[coder543]

The Apple Watch can perform an FDA-cleared diagnosis of certain forms of Atrial Fibrillation, and if what they showed on stage is to be believed, it can produce a really clear ECG that's also FDA-cleared. Just because you're redirected to a doctor doesn't mean the watch did nothing, it just means the watch can't provide a complete patient care cycle. The condition is identified, now what? False-positives can happen even with current medical-grade technology. It's just a question of how the false-positive rate compares.

"Never" is just such a strong word, given how quickly technology has advanced, and given how you don't seem to be aware of what exactly the new Apple Watch is supposed to be able to do.

Do you work for a Holter-producing company or something?

[dang]

As DenisM points out below, you broke the site guidelines with that last bit. Please review https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and follow the rules when posting here.

[JshWright]

I am very aware of what the watch does. A doctor is not going to diagnose atrial fibrillation based on a single ECG lead. They are going to do a more complete ECG (either in-office, or with a Holter monitor style device at home).

The watch absolutely plays an important role (it's a widely distributed, high SNR screening tool; that's definitely valuable), but it's not replacing more complete diagnostic tests.

As a meta comment... I think it's good to avoid using "you" too much when replying to someone. Respond to what someone said, not assumptions about who they are, what they know, or what their motivations are. For whatever it's worth, I am a software developer and paramedic.

[wrycoder]

It sounds like there is an opportunity for a displayless device on the other wrist.

[JshWright]

And a wire running between them...?

[wrycoder]

Bluetooth, I would think.

[JshWright]

They would need to be electrically connected (like the leads on a multimeter).

[DenisM]

>Do you work for a Holter-producing company or something?

This is against the rules [1]:

[...] Please don't impute astroturfing or shillage. That degrades discussion and is usually mistaken. If you're worried about it, email us and we'll look at the data. [...]

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

[coder543]

Didn't realize, sorry. I was legitimately curious, because it was such an unusually hard-lined perspective to take in this discussion, one that they repeated in several very similar comments on this thread.