Respiratory Study Launches To Discover How Apple Watch Can Predict COVID-19

Researchers at the University of Washington have partnered with Apple to study how Apple Watch may be used to predict illnesses such as coronavirus, or flu. Apple Insider reports: "The goal of the study is to see if the information collected by the Apple Watch and iPhone can detect early signs of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19," say the organizers on the recruitment page. The study is focusing on the Seattle area because residents "may have higher than normal risk of respiratory illness because of frequent exposure to other people through work or other activities, health conditions, or other factors."

This Apple Respiratory Study is expected to take "up to six months." During the study, participants will be required to periodically answer survey questions in the Apple Research iPhone app. If participants get sick while enrolled in the study, they will be sent an in-home testing kit for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. But, this will likely assist the study further, as sick participants will be asked to "take some additional health measurements using your Apple Watch."

Seems like it needs more sensors

[SuperKendall]

It sure seems like things the Apple Watch can measure today (like subtle changes in heart rate or blood oxygen), are a bit too limited to be able to detect if someone is getting sick. I would think you'd need at least some kind of way to measure body heat.

Possibly the Watch could also detect variation in movement, like say if you got more sluggish as you got sick, or were touching your face more often in a specific way.

It'll be interesting to see if the study gets anywhere.

Adver-"studies"?

[BAReFO0t]

Come on Apple, your desperation is showing.

Jobs ain't coming back. So keep crumbling! :D

Not "How", "If".

[AntisocialNetworker]

The title's wrong.