We have two legs yet we choose to sit for the majority of the day. We have access to grocery stores stocked full of fruits and vegetables, yet instead, we prefer the isles filled with sugared products. At the end of the day, our health and the health of our loved ones, is the most important thing in the world. In this day and age where life is rushed and expectations are only increasing, most people feel they cant afford to put the time or effort into bettering oneself. Apple and joining health insurance companies, have found this fact to be their new company focus.
CEO, Tim Cook, says “Apple’s largest contribution to mankind will be in improving people’s health and well-being”. To go greater than just their heart monitoring function and calorie counting app, Apple has now joined forces with insurance company Aetna and Pharmaceutical branch, Johnson & Johnson, to make personal health more personalized. Through their collaboration, the Apple Watch will use data analytics and personalized care to collect information on each individual Apple Watch user. Based off of height, age, sex, and other details, this device will be able to instruct/tailor a unique set of exercise regimens for each and every person. When this information is collected and iWatch users are completing their pre-set given goals, insurance companies will then reward them with points that equate to real life purchases such as Starbucks and other corporate gift cards.
By designing the watch in a way that is tailored to the uniqueness of each individual, Apple and insurance companies are banking on real-time logging and big time data to better the lives of many.
Just like all other technology we use on the daily bases, our personal information is promised to be kept in private. Although these promises are made, we all know that the information we store in the “clouds” are hacked into many of times and sold in the black market. There are dangers that come along with our ability to so easily share our every little details.
With all this said, when technology is involved there are both pluses and minuses. These advances in the tech world most certainly can improve our lifestyles in how we eat, sleep, and exercise, but for many, privacy is still a priority that cannot be ignored.
Questions:
- How dependent do we want to be on technology? Where do we draw the line?
- Is it concerning that we have to be incentivized by “insurance points” in order to take better care of ourselves?
- In regards to data privacy, how do you think Information Technology specialists can provide safer security than what we have been currently experiencing in the use of our cell phones and computers?
Works Cited:
- Tech Crunch: Apple partners with Aetna to launch health app leveraging Apple Watch data
- CNBC: help track and reward healthy behavior
- Forbes: Do You Really Want Your Insurer Buying You An Apple Watch?
- TIME: An Inside Look at Apple's Biggest Step Yet in Health CareUSAToday:
- Johnson & Johnson teams with Apple study to help reduce the risk of strokes
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