Apple is launching its newest innovative product in 4 years, the Apple Watch, the companies’ first wearable device. This watch is water-proof and comes in 3 different styles (Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition) with 2 different touch screen sizes (1.5 for women and 1.7 for men).
What’s even more special about this Apple Watch is the potential to “revolutionize” personal healthcare, via the devices pairing with Apples’ new iPhone and health kit software. With health data monitoring becoming a worldwide trend; Apple has reportedly hired experts in sleep research, fitness and nutrition. “Apple Watch gives us the ability to motivate people to be more active and healthy,” Apple CEO Tim Cook stated. The watch can track movement and your heart rate with its sensors on the back of the device. There will be two apps specifically dedicated to fitness.
Among the experts hired to work on Apples highly anticipated project, is Roy J.E.M Raymann. Roy is an expert researcher on sleep, who has extensive experience on wearables, sensors, and non-pharmacological methods of improving sleep quality. Unfortunately, CEO, Tim Cook was quoted saying “…We think that based on our experience of wearing these (The Apple Watch) that the usage of them will be really significant throughout the day. So we think you’ll want to charge them every night, similar to what a lot of people do with their phone.”
Tracking sleep patterns has been a major area of focus for popular fitness tracking products on the market. However, the Apple Watch does not track sleep. Almost every wrist-worn activity tracking device offers sleep tracking. Misfit, Fitbit, & Withings Pulse O2 to name a few, are some of the top sleep and fitness tracking modules.
Because of its advanced features and demanding power requirements, it is expected that users will charge the Apple Watch at night while asleep. The Watch is also a bit bulky and can be uncomfortable to sleep in. We believe Apple will undoubtedly do a great job at tracking your conscious health, yet it’s lack of data tracking ability in regards to sleep, is a real let down. Once again Apple’s battery life gets called into question, and this time, it’s the reason 1/3 of your life will not be tracked by Apple’s health kit software. We’re unsure why Apple would go through the hassle and expense to hire a sleep expert but we’re hoping this is proof that they will implement some form of sleep tracking in the near future.
What are your thoughts?
Will you buy the Apple Watch because of its “revolutionary” health kit or do you believe that the health kit is not complete without a practical sleep tracker?