A Smartphone With Built-In Health Sensors

The Life Watch V, from the Israeli company LifeWatch and being exhibited here in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, is a pretty special Android phone. It has built in health sensors and software to help you keep track of your well-being.

At the lab we spend a fair amount of time thinking about a trend called Quantified Self, where people use technology to monitor their lives. Often this involves sensors that pair with your smartphone. But the LifeWatch V has some special sensors built right in:

  • A thermometer to take your temperature
  • A heart rate monitor
  • A glucose tester for those with diabetes
  • And more!

It also comes with apps to remind you to take medication and manage your diet.

When you take your readings they get sent to the cloud for analysis.

The Life Watch V will be available in two months, but only in Europe. The US will have to wait until it gets FDA approval, which may not be for some time.