The iWatch has become one of the most anticipated gadgets of the year, and for many months it’s been the source of tons of speculations and rumors. This is to be expected given Apple’s huge influence on the market, especially since the iWatch would be the company’s first “wearable”.
Every week we come across new information regarding Apple’s upcoming smartwatch, and with each new report we’re hoping that the puzzle will become clearer and clearer. Nevertheless, not everything we hear about the iWatch is solely positive, and sometimes we get a mixed bag of both good and bad news.
Today we’re in a similar situation, as the latest reports suggest that the iWatch is actually being held back, but for good reasons. Scroll down for the full story below.
iWatch Held Back by FDA Certification – Sweat Analysis In Tow
According to the latest reports coming from the Chinese media (citing “Apple insiders”), iWatch’s development has already been completed (meaning design, technical specs, features, etc). However, the gadget is being held back (aka is not being manufactured yet) because it needs to be certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Much like the previous rumors have suggested, this new reports suggests that the iWatch will include a wide range of biometric sensors on-board, including heart rate, blood pressure and blood glucose sensors. More so, based on these latest reports Apple has also developed an in-house sweat analysis sensor for the iWatch. As such, Apple is apparently working on certifying the smartwatch as a medical equipment, and our guesses are that there’s no need to explain why the process of doing so can be time consuming.
This actually makes a lot of sense when taking into account Apple’s additions to its iOS 8 operating system. We’re specifically referring to the new HealthKit application that has been developed in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, can transmit health-related information, and can be integrated with the medical records systems of many health institutions in the US (Mayo Clinic, Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Penn Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and the Cleveland Clinic have been disclosed as partners at WWDC).
All in all, despite the fact that the iWatch might be ready to go but it’s being (temporarily) held back by the FDA, Apple’s plans to deliver a wearable device that comes with a wide range of certified and reliable biometric sensors are commendable.
Any thoughts? Feel free to share them below.