Bloomberg/Getty Images
Samsung's newest lineup of smartwatches might include new health features that optimize your sleep time or assess your carotenoid levels, but the tech giant's most interesting health update announced at Wednesday's Unpacked event had absolutely nothing to do with the hardware or software associated with its smartwatch lineup.
The announcement that Samsung acquired digital health platform Xealth came quickly in between other announcements, but it paints a clear picture of how wearable health tech, like Samsung's Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring, will be used in the years to come.
Xealth is a platform that connects over 500 hospitals across the country with 70 digital health centers. So, what business does Samsung, a technology brand, have buying it? The acquisition hints at a new dawn of digital healthcare, infused with wearable technology and marked by continuous tracking in the name of preventative care.
Also: Finally, a smart ring that rivals my Oura 4 but doesn't have subscription fees (and it's on sale)
Earlier this year, Samsung's VP of Digital Health, Praveen Raja, outlined the company's mission for its health technology.
"Our vision is to develop a comprehensive system that supports you through every stage of your health journey," said Raja. "From measuring your current health to giving you personalized health insights and coaching, and connecting you with providers and caregivers." This acquisition gets Samsung closer to its goals of connected healthcare.
When I've spoken with wearable health product developers or vice presidents, they tell me stories of their Oura Rings, Apple Watches, or other trackers spotting conditions, illnesses, or strain before they feel sick. This is a miraculous use case of wearable health tech and AI -- to know through observing a user's personal baseline when they're getting sick. Your smart ring or smartwatch might see that your resting heart rate is a few beats per minute above your baseline or that your body temperature is just a little higher than normal, and it will tell you to rest.
Oura VP Shyamal Patel told me a story last year about how his resting heart rate was 10 bpm above his baseline, so he called his doctor to check in. The doctor responded that his resting heart rate seemed healthy for his age and there was nothing to worry about, but a few days later, Patel had to undergo emergency dental surgery.
I include this example to illustrate wearable health technology's front row seat to a person's health and wellness. Continuous data capture paired with advanced algorithms has the potential to spot illnesses or conditions that largely go underdiagnosed at the doctor's office. This is not to say that a smartwatch should replace your general practitioner, but what we're seeing through these acquisitions is that major tech brands are betting big on wearable technology's burgeoning role in the healthcare space.
... continue reading