Apple Collected Over 18,000 Hours of Health and Fitness Data for Apple Watch

[iSee]

18000 hours is basically 100 testers saving data non stop for one week. Frankly, this seems like a tiny, nay, scant amount of data.

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The lack of GPS is precisely why my wife, I, and a number of other people I know have no interest in this device. My wife bought a Garmin watch instead - the goal was to be able to leave the phone at home while jogging. The Apple Watch won't allow for that, which makes it useless as an exercise tracker, as far as I am concerned. As a status symbol and fashion statement, however, it's an outstanding device. Best thing out there, really.

It's not exactly going to be useless as an exercise tracker because it doesn't have GPS while jogging without a phone. You're still going to get heart rate monitoring, time, calories (I think). Some amount of pace is also possible by mapping out waypoints on your standard routes. Obviously there are some nice plusses to GPS for this, but it's hardly just a fashion statement.

Edit: also, 18000 hours is a little or a lot, depending on what they were doing for those hours. You should check out the video and get an idea (it wasn't 100 people wearing the watch for a week each).

 

[LeilaW]

I heard Samsung has 18,001 hours collected.

Funny.

 

[peterdevries]

It wouldn't be "superior" because visually we can see the same LED based HRM sensor, even down to the same green lights as the Fitbit Surge/MS Band etc.

Unless there is some brand new never been seen or announced before tech in it (which Apple would have surely tooted their own horn about) it's the absolute safest bet that it's a tech that is "equal to", rather than "greater or less than" what is already on the market.

You are absolutely wrong. The quality of the data presented back to the user is as much in the hardware as in the software. Although many of these watches use the same hardware system to measure the raw data, it is the measuring algorithm that makes the difference.

If you do a bit of research then you will realize that a well implemented algorithm on this LED system is able to measure heart rates very accurately and is even able to analyze other metrics that the competition is unaware of being possible. Examples are systolic pressure, heart rate anomalies etc. I'm not an expert myself, but the guys that I work with have shown me things that would blow your mind.

 

[macsmurf]

You are absolutely wrong. The quality of the data presented back to the user is as much in the hardware as in the software. Although many of these watches use the same hardware system to measure the raw data, it is the measuring algorithm that makes the difference.

If you do a bit of research then you will realize that a well implemented algorithm on this LED system is able to measure heart rates very accurately and is even able to analyze other metrics that the competition is unaware of being possible. Examples are systolic pressure, heart rate anomalies etc. I'm not an expert myself, but the guys that I work with have shown me things that would blow your mind.

Could you point me to a source for this? I found an article some months back where they compared most of the BPM measuring watches on the market today.

The conclusion was that the accuracy was pretty poor, especially if the exercise involved a lot of arm movement with resistance. They also compared the EKG to a chest strap and found the accuracy to be pretty much dead on.

 

[MacrumoursUser]

Edit: also, 18000 hours is a little or a lot, depending on what they were doing for those hours. You should check out the video and get an idea (it wasn't 100 people wearing the watch for a week each).

It does't matter. You can't apply a math formula in calorie burning. Human body doesn't wok that way. Even for one man.

 

[Edsel]

If 50 years ago, someone made the prediction that corporations and government would know every detail of your life, in real-time, you'd call them crazy. I'm beginning to feel like an audience member in Apple's "1984" commercial.

 

[Tech198]

This is like NASA……

Those gas masks look almost like they are needed, since by the end of the intense workout by all their users most of them will suffocate…


At least make the masks more “non-alien like”

The “refrigerated system” (now called the cool room), makes you wonder how the hell Apple can even afford all this.. All in the name of just testing a watch….

This only proves Apple will go to any length’s and really want to make sure their testing is “spot on” above and beyond, after recent new products needed replacement programs set up because of issues happening after 1 year or so.

I will be laughing after a year if the Apple watch suddenly starts to develop problem’ with “not being accurate with heath and fitness”

Only Apple can go to this massive length... I gotta hand it to them.

That would then mean all this fitness has gone to waste.... and the only thing would have been "everyone just got a good workout"

 

[H2SO4]

Only Apple can go to this massive length... I gotta hand it to them.

Say what?

 

[Carlanga]

Hmm. Oh, I don't know. Maybe from the two years it's taken Apple to date?

Of course, it's always possible that you know how to do Apple's testing regimen in one-tenth the time, in which case they should definitely hire you.

good save... not

 

[quagski]

Give me a break... do you guys really think companies like Garmin, Polar, and the like don't have health research facilities like this? This isn't as impressive as everyone seems to think it is, in fact, I'd consider it quite common place for the industry.

 

[peterdevries]

Could you point me to a source for this? I found an article some months back where they compared most of the BPM measuring watches on the market today.

The conclusion was that the accuracy was pretty poor, especially if the exercise involved a lot of arm movement with resistance. They also compared the EKG to a chest strap and found the accuracy to be pretty much dead on.

I can't really talk about it in detail, as it is the intellectual property of my company. Here is a link to a research paper about the measurement algorithms. On of the authors of this paper works in my company and I have worked with him on wearables that measure heart rates etc.

Article

Fact is that data quality is not only dependent on hardware but very much on the measurement algorithms. What the previous poster said is ignorant and shows that he does not know anything about the technology.

 

[macsmurf]

I can't really talk about it in detail, as it is the intellectual property of my company. Here is a link to a research paper about the measurement algorithms. On of the authors of this paper works in my company and I have worked with him on wearables that measure heart rates etc.

Article

Fact is that data quality is not only dependent on hardware but very much on the measurement algorithms. What the previous poster said is ignorant and shows that he does not know anything about the technology.

First of all: Thanks for a really credible and solid source. I didn't expect an actual research paper. Secondly, the paper doesn't really support your point. They use different hardware (lasers instead of LED. Non-contact) in an entirely different domain (medical monitoring), and also a standard statistical method for interpreting the data.

I am not saying you are wrong, just that the paper isn't a good source.

Anyway, once the watch is out I'm sure it will be reviewed thoroughly.

 

[peterdevries]

First of all: Thanks for a really credible and solid source. I didn't expect an actual research paper. Secondly, the paper doesn't really support your point. They use different hardware (lasers instead of LED. Non-contact) in an entirely different domain (medical monitoring), and also a standard statistical method for interpreting the data.

I am not saying you are wrong, just that the paper isn't a good source.

Anyway, once the watch is out I'm sure it will be reviewed thoroughly.

Yeah, I know. The point of that article was not to prove the led system, but to show that I work in this field (albeit tangentially, I'm in glucose monitoring). One of the guys on this paper has moved to a slightly different field and specifically monitoring of bodily functions using a limited set of sensors in low energy devices. One of the things he developed was a healthcare patch that is only a few mm thick (halfway down the page here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5c75a9de-0b5f-11e4-9e55-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3VF5oH7OP)

A while ago we were in a meeting where he showed me an internal article that he was working on that showed how a conventional led system could measure a lot more than just dilation of blood vessels to measure the heart rate. In the article he described techniques to determine blood pressure and oxygen content using the same system that others currently use only for HRM. I can't share that paper because it is company ip.

 

[Keirasplace]

Yeah, I know. The point of that article was not to prove the led system, but to show that I work in this field (albeit tangentially, I'm in glucose monitoring). One of the guys on this paper has moved to a slightly different field and specifically monitoring of bodily functions using a limited set of sensors in low energy devices. One of the things he developed was a healthcare patch that is only a few mm thick (halfway down the page here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5c75a9de-0b5f-11e4-9e55-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3VF5oH7OP)

A while ago we were in a meeting where he showed me an internal article that he was working on that showed how a conventional led system could measure a lot more than just dilation of blood vessels to measure the heart rate. In the article he described techniques to determine blood pressure and oxygen content using the same system that others currently use only for HRM. I can't share that paper because it is company ip.

Its almost certain that what Apple was testing in this lab wasn't just HRM, but a of other types of monitors. Eventually, those things will wind up in the watch.

 

[ZipZap]

[100% Personal Opinion + Completely Insulting Verbage] = Someone Not Worth Paying Any Attention To.

Except that what I have said is true, rings true and is the result of many more years of experience with this than you.

How are you insulted. Corrected perhaps….but not insulted.

 

[gavroche]

Except that what I have said is true, rings true and is the result of many more years of experience with this than you.

How are you insulted. Corrected perhaps….but not insulted.

Perhaps when you grow up some day you will realize that if you want people to actually listen to you, and hear what you have to say, you should not talk like a child.
In the mean time, who knows whether what you said is right or wrong. There really is no point in even reading what you said. Most people reading your post just see: **** Child Talking Here ****

 

[Gameboy70]

good save... not

A devastating rebuttal. You should go to law school if you're not going to be Jay Blahnik's replacement at Apple.

 

[Carlanga]

A devastating rebuttal. You should go to law school if you're not going to be Jay Blahnik's replacement at Apple.

I don't have to give a proper answer to a tangential reply. Your joke was weak and the math as well.

Btw there is a big difference between a fitness instructors like Blahnik and a PM&R doctor to run health tests checks for apps in a health based machine. IMO a PM&R expert + health statistician and then as a third a fitness instructor should decide the proper testing and quantity and time of a pool of participants.

 

[Gameboy70]

I don't have to give a proper answer to a tangential reply. Your joke was weak and the math as well.

I never claimed to use math, especially not for continuous testing. I accepted the 2-year baseline testing period on what was actually took place at Apple, as opposed to what a contrarian from an Apple fan forum believes should have taken place.

 

[Carlanga]

I never claimed to use math, especially not for continuous testing. I accepted the 2-year baseline testing period on what was actually took place at Apple, as opposed to what a contrarian from an Apple fan forum believes should have taken place.

Someone needs to read their replies...
Also, I'm not a "contrarian", I like apple products which is why I own many of them. I'm just not a sheep that follows just becase its apple. A true apple owner will be happy with the good stuff and disappointed with the weaker stuff.

 

[Gameboy70]

Someone needs to read their replies.

And who would that be? You listed a bunch of reckonings based on continuous testing and asked where I got my two-year figure from, to which I replied the two years it actually took Apple. Sorry, but two years of real-world data has more authority in my book than your back-of-the-envelope math.

Also, I'm not a "contrarian", I like apple products which is why I own many of them. I'm just not a sheep that follows just becase its apple. A true apple owner will be happy with the good stuff and disappointed with the weaker stuff.

You're not a contrarian for liking or disliking Apple. You're a contrarian for insinuating greater subject matter expertise in testing protocols than working professionals with a long track record.

 

[01silver4]

18000 hours is basically 100 testers saving data non stop for one week. Frankly, this seems like a tiny, nay, scant amount of data.

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The lack of GPS is precisely why my wife, I, and a number of other people I know have no interest in this device. My wife bought a Garmin watch instead - the goal was to be able to leave the phone at home while jogging. The Apple Watch won't allow for that, which makes it useless as an exercise tracker, as far as I am concerned. As a status symbol and fashion statement, however, it's an outstanding device. Best thing out there, really.

I tell u what my wife better not leave the house to go jogging, without her phone not in these days and time. My GARMIN 500 bike computer has GPS and I still take my phone with me on bike rides along with my ROAD ID. With my emergency contact and medical info. To me it would be real easy to lift your arm and activate SIRI on AW, just incase there is an emergency while out running or cycling. Or there is an emergency at home and my wife or daughters are trying to reach me. That's why they make arm bands for phones. For example yesterday I ride to Walgreens to pick up some proscription for my 6 year old daughter, my wife was trying to get a hold of me to let me know it will be ready for pick up when I get there. I had to find somewhere safe to stop and check my notifications. With Apple watch on my wrist I could have glance at it and see the notification without stoping. I hate to stop when I am out cycling to check my phone, when I get a notification if I don't have to. The AW be perfect for this, because not only can it receive notifications but reply to them as well. With out taken my phone out etc. Can't wait to see get mine.

 

[Carlanga]

And who would that be? You listed a bunch of reckonings based on continuous testing and asked where I got my two-year figure from, to which I replied the two years it actually took Apple. Sorry, but two years of real-world data has more authority in my book than your back-of-the-envelope math.
You're not a contrarian for liking or disliking Apple. You're a contrarian for insinuating greater subject matter expertise in testing protocols than working professionals with a long track record.

You said 20 years, read your own reply.

Ah, so a 20 year testing window instead of two years...

Secondly, you don't know me or my knowledge of doing research.

 

[Gameboy70]

You said 20 years, read your own reply.

Yes: "10x" Apple's actual 2 year testing period.

Secondly, you don't know me or my knowledge of doing research.

Until you state otherwise, this is simply more insinuation.

 

[kdarling]

A while ago we were in a meeting where he showed me an internal article that he was working on that showed how a conventional led system could measure a lot more than just dilation of blood vessels to measure the heart rate. In the article he described techniques to determine blood pressure and oxygen content using the same system that others currently use only for HRM. I can't share that paper because it is company ip.

From my recent readings, it's clear that using the same heart rate LEDs to determine blood pressure and oxygen content, is well known technology.

In fact, HRMs are trimmed down versions of that.