Apple can upgrade their smartwatch by adding an ECG monitor to future models Apple Watch that will measure the user's heartbeat and detect irregular heart rate.
Bloomberg wrote on Thursday that the prototype being tested for heart rate measurement requires the user to grip the watch case with two fingers of his free hand. Apple continues to test this technology and may not release it at all.
“The watch then sends a small charge of current into the person’s chest to track the electrical signals of the heart and recognize any problems as irregular rhythm,” the article says. With the built-in ECG monitor, it would be easier for users to detect heart problems in the early stages.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arrhythmia affects ¼ of people over 40 and increases the risk of heart attacks and heart failure.
Although it is now possible to buy a separate portable ECG monitor or strap for Apple Watch with built-in, the solution Apple to add it to the watch itself would allow users to monitor their heart rate continuously, not just in short lengths of time.
The Apple Watch has a built-in heart rate sensor that can detect changes in blood flow using light sensors on the bottom of the case.
In November, the company announced it was partnering with Stanford Medicine to investigate irregular heart rhythms among users. The research is carried out using a special application that analyzes all the heart rate data collected by the watch, and can recognize a potential threat.
The data collected in this project can help Apple create artificial intelligence tools that can easily recognize surges in heart rate and help implement an ECG project.