Google has announced a number of new features for its Google Fit app. Starting next month, the company’s health and sports app will allow the mobile camera to be used directly to record a person’s heart and respiratory rate. Functions for which until now special sensors, a smartwatch or similar devices were required.
The two data-reading functions are set to be released to the public next month, according to Google. We’ll see it first on Pixel phones, which will get the update in the coming weeks. Later these features of Google Fit will also reach other devices with Android 6 or a higher version. Of course, there is no date for this beyond “in the next few months.”
With these two new functionalities it will be possible to obtain useful data without having to have an extra device. Currently smart watches, some quantifying bracelets or directly medical devices are responsible for measuring heart or respiratory rate. With the arrival of Google Fit it will be possible to obtain this data without the need to acquire an extra device.
Google Fit App uses Camera and AI
All that Google needs to collect this data is a series of mobile sensors and algorithms. And it is that the smartphone camera is in charge of collecting the data and an AI then processes it to better understand the user’s heart and respiratory rate.
To take the heart rate with the mobile using Google Fit App, the user has to focus the camera on the fingertip. The camera detects the heartbeat through photo plethysmography. Here minor changes in the optical color of the blood allow to know the changes in the blood volume. Google says that the margin of error here is 2%.
Regarding the respiratory rate, the user has to hold the front camera focusing on his head and chest, in the style of a selfie. From there, the camera records the rise and fall of the chest for 30 seconds. According to Google, the margin of error is one breath per minute.
That said, keep in mind that it is not a certified medical device. Google indicates that its idea is that these characteristics are used as well-being and non-medical characteristics. It does not offer additional advice on what to do depending on the data obtained and at no time does it compare it with what a doctor can offer. Also keep in mind that theory and practice do not always go hand in hand.
Either way, they can be extremely useful features for those looking to take their heart or respiratory rates sporadically. For more advanced users, it may be more interesting to directly obtain a device dedicated to it, such as a smartwatch, in order to have a continuous and automatic registration.
More information | Google
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