Hand washing function under development for many years
Of hand wash function in watchOS 7 is actually very smart. If you are rubbing hands with tension, or because you are cold, the Apple Watch will not detect this as hand washing. However, if you can clearly hear the sound of a water jet or running tap, the function will take action. Thanks to the corona virus, we are supposed to wash our hands and preferably soak in the sink for 20 seconds. It therefore seems quite coincidental that Apple announces this function just now. However, it is not a response to the corona virus, Apple says. It has been worked on for years.
On closer inspection it is not really good timing, however hand wash function. Apple is now announcing it, but before everyone can get started, it will be September or October, if the corona virus is hopefully past its peak. Apple’s vice president Kevin Lynch said in a statement interview met TechCrunch that it has been worked on for years, trial and error. Three cues are used to indicate that you are washing hands:
- Of accelerometer in the Apple Watch, notices whether you make typical hand movements that are part of washing your hands. This can differ per person and per method. However, this is about the movement.
- The microphone in the Apple Watch listen if there sound of running water can be heard. This is not very easy, because energy-saving faucets make less water clatter. In addition, an environmentally conscious user prefers to turn off the tap while soaping.
- In addition, the microphone watches it sound of soap. According to Apple, this is a very specific sound, which you only get when you soap your hands.
Years of research must ensure that the function works effortlessly. But note: it only works on the Apple Watch Series 5.
An interesting question is whether the Apple Watch will also be able to detect COVID-19. Apple says that there is no research in that direction, but that they do support researchers who are working on this. Apple’s vice president for health, Sumbul Ahmad Desai, said in the interview:
While we haven’t studied specifically how Apple Watch can track COVID, we’re happy to support the research the medical community is doing. We really support their initiatives by enabling our colleagues in the space, and we’re excited to see what they learn.
Apple also emphasizes that there are functions that come in handy now. This allows doctors to remotely read the ECG of a patient, without having to visit the patient. This reduces the risk of contamination.
Wash hands when you return home
The World Health Organization guidelines and many local health services require that you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading the virus. watchOS 7 in combination with the Apple Watch Series 5 start a 20-second timer with animation. If you stop too early, the Apple Watch will warn you that you have to continue. It is the first time that such a feature has become available on a wearable. And the underlying technology using sensors, microphone and machine learning on the device itself is also quite unique.
The Apple Watch can also warn you that you are wash hands as soon as you get home. And you can also set to get a reminder to wash your hands every hour. The Health app on the iPhone shows how often and how long you have washed your hands. It also includes information about the importance of hand washing. Your privacy is also guaranteed: the sound of washing your hands is not recorded, including the conversations you have while washing your hands. In iOS 14 Apple has added another feature that comes in handy in times of COVID-19: the ability to create a mouth cap Memoji.
In our tip over wash hands with the Apple Watch you can read more about this new function.
