The internet is rife with rumors about the Apple Watch 7 – particularly its health and fitness features. In addition to new tools for tracking pilates and tai chi, it’s been suggested that the new watch might be able to track blood glucose, blood alcohol – and even blood pressure, with no need for an inflatable cuff.
Some smartwatches (such as the Galaxy Watch Active 2) already offer a form of blood pressure monitoring, but it’s far from ideal. Not only does it have to be configured regularly using a cuff, it also can’t take measurements while you’re moving. Instead, you have to find time to sit in a quiet place in a comfortable chair, with your arm resting on a table, and stay that way for at least five minutes before taking the measurement.
It is, quite frankly, a pain. How could it be improved – and is it likely to happen any time soon?
To find out, TechRadar spoke to Dr Steven LeBoeuf, co-founder and president of biometrics company Valencell. Valencell doesn’t make its own consumer products (and has no plans to do so), but provides technology that other companies integrate into their smartwatches, earbuds, VR goggles, armbands and other devices.
