Apple Hires Sleep Expert From Philips Research to Work on iWatch
Apple has hired Roy J.E.M Raymann, from Philips Research, for its iWatch team, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The hire is the latest in a long series of recent reports that suggest Apple is hiring a wide variety of health and medical sensor experts for its upcoming iWatch product.
According to Raymann's LinkedIn biography, his main research is in "how to optimize rest and activity", "non-pharmacological approaches to promote sleep", and "interpretation of ambulatory physiological and biomechanical data". He did other research on sleep and coffee, power napping, and he founded the Philips Sleep Experience Laboratory, a non-clinical sleep research facility.
Philips Research has been involved in many major technological advancements, including the development of the compact disc, LED lightbulbs, the MRI, and more.
Philips Research is a global organization that helps Philips introduce meaningful innovations that improve people’s lives. We provide technology options for innovations in the area of health and well-being, targeted at both developed and emerging markets. Positioned at the front-end of the innovation process, we work on everything from spotting trends and ideation to proof of concept and – where needed – first-of-a-kind product development.
The hire suggests Apple could be looking to help iWatch buyers with tracking and improving sleep, while also possibly tracking other health data like pulse and activity, and blood data like glucose levels. Several current fitness tracking devices are designed to track both sleep length and sleep quality. For example, bands like the Jawbone UP and the Fitbit Force are both able to slip into a night time monitoring mode that keeps track of sleep.
Philips confirmed to 9to5Mac that Raymann no longer works at the company, but would not say where he was currently employed.
Popular Stories
The first iOS 17.3 beta rolling out to developers today includes a new "Stolen Device Protection" feature that is designed to add an additional layer of security in the event someone has stolen your iPhone and also obtained the device's passcode. Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern and Nicole Nguyen reported about instances of thieves spying on a victim's iPhone...
Apple has made available for download its major end-of-year iPhone software update, iOS 17.2, featuring a large number of features and changes that users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 33 new things that your iPhone can do once you've installed the update. Check Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update on your device to get downloading. 1. Help You Keep a Daily ...
With the launch of the iPhone 15, Apple introduced design changes like a curved frame and a frosted glass back. Information acquired by MacRumors suggests that Apple's next-generation iPhone 16 will build on these updates with modifications to the buttons and the camera layout. We have details on early pre-production designs for the iPhone 16, including a look at the variants and hardware...
Earlier this year, General Motors (GM) announced plans to phase out Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto in its future electric vehicles, with the company instead relying on an infotainment system co-developed with Google. This has not been a popular decision with iPhone users, and today, GM provided some additional insight into the decision in a discussion with MotorTrend. According to Tim...
While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are still over nine months away from launching, there are already several rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped new features and changes expected for the devices so far. These are some of the key changes rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models as of December 2023:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped...
Apple today released tvOS 17.2, the second major update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out in September 2023. tvOS 17.2 comes more than a month after tvOS 17.1, an update that expanded the availability of the Enhanced Dialogue feature. tvOS 17.2 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the Apple TV. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. Apple TV...
When Apple releases new software, iOS updates tend to get most of the attention, and there are sometimes useful new features in Mac updates that go under the radar. That's the case with macOS Sonoma 14.2. It doesn't have flashy features like the Journal app that came in iOS 17.2, but there are a number of useful improvements that make it worth installing. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube ...
Top Rated Comments
Please accept my humble apology for not being intelligent enough to immediately know exactly what the device was going to be based on the first rumors. I think I speak for the entire planet when I say that we all wish we were as smart as you.
"I am a sleep expert" :D.
Apple took their sweet time with both the iPad and the iPhone and I believe they're taking the same care to only release the iWatch when it's something that will blow everybody away.
Many moves are being made on the TV front while several preparatory steps for the iWatch still haven't materialized. For AppleTV, a snowballing speed of new app releases, new content contracts, decreasing reliance on traditional tv networks and increasing popularity of internet based ones (i.e. Netflix), server farm buildout, an impending UI revamp and holding back on Apple Displays. An AppleTV is bursting at the seams to come out.
Something big is coming for TV this year and Apple will not want one key product to steal the spotlight from another.
Timeline:
WWDC2014: New AppleTV UI and app store for developers to start working on. New AppleTV (box) with select experimental iWatch components hidden inside (i.e. a miniaturized chipset).
iOS 8 announcement: Healthbook app revealed as the focus of iOS8. Getting this right will be key to the success of the iWatch. It'll be tested out as an iPhone app first.
iPhone 6 announcement: Experimental parts for the iWatch used inside the new iPhone. A new version of the motion processor chip, a smaller chipset, a big leap in battery efficiency and some sort of wireless charging would be important for an iWatch. If all of these make their way into the iPhone 6, we'll have a good hint that the iWatch is not far behind.
Their nose-hair trimmer (http://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/NT9105_40) is unparalleled. Seriously.