Apple has just announced a new app ecosystem called ResearchKit in an effort to battle health problems.
The platform will allow medical scientists to outsource their research to apps, capitalising on the 700 million iPhones currently in circulation.
Jeff Williams, Senior VP of Operations at Apple, said: “ResearchKit is a software framework made specifically for medical research.”
It’s set to tackle the existing difficulties of conducting large-scale medical research.
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The ResearchKit platform will let researchers easily create apps, turning the iPhone and HealthKit into powerful diagnostic tools.
It’s going to be completely open source, which means developers can easily create content on the platform.
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Five apps will be available at launch today, one of which is mPower, an app designed to help research Parkinson’s disease.
It was developed in partnership with the University of Rochester, and involves quick tapping tests for hand tremor evaluation. It will also use the accelerometer and gyroscope to measure gait and balance, further helping to examine early signs of Parkinson’s.
“Researchers believes exercise can affect the symptoms of Parkinson’s, but some believe
Other launch apps include Asthma Help, Diabetes GlucoSuccess, MyHeart Counts, and Share the Journey, a breast cancer research app.
Apple was also keen to point out that it ‘will not see your data’, promising that all health metrics will be kept completely secure.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
