In a story published by Bloomberg last week, a Google representative revealed that the company is working on the development of a wearable Health Tech that is not intended for consumer use. Instead, the company plans to produce a product that physicians and researchers can use for clinical trials and tracking patient vital signs.
According to the article, the device will measure heart rate and skin temperature, as well as ambient conditions such as sound and light levels. This project is separate from the health-tracking features in the Android Wear platform for wearable devices. The goal is to create a product that is accurate enough to support rigorous scientific research.
Continuous monitoring of patient data could lead to significant cost savings and improved outcomes for everything from drug trials to tracking patients after being discharged from the hospital. A prescription-grade device could deliver on these benefits. Google plans to start tests with their new band this summer, and may look for a partner to manufacture it.
