Apple is said to have planned a body temperature sensor for the current generation of its watch, but canceled it at short notice due to software problems. This is reported by the usually well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from the Taiwanese investment company TF International Securities.
Trials on the Series 7
his according to information Apple did not succeed in qualifying the necessary algorithm as sufficiently good before the engineering validation test phase (EVT) of the Series 7. Accordingly, the function was deleted. It was initially unclear whether the hardware would basically be able to serve as a clinical thermometer – optical sensors for determining heart rate and blood oxygen content are on board.
However, Kuo now believes that the “Series 8” planned for autumn will now deliver the feature. To do this, however, the algorithm must meet Apple’s “high requirements” before it can be mass-produced. The root problem remains that the wrist is not usually the place where body temperature readings are taken – and with good reason there are other, biologically more appropriate areas. Nevertheless, Apple wants to try it.
Problems with Samsung too
The challenge of implementing an accurate body temperature measurement is that the skin temperature on the arm varies very quickly depending on the ambient temperature, says Kuo. However, the measurement of the core body temperature cannot be implemented in terms of hardware, which is why “an excellent algorithm” is needed that cooperates with the sensors.
Even competitors like Samsung find it difficult to crack the problem. The Galaxy Watch 5 planned there for this year will probably also not support body temperature measurement due to algorithm problems. Constantly measuring body temperature would have a number of advantages: from the early detection of illnesses that herald fever to improved sports tracking.
(bsc)