your heart rate throughout the day: Apple Watch can alert you if it detects unusually high or low heart rates — and yes, you can set the parameters if you want, even if you don’t feel symptoms. Behind the watch are multiple sensors that measure your pulse through your skin. Going beyond fitness are fun applications, such as the one that lets you share your heartbeat with someone — felt on their Apple Watch — to show you’re thinking about them. See Chapter 5 for how to share this information to your heart’s content.
Electrocardiogram
Beginning with Apple Watch Series 4 (except Apple Watch SE), all Apple Watch models include an electrical heart-rate sensor that can take an electrocardiogram (ECG) by using an ECG app; the built-in sensor and the electrodes are included in the Digital Crown button. You take an ECG reading by placing a finger on the Digital Crown while wearing Apple Watch; the reading is completed within 30 seconds. The ECG app tracks whether your heart is beating in a regular pattern or whether you have signs of atrial fibrillation — a clear indicator of serious health problems.
Blood-oxygen monitor (pulse oximeter)
Beginning with Apple Watch Series 6, your wearable device is capable of detecting blood-oxygen levels. When you tap the Apple Watch app, green, red, and infrared LEDs shine light into your wrist, and photodiodes measure the amount of light reflected back. Then advanced algorithms calculate the color of your blood, indicating the amount of oxygen present. Wow. Blood-oxygen levels between 95 and 100 percent are considered to be healthy — a lower percentage could indicate compromised heart, lung, or brain functionality — but be sure to consult your doctor. In fact, Apple stresses that the Blood Oxygen app is not intended for medical use; it’s designed for general fitness and wellness purposes.
Ambient light sensor
Finally, Apple Watch has an ambient light sensor under the glass. This sensor samples the environmental light falling on the screen and automatically adjusts the brightness up or down to improve viewing comfort so that the screen isn’t too dim or too bright, based on where you are. An ambient light sensor also helps regulate the power that the display uses, thus squeezing more battery life out of the watch.
In fact, beginning with Apple Watch Series 5, the Retina screen is always on — just dimmed — until you turn it toward your face to read the time or other info. In previous Apple Watch models, the screen goes black when you’re not looking at it, and it takes a split second to wake up and turn on when you turn it toward you.
Tapping with Apple Watch’s Haptic Feedback
You can tap Apple Watch’s screen, and guess what? It can tap you too.
Like videogame controllers that vibrate when your soldier gets shot or some smartphones and tablets that buzz slightly when you tap a letter on the virtual keyboard, Apple Watch employs haptic technology to apply light force to your skin to alert you to relevant information. Apple’s Taptic Engine is a linear actuator inside the watch that produces discreet haptic feedback.
Consider this slight vibration to be a third sense (touch), along with sight and sound, to give you information. The physical sensation of a tap tells you something, such as a warning that an important meeting is about to start, without your even having to look at your wrist. This feature can also be a silent alarm clock to wake you up in the morning instead of bothering your significant other. Or it can transmit the feeling of your loved one’s heartbeat even though they may be miles way.
What’s more, Apple Watch can tap different patterns based on who’s reaching out to you (such as two taps for your spouse and three taps for your boss). Or perhaps the haptic pattern tells you what the information is: one tap for the time on the hour, four taps for a calendar appointment, and so on. Neat, huh?
In the near future, Apple Watch’s haptic feedback may let you know about important health information, perhaps working in conjunction with sensors. Imagine if someone living with diabetes could get a haptic tap to tell them it’s time to use insulin, based on their body’s blood-sugar levels.
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