Apple has unveiled the watchOS 10, featuring new mental health, vision health, and fitness tools. Users can track emotions and moods, access mental health resources, and measure time spent outdoors. The update includes cycling-focused features, fall detection, and improved medication reminders. Apple also announced iOS17 and iPadOS17 with an updated Health app. Additionally, the TrueDepth camera features on the iPhone and iPad measure distance from the user’s eyes. The Vision Pro augmented reality headset, offering entertainment and eye-tracking technology, will be released in the future. Legal disputes with AliveCor over patent infringement continue.
Apple has unveiled the latest update to its Watch wearables, introducing watchOS 10 with a range of new features focused on mental health, vision health, and fitness. The new watchOS 10 allows users to track their emotions and moods through the Mindfulness app, where they can select shapes to describe and monitor their feelings. The Health app includes commonly used depression and anxiety assessments, enabling users to generate PDF reports and connect with local mental health resources to share their results.
In terms of fitness, watchOS 10 introduces cycling-focused features such as workout reminders and fall detection. When starting a cycling workout, the user’s iPhone screen will display real-time activity information, including heart rate, elevation, race route, custom workouts, and cycling speeds. Additionally, watchOS 10 pays attention to vision health, enabling users to measure their outdoor time, which can affect physical and mental well-being and potentially increase the risk of nearsightedness due to excessive sun exposure. Users can view their outdoor time data through the Health app on their iPhones or iPad.
The medication app also receives an update, allowing users to receive follow-up reminders 30 minutes after their scheduled medication time. Apple also announced the forthcoming release of iOS17 and iPadOS17, which feature an updated Health app. The enhanced app assists users in identifying how lifestyle factors such as sleep or exercise may impact their mental state.
Furthermore, Apple introduces new features on the iPhone and iPad that utilize the TrueDepth camera to measure the distance between the device and the user’s eyes. Users will be encouraged to maintain a distance greater than 12 inches to avoid extended periods of proximity. Additionally, Apple unveils the Apple Vision Pro and VisionOS platforms, an augmented reality headset with entertainment, spatial audio, collaboration capabilities, and real-time video recording. The Vision Pro headset utilizes eye scanning technology called Optic ID for device unlocking and supports eye gaze payment, with privacy safeguards for users.
In a larger context, Apple has been involved in legal disputes with AliveCor, a medical device company, over patent infringement allegations related to tools included in Apple’s Series 4 Watch and later models. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruled that three AliveCor patents were not patentable, and the U.S. International Trade Commission issued orders against Apple for violating AliveCor patents. The legal battle between the two companies continues in court.