When Google went under its recent corporate restructuring with the creation of a new parent company called Alphabet Inc., the Life Sciences division was spun out of Google X (Google’s R&D facility) to be its own individual subsidiary. Before splitting from the Google X team, the Life Science division had been reportedly working on a wearable device targeted at the health industry. Its production codename is “capicola”, and new pictures of the beefed up health tracker band have recently been made public.
When the device from Google X labs first started making the rounds for FCC certification, tech pundits speculated as to what strange treasure the R&D team could be dreaming up, some even speculated that it may be a new version of Google Glass. Back in June when we got our first look at the wearable, it was clear that “capicola” was not another glass iteration. The stock photo shows a fitness tracker with the bulk and shape of smartwatch. The team behind the device says they hope one day to see doctors be able to pass these health trackers out to patients to help monitor and improve their health. This is the first such device we’ve seen built in house from Google.
From what has been gathered about the mysterious wearable, it is packed full of sensors. The device can measure pulse, heart rhythm, and skin temperature, light exposure and environmental noise levels. Since Life Science’s split from Google X, no comments about the production of the “capicola” health band had been made. In the middle of October new images did surface that provide a few additional details. The new images show that the device can be detached from its band and for the first time we can see sensors on the rear, meant to contact the skin for readings. The screen is very small and obviously not intended to be used for complex interaction or input. So little information is available at this time just about everything in regards to specs and features is speculation. Given this is a product last heard about while in the R&D facility, even the continued production of the “capicola” is uncertain.
