Apple’s Fitness and Sensor Expert Hires Could Suggest iWatch Capabilities

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Tim Cook already pointed to Apple’s interest in wearable technology, but not the Google Glass way: the wrist appears to be the target of the company. Alongside its team of 100 designers and engineers, Apple’s recent assemblage of a team of hardware and software engineering, medical sensor, manufacturing, and fitness experts suggests the arrival of a smart wrist accessory, according to 9to5mac’s sources.

Based on new hires, it seems that Apple’s interest in sensors focuses on the ability to measure glucose and other body level information. With this data, the product could inform users of vital information in a non-invasive way. These sensors could also pick up more data to give a user a snapshot of their health, which would be ideal for fitness applications.

Apple has tapped scientists from sensor development companies such as AccuVein, C8 MediSensors and Senseonics and it is whispered that Jay Blahnik also has taken a job at the company.

The new hires suggest that Apple’s newly formed team likely will focus on developing a sensor packed smart wrist accessory that is able to measure vital body signs.

For example, C8 MediSensors specialized in a technology that measured the glucose level (and other substances) of the human body in a non-intrusive way. After the company broke down, Apple moved to hire several directors and engineers, alongside designers and scientists specializing in machine learning.

This could be a real game changer.

Senseonics specializes in sensors for monitoring human substances. Now its VP of product development is an Apple employee.

Also, it is rumoured that Jay Blahnik, a famous fitness consultant and educator, a key figure in Nike’s new Fuel Band, has taken a job at Apple, although it is yet unknown whether is just consultative or full-time.

Yet, Blahnik isn’t the only expert who can assist Apple in developing wearable computing devices. You may recall that Apple recently hired Paul Deneve, former Yves St. Laurent CEO.

Rumours of the iWatch gained traction early this year, with an expected fall launch of the smart wrist accessory … but recent reports are pointing to a 2014 release. What we did notice is that Apple has begun to file iWatch trademarks in several countries, but there are many challenges the company needs to address until we can strap on the final product.

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