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Is the Apple Watch a Useful Medical Device? (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the all-we-want-is-for-you-to-be-happy-happy-happy dept.

Let's kill the suspense right away by answering the title question, 'Probably not.' For one thing, according to interviewee Alfred Poor, the Apple Watch is in no way linked to the Apple Research Kit. Dr. Poor is editor of the Health Tech Insider website, so he follows this kind of thing more carefully than most people. And the Apple watch is not the only device mentioned in this video (or transcript, if you prefer reading to listening). If you want to ruminate about the possibility of direct mind control, for instance, you need to know about the Thync, whose vendor calls it 'A groundbreaking wearable device that enables you to shift your state of mind in minutes.' They say it 'induces on-demand shifts in energy, calm, or focus.' It even has a 'pleasure' setting. Crank that to 11 and you might happily spend your days prone, being fed by a drip and emptied by a catheter, moving only when an attendant turns you over to keep bedsores from developing -- not that you'll care if they do -- as you spend the rest of your life in an artificially-induced joyful stupor.

23 of 47 comments (clear)

  1. I Don't Thing so! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    We know that Apple has 1000's of Medical related applications but they have an issues of accuracy..

    Pakistan Weather Update

  2. No, it isn't. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    See how easy that was? Next question.

    1. Re:No, it isn't. by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

      This time I would say the answer is yes. It is great at identifying people suffering from a severe medical condition know as anal-cranial-inversion.

      --
      Time to offend someone
  3. Is the Apple Watch a Useful Medical Device? by QuietLagoon · · Score: 1

    No, it is not.

    1. Re:Is the Apple Watch a Useful Medical Device? by QuietLagoon · · Score: 1

      But this sure is a good way to advertise the thyc thing!

      I can't wait until the stream of the ~Apple Watch saved my life~ headlines begin.

      I think we have not even begun to see 0.001% of the hype surrounding this thing.

    2. Re:Is the Apple Watch a Useful Medical Device? by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

      Just imagine what information/treatment might come out of having 1000s of heart attacks recorded.

      --
      There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
    3. Re:Is the Apple Watch a Useful Medical Device? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      But this sure is a good way to advertise the thyc (sic) thing!

      Louis? Are you a wirehead?

      --
      #DeleteChrome
  4. Re:Not currently. by Kenja · · Score: 1

    Should'a said "doesn't run third party apps natively".

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  5. Rubbish article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This article is just a disguised advertisement for the bullshit "Thync" device.

  6. Useful in what way? by oneiros27 · · Score: 2

    I've seen a few talks from Stephen Friend. I was at the Research Data Alliance meeting, and he gave one of the plenary talks the day after Apple unveiled the device, and announced Research Kit (which he's involved with).

    He mentioned that less than 24hrs after its release, they already had more Parkinsons patients signed up than any published study on the disease.

    If the watch can get *any* sort of medically useful data, I'm all for it, especially as so many people have been designating that their data can be used by any qualified researcher. (yes, there will still have to be IRBs to approve research at most institutions, and I assume some sort of gatekeepers from Sage Bionetworks to determine who gets access to the data). ... but the fact that we might be able to get medical data at a scale never before seen is huge. And we might get a wider slice of the population, not just college students or from a limited geographic area that might not be applicable to the larger population.

    (disclaimer : I did not watch the video. I usually read the articles before commenting (I know, that's against this site's standards) ... if the person has a legitimate argument to make, post it so I can read it)

    --
    Build it, and they will come^Hplain.
  7. Major problems with the question, not the answer. by gurps_npc · · Score: 2
    Part of the problem is the difference between true medical and general consumer products. Medical products are for a small, select group Most people will never need an Epipen, but that doesn't mean they are not very useful medical devices.

    This makes it very different from regular apple products that are geared to everyone.

    But the real problem is that "Apple Watch" is basically VAPORWARE right now. They announced the general program, but without enough details. No one knows what it is so no one has any business even asking if it is a medical device, let alone a useful one.

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
  8. Re:Does it have apps? by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

    So excel is right out!

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  9. Summary: by jpellino · · Score: 4, Informative

    I haven't seen one, I think they're expensive, and I don't know exactly what they can do, but here's some presumptuous answers to your softball leading questions.

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  10. No it's not a medical device by stevez67 · · Score: 1

    Medical devices are very stringently regulated by the FDA. The Apple Watch is a consumer device, end of discussion ... unless Apple applies to the FDA for approval of the device including it's manufacturing process and locations.

    1. Re:No it's not a medical device by EvilSS · · Score: 1

      Medical devices are very stringently regulated by the FDA. The Apple Watch is a consumer device, end of discussion ... unless Apple applies to the FDA for approval of the device including it's manufacturing process and locations.

      This. And I think this is one reason the Apple Watch was so underwhelming in the sensor department when it was announced. If Apple, or anyone for that matter, wants to really make their smart watches useful for medical applications they are going to have to navigate the FDA. That's a very expensive, slow, and cumbersome route to navigate.

      --
      I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
  11. Re:Major problems with the question, not the answe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm pretty sure you don't understand what vaporware is.

  12. As useful as a video that should be a line of text by netsavior · · Score: 1

    Apple watch's medical features are a handy excuse to self-justify buying it... I am fine with it, I justified buying a PS3 for myself back in the day by saying "heck, I needed a blu-ray player anyway."

    But we all know it is suspension of disbelief, and no serious consideration.

  13. Re:Yay! by EvilSS · · Score: 1

    Man, where were you during the magnetic bracelet craze? Or the copper bracelet craze? Or the (and this is my favorite) plastic bracelet with hologram sticker craze? Hrm.. Come to think of it most of these sham devices are work on the wrist...

    --
    I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
  14. Re:Yay! by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

    I guess I was thinking about "device" in terms of electronics rather than pet rocks. The biggest manufacturer of the magnetic/copper bracelets actually got in trouble for making them out of potentially hazardous industrial waste.

  15. Betteridge by Trogre · · Score: 1

    Short answer: no.

    A Fitbit, on the other hand...

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    1. Re:Betteridge by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      I picked up a Fitbit One at a local thrift store just last week for $20. It is in unopened packaging, iow brand new.

      I haven't opened it yet but plan to soon.

      I am interested in a Microsoft Band, too. Though they're kind of pricey. It's weird how Microsoft has already come out with their 'health smart watch' and few people seem to know it's even available. It works with ALL the mobile platforms, btw.

  16. Yes - For some uses. by BadPirate · · Score: 1

    TL;DR: If you need to constantly monitor your heart rate it can be useful as any heart rate "Medical" device short of EKG.

    I'm getting one for my Dad. He currently has a fluttering heart valve, which makes his heart less effective, and causes his heart rate to nearly double to attain the same level of blood oxygen. His resting heart rate is between 100-130 bpm, and that's not good for longevity. While the doctors try and sort out what surgery to try next, he's been told to try and keep his heart rate low using medication. However, if it gets too low, he gets light headed, and can't go up stairs, so they are experimenting with a good value that keeps his heart rate in a specific range.

    I'll be writing him an app that lets him know when to take medication to slow his heart rate.

    Yes, it's not medically sound, and I wouldn't use it for someone who might sue... but it's better than the "Medical" apparatus and procedure we have been given.

    --
    - Holy crap, I've got MOD points! Who thought that was a good idea.
  17. More free mindshare by markdavis · · Score: 1

    >" And the Apple watch is not the only device mentioned in this video (or transcript, if you prefer reading to listening)."

    Then why is the title of the summary just "Apple Watch" instead of "Smart Watch"? Especially when there are already lots of non-Apple smart watches with motion sensing, heart rate monitoring, step counters, etc, already on peoples' wrists and have been for coming up on a year....

    smart phone, not iphone
    smart watch, not apple watch
    tablet, not ipad
    mp3 player, not ipod