Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
TL; DR
- Apple has pending a patent for a liquid tracking sensor system for the Apple Watch.
- The sensor would scan a wearer’s sweat for electrolytes and calculate their fluid content.
- This would be especially useful for athletes or those who regularly forget to drink.
Hydration tracking is a standard feature on several smartwatches that allows users to keep track of their fluid intake. However, a new patent from Apple suggests that the Apple Watch could soon automatically monitor a wearer’s fluid balance.
Seen from Obviously Apple (h / t GizmoChina) the patent describes a non-invasive fluid tracking sensor that uses electrodes to monitor electrolytes in a wearer’s sweat. Based on the concentration of these electrolytes in the wearer’s sweat, the watch can calculate the moisture content of the user. Apple is considering placing “one or more electrodes” on the wristband of the Apple Watch.
Apple Watch hydration tracking: the pros
Fluid tracking would be a handy tool for athletes at risk of dehydration during marathons or hikes. Should the fluid level worsen, it is likely that the wearable can then advise its owner to drink well before the dehydration sets in. There are many water reminder apps out there, but they rely on a pre-defined period of time to issue reminders, not real time data. When used in conjunction with the other metrics on the Apple Watch, drinking data could help wearers understand their current and long-term health.
Apple’s last major sensor addition to its wearable line brought an EKG to Series 4. Since then, Samsung and Fitbit have also introduced body composition sensors and EDA sensors into their respective devices.
According to the filing date, Apple has been working on this patent for at least three years, but the sensor is unlikely to be ready for the Apple Watch Series 7. However, do not exclude its introduction in a future model.
What do you think of smartwatch-based hydration tracking? Let us know in the comments below.