How Exciting Is The New Apple Health Features?

Forbes Leadership CIO Network How Exciting Is The New Apple Health Features? David Chou Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I help organizations cut through the noise in healthcare technology. Following Jun 7, 2023, 04:02pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Apple logo is seen on the outside of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium before the start of an event .

. . [+] in San Francisco, California on September 7, 2016.

– Apple on Wednesday is expected to introduce a new iPhone and perhaps a second-generation smartwatch as it polishes its lineup of devices to shine during the year-end shopping season. The rumor mill has been grinding away with talk of iPhone 7 models that will boast faster chips, more sophisticated cameras, and improved software while doing away with jacks for plugging in wired headphones. (Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images On June 5, 2023, Apple announced new health features in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10, expanding into mental health and vision on the Health app.

The new mental health features empower users to record their emotions and moods, while the new vision health features promote healthy behaviors to help minimize the risk of myopia. The latest Apple software announcement doesn’t revolutionize healthcare. Instead, it stimulates incremental progress for consumers who don’t require extensive healthcare services due to their proactive approach to monitoring and self-care.

Mental Health In 2021, the National Institute Of Mental Health estimated that AMI (Any Mental Illness) affected 57. 8 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States, accounting for 22. 8% of all U.

S. adults. In iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, the Apple Health app and the Mindfulness app in watchOS 10 offer users an engaging and intuitive platform to reflect on their mental state.

Users can engage with multidimensional shapes, scrolling through them to express their feelings, ranging from pleasant to unpleasant. During my discussion with Keena Pace, Chief Operating Officer for The Harris Center, she expressed optimism about the future of technology in mental health: ” Over the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in the development of technology to support accessibility of innovative mental health care. ” MORE FOR YOU At The Bleeding Edge Of Ukraine’s Counteroffensive, The Ukrainian Marine Corps Switches Up Its Tactics Twitch Hit With Backlash And Boycott Threats—As Streamers Say New Rules Threaten Their Income Do You Have An Avoidant Partner? Research Explains How You Can Make Them Feel Secure Apple users can discover valuable insights within the Health app that may reveal factors contributing to their states of mind, like associations or lifestyle elements like sleep or exercise.

Users can then apply these insights to enhance their overall health management. Vision Over 34 million Americans aged 40 and older, or 23. 9% of that population, have myopia.

Eye care providers recommend two critical behaviors in children to help reduce the risk of myopia. These behaviors are spending more time outdoors in daylight and increasing the distance they view something like a device or a book. With watchOS 10, Apple Watch can now measure the time users spend in daylight using its ambient light sensor.

Users can check their sun exposure time detected by their Apple Watch in the Health app on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. Using Family Setup, children can link their Apple Watch to their parent’s iPhone, enabling parents to track their kids’ exposure to daylight via Health Sharing. The new Screen Distance feature on iPhone and iPad uses the TrueDepth camera to remind users to move their devices farther away after holding them closer than 12 inches for an extended period.

Studies show that viewing a device or a book too closely can cause myopia. Screen Distance can help younger users engage in healthy viewing habits that lower their risk of myopia while helping adult users reduce digital eyestrain. Future Of Apple Health Apple Health offers an excellent platform for people to manage their health proactively, yet the population who need healthcare the most often don’t utilize these services.

The Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed that roughly half of U. S. adults struggle to afford healthcare.

The cost issue has caused approximately 40% of U. S. adults to delay or forego medical care in the past year.

This burden of high healthcare costs falls disproportionately on uninsured adults, Black and Hispanic adults, and individuals with lower incomes. In each of these groups, a more significant proportion of U. S.

adults avoided or delayed medical care due to costs. Apple hardware, while featuring technology enhancements that could significantly help people manage their health, unfortunately, remains expensive and not within reach of the target population who needs the devices to manage their health proactively. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn .

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