Google is always up to something. That isn’t meant to have any nefarious context, although some privacy watchdogs may disagree. Aside from becoming a household verb and tirelessly tracking your internet history, Google’s ventures run the gamut from the expected to the outlandish and unbelievable. One new project that falls into both those categories is Loon—an endeavor to spread internet to remote locales using gigantic balloons beaming connectivity down from the stratosphere. These more out-of-the-box projects are, more often than not, the efforts of Google X—the division charged with radical new ideas and long-term projects (like internet balloons and self-driving cars). And one of their more terrestrial endeavors is looking to potentially revolutionize outpatient medical diagnostics.
Google’s New Wearable Won’t Be Available to Consumers
With the increasing popularity of wearable technology—specifically those devoted to health tracking—perhaps it was only a matter of time before Google entered the fray. The main difference between Google’s upcoming entrant and a popular wearable like the FitBit, is that Google’s will not be on sale to the general public.
The new wearable device will do much more than track your steps and calories. The goal is to create a medical-grade fitness tracking wristband that measure a whole array of physiological functions. Offering minute-by-minute readings for a variety of health metrics, including heart rate, pulse, skin temperature and even external factors like sun exposure.
Better Diagnostics for a Better Experience
The device is designed to be used in clinical trials and prescribed to medical patients to help reliably track a patient’s vitals outside of the hospital. This device would benefit both doctors and patients, relieving the burden from patients and the potential unreliability of self-reporting. And researchers think the device could be used for everything from tracking existing conditions to helping otherwise healthy people catch early signs of disease. Consumer-grade fitness trackers don’t currently offer the medical-grade accuracy necessary to count on for reliable research and medical diagnostic purposes. The device may well change how we monitor and track our health and reveal new keys to a prolonged and healthier life—similar to revelations that standing more throughout the day can have dramatic impacts on your health.
See the original article here.
