More than 37 million people each year require medical attention because of a fall, which can often be the start of more serious conditions and a subsequent loss of independence.
Walking steadiness on iPhone is an industry first. Providing insight into fall risk by capturing important mobility data as users walk with their iPhone. It uses customised algorithms to assess balance, stability, and coordination through built-in motion sensors on iPhone.
A first-of-its-kind metric was established using real-world data from the Apple Heart & Movement Study of more than 100,000 participants. The most extensive study to ever assess fall risk.
Walking steadiness also helps users meet their stability goals. Users can choose to receive a notification when their score is low or very low. In addition, they can be directed to curated visual exercises based on clinically validated methods to increase strength and balance.
Privacy is fundamental in the design and development across all of Apple’s health features. Health data is under a user’s control, with granular control over which data types they choose to share and with whom.
Data is encrypted when in transit and while at rest on a user’s device when locked behind a passcode, Face ID or Touch ID. As a result, Apple does not have access to this information when a user chooses to share it with a loved one or caregiver
