don't expose the Lightning port, because if the device is on your belt, you aren't charging it....
Maybe, but I'm one of those poor scrubs who doesn't notice the difference. I primarily only listen to music driving in my car with no headphones, or sweating at the gym. I'd rather have the convenience of being able to work out than having wires around me, worse yet having garbage Apple headphones which wouldn't stay in my ears even if I glued them in.
But my wireless Jaybirds sound pretty awesome anyhow.
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I agree. I like wired for serious, active listening, but wireless is quite convenient in many uses. The wireless headphones have improved a lot.
Interesting study...
There is an interesting new study in Med Sci Sports & Exerc that looks at an earbud-based sensor for assessing energy expenditure, HR, and VO2max. The study concludes that the device is accurate. I wonder if there is a connection?
Link to study abstract.
There is an interesting new study in Med Sci Sports & Exerc that looks at an earbud-based sensor for assessing energy expenditure, HR, and VO2max. The study concludes that the device is accurate. I wonder if there is a connection?
Link to study abstract.
They didn't say what it was needed for though.
Or lightning is used for recharging or for everything. Frankly if Apple wanted to move forward they would get rid of the wires for normal operation. Lightning would be good for bulk data transfer and recharge. The other possibility is that the Lightning port is actually built into the device allowing communications with a number of USB based devices.
One thing that bothers me is the iBeacons nonsense. If you are going to add circuitry for that then why not make the normal mode of audio transfer a variant of Bluetooth?
Some of the report just doesn't add up especially when you consider that Apple usually build well balanced devices.
You cannot measure blood pressure from the ear. Period. In order to measure blood pressure extravascularly, one needs to physical occlude an artery which, by the way, humans do not have one available to occlude in the external ear canal. Technology certain may evolve quickly, producing things we never thought were possible, but the human body does not. So, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
I really don't understand where all the fuss is coming from either. I understand heart rate, because fitness buffs might want to know it during a workout. Pulse oximetry? There is no evidence in the medical literature to correlate oxygen saturation with fitness in people without cardiopulmonary disease. And if you do, you definitely shouldn't be relying on a cellphone. Otherwise, this just seems like a desperate attempt for Apple to demonstrate they can still "innovate" post-Jobs.
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Correct. The only people who need continuous vitals are those in the ICU.
Perhaps, but I think this misstates what the goal of these products might be. I realize it's a technological heavy lift, but assuming it was possible, a continuous monitor of blood glucose levels would actually be useful for a diabetic and might just keep them out of the ICU. It would also be a hell of a lot more convenient and less costly than the monitoring devices they use today. Also, people who report heart arrhythmias to their physicians are often fitted with bulky and expensive medical equipment to wear for a day or more. If some of the same functions could be taken over by a consumer device that provides the data instantly to both the patient and the doctor, I can see where that might be useful medically.
None of this seems even remotely desperate to me. In fact, it sounds rather promising.
Non invasive glucose monitoring for diabetics would be great and there is a huge market for that with 300+ million diabetics in the world. But from what I have read, that tech is still at least a few years away. There is actually a user here who works for a firm that is involved with that in Europe.
Here's an idea: How about you restrict yourself to posting on subjects you know something about? Hint: that does not include, apparently, technology, biology, or engineering. It most certainly IS possible to measure pressure without physically occluding an artery, and, in fact, can be done with no physical contact whatsoever. It has been known for years that using a LASER, one can generate so-called secondary speckle patterns on the skin, and by using a laser Doppler vibrometer, determine heart rate, blood pressure, even solute concentration, for measuring such quantities as blood glucose and VO2. This can even be dons a substantial distance from the subject, It is most certainly possible to do so from a device in direct contact with the ear.
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Nonsense, for several technical and biological reasons, not least of which being, yes, you most certainly can measure blood pressure from the ear.
Let's be serious here. This secret rumor is a joke on many levels...
First of all, Apple is going to get rid of headphone ports on iPhones, so that all third party devices that use it don't work? This includes Square readers and others.
Second, as mentioned many times, people need to charge phone while simultaneously listening to music or wearing headphones for conference calls. Headphone jacks are thin enough, and they do have the option to expand the number of connections within the port, increasing data flow.
Third of all, what sort of device that only measures your heart rate when your headphones are in would truly meet the need of fitness aficionados? What about when you're riding a bike and it's not safe to have your headphones in? The only thing that will be measuring heart rates or blood pressure is an iWatch, because among other reasons, it's directly touching an artery.
First of all, Apple is going to get rid of headphone ports on iPhones, so that all third party devices that use it don't work? This includes Square readers and others.
Second, as mentioned many times, people need to charge phone while simultaneously listening to music or wearing headphones for conference calls. Headphone jacks are thin enough, and they do have the option to expand the number of connections within the port, increasing data flow.
Third of all, what sort of device that only measures your heart rate when your headphones are in would truly meet the need of fitness aficionados? What about when you're riding a bike and it's not safe to have your headphones in? The only thing that will be measuring heart rates or blood pressure is an iWatch, because among other reasons, it's directly touching an artery.
I understand it has been possible for a while, but do you think Apple will be including lasers in their upcoming EarPods?? This is not a cheap technology, nor is it reasonable for a device as small as a pair of headphones.
Funny, but we were just told in this thread that measuring blood pressure at the ear is impossible. Within moments MR posts the article about Apple's new MIT hire who has been working on that very thing. Much of this may well be years off, but it isn't impossible. Health and medical technology is in its infancy today, and I feel we are seeing the clear message that Apple wants to be part of its forward development. The big picture is, it isn't about watches or EarPods.
Basically listing important info from the reddit thread, located here: http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/24fuj2/disgruntled_exapple_employee_leaks_details_about/
Reddit user wherewuz stated:
Reddit user ypsm stated:
Reddit user wherewuz stated:
Not sure where folks are getting "ex-Apple" from. He pretty clearly insinuates he's a former Nike engineer, which gives this rumor, in my opinion, a lot more validity.
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It's in the comments. The poster says that he or she felt "manipulated", and when asked to explain what he or she meant, the OP writes
"It would give me away. But I'm not the only person who got sent home for good last week."
Two posts down, someone posts "Swoosh" and the OP responds:
"No more questions please. I don't want to get myself or someone else in trouble."
The Nike FuelBand team was fired (presumably "for good") last week.
Reddit user ypsm stated:
IWatch will be much more than a health tracker im sure. Apple will never focus a product that important just for a small group of people. Its suposed to do everyday task that most people do easier and in more elegant form. Headphones with health sensors? Maybe. But apple has that patent for 7 years now and they havent released a product because they know the downsides. If they finally release that product, im sure that these downsides wont exist anymore. Can Apple help mankind to care more about their health and provide them with the tools to prevent sickness? Why not? It may be a revolution, who knows...