Apple has been trying to introduce non-invasive blood glucose monitoring capabilities to its smartwatches for years, but has been unable to do so due to technical limitations. But according to a new report from Bloomberg, Samsung is trying to launch the technology before its closest competitors in the smartphone space. The South Korean giant is also trying to offer consumers a suite of health-focused features, with various technologies expected to debut in a variety of wearable products.
The recently released Galaxy Ring trailer proves that Samsung is serious about providing wearers with accurate health information. Glucose monitors and blood pressure monitors that don't puncture the skin appear to be the company's goals, according to Bloomberg. In an interview, Hon Pak, Samsung's head of mobile digital health who oversees these efforts, argued that the company would be in a better position if it focused on blood pressure and glucose monitoring.
"If we could measure blood pressure and blood sugar continuously, that would be completely different." I think that's what everyone is trying to achieve. We are investing a lot of money into this.
When talking about the non-invasive blood glucose monitoring feature debuting on a wearable device, the executive did not provide an estimate for launch, though he hoped the technology would be available within five years. As for why he previewed the Galaxy Ring, Pak said that this device is an alternative for those who don’t want to wear a smart watch but want to track indicators such as health and sleep.
"The Ring represents those who want health tracking to be more comfortable and less conspicuous. It meets the needs of a specific group of people who want to track and measure, but in a different way.
In addition, mixed reality headsets can also provide a way for health monitoring. Earlier reports stated that Apple is exploring the use of VisionPro to treat mental health issues. When asked if he saw a market for such an app, Pak responded that Samsung was trying to form various partnerships, suggesting it was already in the pipeline.