Apple Hires Medical Tech Experts, Possibly For iWatch
Apple has been building a team of medical technology executives, showing the company's interest in the emerging wearable gadget market, which will likely soon welcome iWatch.
Reuters has spotted that Apple has hired
at least half a dozen prominent experts in biomedicine, as their LinkedIn profiles have changed. Reuter's sources also mentioned that a prominent researcher moved to Apple two weeks ago.
Apple has registered the trademark "iWatch" in Japan and also holds several patents related to wrist-worn devices. In February, the company filed a patent for a smart earbud patent that could track steps and detect gestures of the head.
The iWatch is expected to pack sensor technology that is said to monitor everything from blood-sugar levels to nutrition, beyond the fitness-oriented devices now on the market.
Apple may also move beyond wearable devices by offering a health and fitness services platform modeled on its apps store.
Meanwhile, Google in March pre-empted Apple by unveiling Android Wear, a version of its Android software tailored for wearable devices. But the company has also shown interest in medical technology as it has been exploring contact lenses that can monitor glucose levels in tears.
Apple has registered the trademark "iWatch" in Japan and also holds several patents related to wrist-worn devices. In February, the company filed a patent for a smart earbud patent that could track steps and detect gestures of the head.
The iWatch is expected to pack sensor technology that is said to monitor everything from blood-sugar levels to nutrition, beyond the fitness-oriented devices now on the market.
Apple may also move beyond wearable devices by offering a health and fitness services platform modeled on its apps store.
Meanwhile, Google in March pre-empted Apple by unveiling Android Wear, a version of its Android software tailored for wearable devices. But the company has also shown interest in medical technology as it has been exploring contact lenses that can monitor glucose levels in tears.