Apple Invites Its Users Into Major Years-Long Health Study (cnbc.com) 15
Can the iPhone, AirPods, or the Apple Watch play a role in improving health? Apple says they want to find out.
"In medical research, discoveries are often limited by the number of participants who can be recruited, the amount of data that can be captured, and the duration of a given study," the company said in a blog post this week. "But Apple devices expand the possibilities..." This new longitudinal, virtual study aims to understand how data from technology — including Apple and third-party devices — can be used to predict, detect, monitor, and manage changes in participants' health. Additionally, researchers will explore connections across different areas of health.
CNBC reports: The new study will likely influence future product development. Apple CEO Tim Cook previously said he believes health features will be the company's "most important contribution to mankind...."
The Apple Health Study will be available through the company's Research app, and participation is voluntary. Users will select each data type they are willing to share with researchers, and they can stop sharing or completely discontinue their participation at any time. Apple has no access to participants' identifiable information, the company said... The project will last at least five years and may expand beyond that.
A Harvard Medical School professor and cardiologist — also a principal investigator on the Apple Health Study — says "We've only just begun to scratch the surface of how technology can improve our understanding of human health."
"In medical research, discoveries are often limited by the number of participants who can be recruited, the amount of data that can be captured, and the duration of a given study," the company said in a blog post this week. "But Apple devices expand the possibilities..." This new longitudinal, virtual study aims to understand how data from technology — including Apple and third-party devices — can be used to predict, detect, monitor, and manage changes in participants' health. Additionally, researchers will explore connections across different areas of health.
CNBC reports: The new study will likely influence future product development. Apple CEO Tim Cook previously said he believes health features will be the company's "most important contribution to mankind...."
The Apple Health Study will be available through the company's Research app, and participation is voluntary. Users will select each data type they are willing to share with researchers, and they can stop sharing or completely discontinue their participation at any time. Apple has no access to participants' identifiable information, the company said... The project will last at least five years and may expand beyond that.
A Harvard Medical School professor and cardiologist — also a principal investigator on the Apple Health Study — says "We've only just begun to scratch the surface of how technology can improve our understanding of human health."
Uh, no (Score:1)
Uh, that would be a hard pass.
Re:NO (Score:4, Informative)
My health is between my doctor and myself and not Apple. Fuck off.
So don't volunteer for the study. No problem.
Re: (Score:2)
No, in the USA it's between you and your health insurance parasite. An M.D./G.P. is a trained middle-man, like a lawyer.
Re: NO (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
How about hells to the naw? (Score:2)
Nopeitty-nope.
I hope they won't repeal ACA and force this kind of snooping on people who want reasonable rates ... in that case, I'm moving to Europe.
Apple Watch health features mostly amount to (Score:2)
Annoying you with reminders to get off your lard ass.
When you actually are off your lard ass and doing something like walking around a theme park, it then annoys you with a pop-up message with something along the lines of: "You seem to be working out; record workout?"
If you happen to pass out and fall down from all that exercise, it can helpfully call 911 for you. Then you get to tell the operator that no, you won't be needing any assistance because you can't afford a ride in an ambulance.
Apple has truly r
Hamster ... (Score:2)
What about RFK, "doctor" Oz, and their master? (Score:2)
Given Tim Cook's newfound ideological identity and affiliation, how can we trust that any data we would give to Apple now would actually be used for science? And how can we trust that it would not be handed directly to trump and his minions to assist them in seeking out undesirables to attack and abuse? I would not want to contribute even a single pulse rate to the quackery of the looney toons about to be in charge of health care in the United States. Really, I would not want to contribute even a single pul
Re: (Score:2)
*Tim Apple's newfound...
Can the iThingy play a role in improving health? (Score:2)
US2485039A October 18, 1949 (Score:2)
No. Get off your overfed arse and go for a walk in the park and practice your social kills by chatting to language students or au pairs. Leave your iThingy behind.
You don't need to work at it quite that hard.
Sitting on a park bench, eyeing those au pairs with bad intent.*
*Au pairs with bad intent are the best kind!
You just have to be able to pick them out.
What's the payout? (Score:2)
People being turned into profit this way need to start holding a line. If you're going to gather my data this way, invade my privacy, and ultimately turn the research that you are doing with my data into a for-profit device or algorithm, what's my cut? Or do I get a freebie when everyone else has to pay? They want to monetize every aspect of our existence, starting cutting us in. Or, they can fuck all the way off. It seems to be the only language these giant corporations understand. Start talking their lang