Apple is focusing on making a custom processor that can provide people with an improved information on their health.
Recently, a series of Apple's Health Sensing hardware team job postings hinted at a custom processor as a tool to determine health data. Also, two listings were posted in June and at the beginning of August.
"We are looking for sensor ASIC architects to help develop ASICs for new sensors and sensing systems for future Apple products," stated the posting.
Another listing seeks for engineers to aid in developing wellness, health, and fitness sensors. The original postings have been removed, however.
Expected Features
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the future Apple Watch models would not only have an improved battery life but also a better heart rate detection. Notably, Apple does not put its system-on-chips at the core of its devices.
However, the listings suggest that the company would take a step forward in refining its health data by using a custom chip that would be responsible for determining the heart rate and improving the battery efficiency of whatever device it will be integrated into.
It is still unclear whether the company will be putting the said sensors to monitor and track health in its current chipsets for the Apple Watch or the iPhone, or developing a new custom chip that would be integrated with other hardware mechanisms of its devices.
Setup Of Apple Devices
Currently, the Apple Watch is using a custom optical sensor to measure its user's heart rate. It is possible for the company to develop the current sensor or make an upgraded version to work with the new chip to help the accompanying hardware be more effective in gathering and analyzing data.
Furthermore, the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 contains an A11 Bionic chip that is equipped with a special Neural Engine. This makes it possible for the device to accomplish tasks that are related to artificial intelligence such as Animoji and FaceID in a short amount of time.
The new chip could be made in a similar way. This will make it possible to aid in health-related tasks in addition to standard computing ones.
The upcoming Apple Watch is expected to be launched this fall together with the highly anticipated new iPhone models.
Although people are keeping their fingers crossed for the release of the custom processor in Apple's newest wearable device, the time of the job listings suggests that it will not be present in the upcoming products anytime soon.
