Alphabet’s Verily, what used to be known as ‘Google Life Sciences,’ has today unveiled a new smartwatch, the Verily Study Watch. Although, this one is quite different to other smartwatches, and most notably, due to this being a smartwatch that will not be readily available. The reason being is that this smartwatch is not designed with the general consumer in mind. Instead, it is much more of a health and research-focused smartwatch. A focus which has led to some rather fundamental differences between the type of features one might normally expect to see on a typical smartwatch. For starters, it seems the Verily Study Watch does not make use of Android Wear or any other consumer-friendly operating system or watch feature. Not to mention, the Verily Study Watch comes loaded with a longer-lasting battery, a wealth of sensors, a “powerful processor,” and an always-on display.
All aspects which are designed to facilitate a heightened level of wearer monitoring. So for instance, the included sensors are designed to monitor a greater number of aspects, including multiple physiological and environmental signals. While the longer battery is designed to ensure that these physiological and environmental signs can be monitored continuously and over much lengthier periods of time – with a view to providing greater longitudinal data. While the “powerful processor” allows the device to employ the use of real time algorithms to further assist feedback and monitoring. All of which are points which require an even greater level of storage than you might typically find on a smartwatch, and so the Verily Study Watch also comes loaded with a larger than usual storage limit. As well as the ability to compress the data it does store and share that data securely with the cloud.
With such a focus on health and research, it will not be that surprising to learn that the Study Watch will initially debut as part of various observational studies that are due to be undertaken by a number of companies, including some of Verily’s own partners. It is this particular market where the Study Watch will be positioned, with Verily noting that it hopes to make the new smartwatch available to a number of health-related industries in the future.