Apple's health push continues with reported buyout of digital records firm Gliimpse

Earlier this year Apple purchased personal health data startup Gliimpse, a report revealed on Monday, potentially setting the stage for enhancements to CareKit, HealthKit, and ResearchKit.

Focusing on patients with illnesses like cancer and diabetes, Gliimpse's technology was built so that people could collect, personalize, and share their health data, according to Fast Company. The company was formed by one-time Apple engineer Anil Sethi, with the mission of eliminating issues linked to information being scattered across multiple healthcare providers, with no easy way to access or share that information between caretakers, emergency personnel, or patients.

Healthcare, like any other industry, is mired in field-specific terms and units. The Gliimpse platform is intended to untangle "incomprehensible electronic medial records" and condense them into standardized coded elements for the patient or any provider to easily glean information and trends.

In May, Apple was seeking to hire an attorney with experience with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and associated privacy issues. HIPAA has very specific rules on handling of patient records and data stored in a facility or on a device — such as might be required for the implementation of Gliimpse's technology.

Apple is rumored to be working on a new health-focused device that could collect data such as heart rate, pulse, blood sugar changes and more. Apple technical director Jay Blahnik and the company's health development team have reportedly been working on the new product for more than two years.

Apple confirmed the Gliimpse takeover in a boilerplate response to Fast Company. "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," a spokesperson said.

4 Comments

holyone 398 comments · 8 Years

About 8 years ago

Apple confirmed the Gliimpse takeover in a boilerplate response to Fast Company. "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," a spokesperson said Why do they keep asking as if out of the blue apple will say "oh yes we definitely acquired Gliimpe and this is what we specifically intend to do with it... Sounds interesting though especially if they are serious about a separate health focused device independent of the watch something like "Apple Health Band" could be cool

volcan 1799 comments · 10 Years

About 8 years ago

AppleInsider said:

Apple is rumored to be working on a new health-focused device that could collect data such as heart rate, pulse, blood sugar changes and more.
BTW heart rate and pulse are the same thing. Blood sugar is a tough nut to crack without actually sampling the blood directly. There is technology to use radio waves but it has to be in a very thin part of the skin such as the flesh between thumb and forefinger or an earlobe as it requires both a transmitter and receiver on opposite sides, not possible so far with a wrist worn device. The other critical reading is blood pressure but that too is currently impossible with a wrist worn device. Reading temperature should theoretically be possible on the watch although the temperature on the forehead is more precise because appendages are slightly cooler.

holyone 398 comments · 8 Years

About 8 years ago

volcan said:

AppleInsider said:

Apple is rumored to be working on a new health-focused device that could collect data such as heart rate, pulse, blood sugar changes and more.
BTW heart rate and pulse are the same thing. Blood sugar is a tough nut to crack without actually sampling the blood directly. There is technology to use radio waves but it has to be in a very thin part of the skin such as the flesh between thumb and forefinger or an earlobe as it requires both a transmitter and receiver on opposite sides, not possible so far with a wrist worn device. The other critical reading is blood pressure but that too is currently impossible with a wrist worn device. Reading temperature should theoretically be possible on the watch.

Apple could implement blood sugar reading via the earlobe with wireless BT ear phones, two birds one stone you know,Possible no ?

slprescott 759 comments · 10 Years

About 8 years ago

I wonder if Apples revenue plans for Health include 2 prongs:
1. Device (rumored new device + Watch)
2. Service Subscription (some sort of health tracking / info providing service)