Apple Likely Researching Strain Sensors to Improve Apple Watch Strength Workout Tracking

[MacRumors]

Apple is researching strain gage sensors, likely in an effort to improve the Apple Watch's strength training capabilities, according to a recent job listing (via MyHealthyApple).

The job listing from Apple's Health Technologies team seeks engineers with "exposure to analog electronics, preferably mechatronic systems utilizing actuators, temperature sensors, strain gages, and photodiodes." The candidate will help design, build, test, and troubleshoot early prototype health hardware. Apple is presumably conducting this biomechanics research and development in relation to the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch already contains an actuator, temperature sensor, and photodiodes, but it does not have a strain gage. Strain gages measure variations in electrical resistance when force is applied. They are already widely used in motion-tracking and physiological monitoring systems. Researchers have demonstrated how a single, non-invasive strain sensor placed on the wrist can accurately measure the full range of strains on human skin, as well as monitor blood pressure – another health feature rumored for future Apple Watch models.

The Apple Watch can only track active calories, time, and heart rate during strength training workouts. These metrics are more useful for tracking aerobic activities like running or cycling, but are less insightful in the context of strength training because heart rate is not proportional to effort and load. Strain gages, on the other hand, can help track the specific impact of various strength training exercises. In addition, the Workout app does not offer any ability to capture weights, reps, and sets to calculate muscular loads, so there is much Apple could do to improve strength training tracking with the Apple Watch.

Article Link: Apple Likely Researching Strain Sensors to Improve Apple Watch Strength Workout Tracking

 

[alexandr]

Temperature and BPM — amazing features, been waiting for these!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Amazing! Nice to see this. Apple Watch needs a new sensor! Strength training would be great.

 

[Crowbot]

This is going to be a tough one. I imagine there will have to be some setup before exercising to calibrate the sensor.

Right now, the Calorie calc on my watch gives wildly different readings even though my workout (stationary bike) is consistent between days.

 

[xxray]

This would be amazing. Weightlifting is my favorite type of workout.

 

[mongobongo]

Would be a very welcome feature! But I’d take any kind of meaningful update to Apple Watch at this time. I’ve had my series 5 for close to 4 years now. Been wanting to upgrade for some time but there hasn’t been any new killer features for me since the always on display.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Nice, this would be a welcome improvement to the AW for me.

 

[jz0309]

new health/fitness sensors in the AW are needed, so bring them on

 

[dhershberger]

Weight training is why I purchased an AW. I am eager for the workout tracking to greatly improve in this area.

 

[AlumaMac]

Hopefully it’ll be able to differentiate between workouts and being on the toilet!

 

[surfzen21]

This would be great. I find the strength training workout app to be very lacking and the calories burned to be off.

It would be great if this was able to calculate effort and max effort etc. Since I've been working out at home and not a dedicated gym I never go to max weights. It would be nice to see how close I am to that max based on my current workouts.

Hoping they have this dialed in by the time I want to upgrade. Or even better, this may be a reason to upgrade.

 

[Octavius8]

What a wasted opportunity has been the apple watch. Basically the same health features since 9 years!. And the way the summaries are presented is very poor.
Polar and Garmin still cant be matched in activity tracking and reporting. The AW is not a serious device, just a notification screen on my wrist.

 

[sdz]

Without a chest strap sensor you can't use the Apple Watch HR sensor during strength training. It is COMPLETELY unreliable and the values are off by a wide margin.
The AW is unable to detect rapid changes in HR (from baseline to peaks) in a short amount of time (typically when you rest and then conduct your weight lifting set)

 

[FrankieG889D]

This would be fantastic.

What also would be fantastic is, at least for indoor running, heart rate and calories would show up on my lock screen during a workout.

 

[Dble07]

I would love to see these features come to the watch. Additionally, as mentioned in the article, and in the mean time can we please see some manual tracking metrics in the health app? Bare minimum would like to see something other than waist as a measurement tracked(I.e. biceps, chest, quads, etc.). Would love to also see the ability to “journal” workouts like mentioned in the article. Something streamlined to make tracking body group, weight and reps stupid fast and simple to track. Would be amazing to see that have a trends feature, and maybe the ability to remind you it is time to increase reps/weight.

 

[ScubaCinci]

How about enhanced sensors that let it work with tattoos? I recently got a sleeve not realizing this is an issue. Mine is basically black/grey in the area where the watch sits. It locks immediately after unlocking and the screen goes off.

 

[Will Co]

BPM is the charm. I reckon a lot of people would upgrade for a reasonably accurate BPM on the Watch. The flip-side to this is that I reckon a lot of people would soon after be booking an appointment with their doctor.

 

[noannualfee]

Wow, haven't been really impressed with the Apple Watch but if they can measure strain, that would be an engineering marvel. They'd have to find a way to grab various bits of data like valsalva maneuver, intracranial/abdominal pressure, blood pressure, heart rate and make a measurable unit out of it.

 

[diskrisk]

As a lifter, when they do this, it would be an instant upgrade. I’d buy it immediately. Worth using my tren money on (that was a joke)

 

[Lcgiv]

Would definitely be an upgrade if it works consistently…Hopefully it’s not measured via grunting and yelling lol 😂

 

[CaptMarvel]

All in for for a sensor that can do this and blood pressure.

What about overall strain/exertion? Apple Watch will tell you to workout everyday and berate you for not closing rings. Would this sensor be capable of the same?

 

[Frankie_r]

That would be great. I think that gym training is one of the most - if not THE most - common workout in the entire world.

 

[4odomi]

Apple is researching strain gauge sensors, likely in an effort to improve the Apple Watch's strength training capabilities, according to a recent job listing (via MyHealthyApple).

The job listing from Apple's Health Technologies team seeks engineers with "exposure to analog electronics, preferably mechatronic systems utilizing actuators, temperature sensors, strain gauges, and photodiodes." The candidate will help design, build, test, and troubleshoot early prototype health hardware. Apple is presumably conducting this biomechanics research and development in relation to the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch already contains an actuator, temperature sensor, and photodiodes, but it does not have a strain gauge. Strain gauges measure variations in electrical resistance when force is applied. They are already widely used in motion-tracking and physiological monitoring systems. Researchers have demonstrated how a single, non-invasive strain sensor placed on the wrist can accurately measure the full range of strains on human skin, as well as monitor blood pressure – another health feature rumored for future Apple Watch models.

The Apple Watch can only track active calories, time, and heart rate during strength training workouts. These metrics are more useful for tracking aerobic activities like running or cycling, but are less insightful in the context of strength training because heart rate is not proportional to effort and load. Strain gauges, on the other hand, can help track the specific impact of various strength training exercises. In addition, the Workout app does not offer any ability to capture weights, reps, and sets to calculate muscular loads, so there is much Apple could do to improve strength training tracking with the Apple Watch.

Article Link: Apple Likely Researching Strain Sensors to Improve Apple Watch Strength Workout Tracking

Agreed, it's definitely needed, as is a BMI sensor.
I think the blood sugar sensor would also be great, however can't see how it can ever be anywhere near accurate enough and could cause more problems than solve for existing diabetics, however I'm sure it would help undiagnosed diabetics, which would be huge.

 

[diamornte]

What a wasted opportunity has been the apple watch. Basically the same health features since 9 years!. And the way the summaries are presented is very poor.
Polar and Garmin still cant be matched in activity tracking and reporting. The AW is not a serious device, just a notification screen on my wrist.

It's as if you didn't read the article and only came to complain.

 

[F23]

Tim Apple also researching how to strain our bank accounts