Apple to reportedly boost Apple Watch with newly acquired Beddit technology

Apple has acquired Beddit, which is known for its sleep tracking hardware and software. The Mac maker hasn’t made it known how much it paid for the acquisition or what it plans to do with the newly gained technology, but the tech giant should be able to boost the company’s wellness efforts and the Apple Watch with it.

Beddit quietly announced that it has been acquired by Apple in a privacy policy update. It then gave a heads-up to its users about the change via an update for the Beddit iOS app. According to the new policy, the users’ personal data will now be “collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Apple Privacy Policy.”

Although no further details have been announced regarding the purchase, Beddit users can apparently carry on and use the products in the long run. Beddit presently has a sleep monitor that can be hidden under the sheet while it tracks quality and quantity of sleep, heart rate, breathing, snoring and environmental factors.

Now what exactly does Apple plan to do with Beddit? Apple Insider believes that the Cupertino, California-based tech titan is likely going to include the Beddit team in its budding biomedical engineering group. The iPhone maker may also incorporate some kind of sleep tracking feature into the Apple Watch, although with the current wearable’s battery, that’s a bit of a stretch.

Apple has delved more into health and wellness ever since it launched HealthKit and the Apple Watch, which is now being promoted as an all-around fitness device. Beddit’s sensor makes use of ballistocardiography (BCG) to assess the mechanical activity of the lungs, heart, and other body functions. BCG is a non-invasive monitoring tool that’s comparable to the Apple Watch’s light-based photoplethysmography that monitors heart rate.

BCG quantifies the impulse produced by the blood’s acceleration though the circulatory system when the heart beats. That’s how it provides abundant info about the body. Mac Rumors believes that Apple is fascinated with the sensor technology that the Beddit equips. Apple has reportedly employed the services of medical experts with BCG experience, although the data collected may also prove to be relevant as the company has made up its mind to continue marketing the Beddit sensor.

Apple can use Beddit’s technology for a handful of purposes. It can boost sleep research for HealthKit as well as CareKit. The company can likewise incorporate more enhanced health and wellness features and sleep-monitoring functionality not only into the Apple Watch, but also its future wearables.

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