A quick overview of the new API library from Apple called HealthKit that was announced at WWDC 2014. I've reviewed the information from the apple's conference and compared to some of the recent news about Google FIT and Samsung SAMI.

1. Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz
iOS HealthKit API
Observations for non-developers
13th July 2014

2. Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz
Why HealthKit API
There are a lot of fitness Apps
Limited compatibility and data sharing between apps and devices
Developers spend time developing libraries to store/share data
HealthKit API was created to make data sharing, storing, analysis
easier for developers

3. Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz
HealthKit API - Features
- Central place for all health information, like an aggregator for all of your medical data
- Apps can now store and retrieve data in/from iOS HealthKit
- HealthKit can store various types of data, characteristics such as Blood type or DOB, and dynamic
such as Pulse, number of steps, kcal burnt
- HKObject holds the data, its source could be anything e.g. step tracker, blood sugar monitor, other
bluetooth devices
- HKObserverQuery will also notify every time data changes - meaning e.g. kcal count can be updated
in real time
- Statistical data - interface to retrieve discrete (min, max, avg) and cumulative (sum) data and offers
methods for more complex data calculations
- Offers some predefined meta data e.g. HKMetadataKeyFoodType, could be useful for kcal analysis
- iPhone only

4. Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz
HealthKit API - Benefits
- Could be powerful once connected to wearable devices/data sources. It has a good
integration mechanisms for bluetooth devices. It opens doors to a lot of wereables and 3rd
party apps.
- Makes localisation easier by offering formatting data types & unit conversion (e.g. imperial
to metric), important if your app is available worldwide
- Hardware vendors will be working hard to make their devices support HealthKit, which will
essentially make iPhone the central data collector.
- Makes data patient sharing easier and researchers, other apps could benefit this from the
information collected by 3rd party hardware, e.g. FitBit’s data can now be easily used in
other apps.
- Opens a lot of possibilities for fitness apps, care, health monitoring
- Consider Privacy and Permissions settings (users have to agree to share data, this will be
per object type, separate read and write permissions), this could present some challenges,
but it’s good that Apple have protected this important information.
- Apple announced partnership with Epic, Mayo Clinic for HealthKit

5. Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz
App ideas and possible integrations
- Patient data sharing - opens possibilities for hospitals, doctors to have an insight into patient’s data, integrations
with hospital software will make this possible. It could change the way hospitals operate.
- Health monitoring and alerts - makes automated messaging and alerts possible, could be incredibly useful.
- Data intelligence - imagine all the information in place - workouts, blood pressure, blood sugar etc. there are a lot of
possibilities for integrations, from more accurate symptom checkers to diabetes monitoring or virtual workout apps -
that can adjust the intensity of your training based on your symptoms and readings.
- Medical insurance applications - apps that will validate the state of your health and could reduce/increase your
insurance premium.
- Medication self-management - accurate recommendations based on data, patients will be able to evaluate
effectiveness of medication and possibly adjust frequency/dose.
- Fitness tracking and risks - medical data can help understand individual capacity and training potential, this could
reduce the risks of injury and improve the effectiveness of training
- Sleep quality monitoring

6. Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz
In the news...
- On 25th June 2014 Google announced a similar data aggregation library called Google Fit
- Samsung announced SAMI and Simband platform, which will be able to compete with Google and Apple
- Hardware vendors started taking sides and it will be interesting to see what devices are available on each of the
platforms

7. Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz
Sources
- WWDC 2014 slides and videos
- https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/samplecode/Fit/Introduction/Intro.html (FitnessApp sample code for tracking kcal)
- http://www.ianwaring.com/2014/06/05/an-initial-dive-into-apples-new-health-app-and-healthkit-api/
- http://9to5mac.com/2014/06/05/healthkit-supports-some-bluetooth-products-natively-lets-accessory-makers-skip-app-development/
- https://www.klick.com/health/news/blog/development/ios-8-healthkit-a-developers-perspective/
- http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/25/5842000/google-announces-google-fit-to-organize-all-of-your-health-data
- http://mashable.com/2014/06/27/healthkit-google-fit-apps/
- http://ehrintelligence.com/2014/06/17/apple-google-samsung-begin-fight-for-mhealth-dominance/