As part of the the opening keynote for WWDC 2021, where Apple unveiled a ton of new features for all of its devices.
Apple Health was first released by Apple in 2014. In the years since then, it's gone from a fairly ugly and basic application to one of the most complete mobile health platforms available. Today with iOS 14, it can showcase s' weight, sleeping data, cycle tracking, ECG readings, doctor/hospital records, and a lot more. Whether someone needs to keep a regular check on certain vital or is just interested in learning more about their body, Apple Health is hard to beat.
iOS 15 is rolling out to iPhone s later this fall, and along with upgrades to notifications and FaceTime, Apple is also placing a great deal of focus on Apple Health. Among the new features coming to the Health app, the most noteworthy is 'Trends.' Like the Trends feature in the Activity app, Trends in Apple Health aims to provide s with a clearer picture of how their health is changing over time. If the Health app notices that someone has been taking more steps for the last 4 weeks, for example, it'll alert them of that Trend so they know they're making good progress. Similarly, if a 's heart rate has increased above its average rate over the past month, being alerted of that Trend could signify someone needs to speak with their doctor. Apple says it'll track these Trends across 20 types of data "so s can easily see how a given metric is progressing."
Apple Health Trends s Notifications & Sharing
While hopping in the Apple Health app and seeing Trends is one thing, being proactively alerted of them can be even more useful. s will have the option to turn on Trends notifications, allowing them to "celebrate progress toward a goal, or discuss with a doctor or care team." If someone's average step count has changed, for example, they may receive a notification that says, "New Steps Trend — There's been a change in your average steps per day."
iOS 15 will also allow s to share their Apple Health data with others, such as family or caregivers. Here, Trends can be just as useful. The Sharing tab in Apple Health will show health data for any individuals that are sharing it, offering a quick overview of that person's health — including their own Trends. If someone notices that their older parent's heart rate has been trending upwards, for example, they can quickly send that Trend to their parent and start an open discussion with them.
Outside of the Trends feature, Apple Health in iOS 15 is also gaining Walking Steadiness. It'll automatically track people's walking patterns over time, and with enough data, it will be able to show them the quality of their movement. Per Apple, "Walking Steadiness uses custom algorithms to assess balance, stability, and coordination through built-in motion sensors on iPhone." Apple hopes it'll keep s more informed about how they're moving, thus preventing potential falls and help people achieve good stability goals.
Source: Apple