In 2015, technology and health are joined like never before, and Samsung is banking on the trend just like all manufacturers.
Of course, the company needs to innovate to keep raking in the cash, and its next fitness ploy might be a smartphone or accessory case that measures body fat.
A new patent reveals a method of embedding four sensors into, or “near”, a phone – the latter meaning the cover of a phone case, as spotted by VentureBeat.
These sensors work in unison to measure impedance levels that result from contact with our bodies. Electrical impedance is the degree to which a circuit opposes a current when a voltage is applied.
Patent fig. by Samsung
This allows software to provide an estimate of a person’s body-fat percentage, which is generally regarded as a better measure of determining good health than the BMI rating.
It’s worth noting that such sensors already exist, although not in smartphones.
Related: Samsung Galaxy S7 release date
Unfortunately, we can’t say for sure whether Samsung will ever adopt the technology into its Galaxy smartphone range, as patented concepts can often end up unused.
If you want a new smartphone sooner than the Galaxy S7, you should check out our group test video below:
Editorial independence
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.
Editorial independence
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.