Last February, Google announced that Fit for Android can measure heart and respiratory rates using just your phone. These new Google Fit camera tracking capabilities will start rolling out in Pixel phones from Monday.
Google says these criteria are “not for medical purposes”, while Fit’s camera-based approach provides a convenient way to “track and improve daytime well-being” using tools you already have.
Heart rate is measured by holding your finger on the rear camera lens and applying light pressure for about 30 seconds. To increase accuracy in dark environments, flash can be enabled. Google Fit is predicting blood flow by detecting subtle changes in the color of your fingers, including algorithms that take into account lighting, skin tone, age and other factors.
Your heart rate gives you a snapshot of what’s going on with your heart. Your heart beats faster when you are active, but can also be elevated due to certain foods and drinks or if you are stressed or excited. You will notice a lower heartbeat when you are still lighter and lighter.
With increased physical activity, the heart becomes even more efficient at pumping blood over time. Monitoring your heart rate at rest can help indicate changes in your fitness level
Meanwhile, measuring respiratory rate – the number of breaths you take per minute – begins by tilting your phone against a stationary surface so that the front-facing camera can clearly see your upper body and head, removing the caps / masks. Google Fit is using computer vision to see small changes on your chest.
Respiratory rate is another important marker of your well-being. Normally, it’s a static metric but keeping track of your trends can help you detect any changes. For example, if you experience stress, discomfort, or discomfort, you will notice short-term changes in respiratory rate.
The process required to calculate both of these metrics takes place in real-time and takes place entirely on a non-device. For example, video streams aren’t saved to your phone or uploaded to Google’s cloud. After each measurement, you are asked if you want the results to be stored in Google Feet for long-term graphing.
On Monday, this Google Fit camera will be rolled out to Pixel phones around the world, and more Android devices will choose support in the future. Make sure the latest version of the app is installed from the Play Store.
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