New Apple patents point at a possible health accessory

[RaduTyrsina]

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The iPad is already a powerful tool that health professional use every day. But Apple might be planning to dig even deeper in the health industry. Three recently uncovered patents suggest that the tech giant might be developing a technology that will prove useful in deciphering pedometer readings in mobile devices.

The patents are grouped under the name “Techniques for improved pedometer readings” and have been published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week.

Current pedometer technology is not all accurate, due to bugs and inconsistency both in terms of software and hardware. So Apple aims to create a​​ technology that will provide a detailed and true reading of step count. On top of that, the technology outlined in the patents might also add features for assessing the distance traveled. Reportedly, Apple will make use of adaptive threshold and frequency filtering metrics in order to provide users with the results.

The patent explains in depth:

“When a user of the device is running, the average acceleration of the device may be higher due to the greater acceleration of each footstep and the overall faster forward motion. Due to the higher offset of average acceleration during running measurements, some negative slope 88 to positive slope 86 threshold crossings may not be detected. For example, the negative slope 88 to positive slope 86 transition at point 94 in the graphed modulus 52 does not cross the 1 g threshold between peaks 92a and 90a. As a result, while peaks 92a and 90a may actually correspond to two steps (e.g., a left step and a right step), conventional threshold filtering techniques may detect only one step due to the lack of a negative to positive transition (e.g., point 94) crossing below the fixed 1 g threshold.”

It’s true that iPhone users interested in pedometer assessment can find different software out there that would fit their needs, but seeing such a technology come out of Apple will surely be very interesting. Might it be that Apple is looking to incorporate it in the upcoming smart watch? It would certainly make a lot of sense.

Source: AppleInsider