[pazra]

Just not sure how many people care that much about their health/fitness, to want to buy a device to monitor it constantly. I can see it as a possible/likely feature of an iWatch, but is that really such a compelling reason to buy one, regardless of how superior the interface / features are?

[ThomPete]

Monitoring constantly in the background is exactly what people want, in fact its what society want and your doctor want, it's what humanity want.

The number of applications for this kind of data is infinite.

The concept of data donors will be a reality very soon.

[Balgair]

I agree entirely! I'd love to be able to track my bloodsugar all the time if I were a diabetic. Or my cortisol, so i know what triggers my stress better.

However, keeping this data private is terribly important. If it were made known that Jobs had cancer, or might have been looking to see if he did, then you can predict what the stock market would do. The privacy issue here cannot be understated

[ThomPete]

Data doesn't need to be private just anonymized :)

[r00fus]

De-anonymization is a real concern. (warning: pdf link) http://www.cs.pomona.edu/classes/cs190-2012/netflix_deanon.p...

[ThomPete]

Oh I don't doubt that. Just saying that the data is much more valuable if it's in use and anonymization is one way to do that.

[fidotron]

It certainly isn't what your doctor wants.

The stock objection to constant mass monitoring is that many people are living with the symptoms of serious diseases without the actual disease. Doctors are concerned there will be so many false leads it would lead to a sort of cried wolf situation, where when someone finally is actually ill they won't believe it.

That concern clearly isn't baseless, but it's also short term thinking.

[scott_karana]

Wouldn't a constant stream of data allow for more realistic baseline measurements to be set?

[ThomPete]

Which is why they should be proponents of this since it will allow them to confirm their objection :)

[twistedpair]

There are already a number of products out there like this. Check out https://neumitra.com/ here in Boston for a watch that monitors many of your vitals.

If you'd told me in 2000 that everyone would be carrying a always wirelessly internet connected computer with light, video, barometric, acceleration, voice, and gyroscopic sensors, I'd have thought it nuts. Given that, what's a little skin conductivity, pulse, and blood pressure sensing package?

Of course, the bigger problem, is do you trust Google/FB/Apple with all your health data in a time when health benefits are one's most volatile expense? You KNOW others will poach and abuse such data.

[dominotw]

$1500 for a watch that I am not quite sure what it does. I read through the FAQ on the website, I am still not sure what it does. I need more proof of efficacy before I shell out that kind of money.

[robg]

That's my startup! Sounds like we need better FAQs, thanks!

We've benchmarked against $20,000 clinical research equipment for skin conductance with established research collaborators. So right now we're more a research device but working hard to bring the price down without compromising accuracy. We'll follow that same approach as we add sensors.

[mahyarm]

That watch is a basis watch ($200) missing an optical heart rate sensor.

[robg]

We've optimized for data quality as I'm a data-oriented neuroscientist with a family history of mental health concerns. So our skin conductance is research grade and we've worked hard to be as thin and comfortable as possible.

That said, I'm really glad to see that Basis has been validating theirs as a sleep device. More validation is a good thing!

[robg]

At Neumitra, we were surprised by how quickly the data gets boring. So we've been pushed to build data integration into most things you do on your phone. We show how music pumps you up or cools you down, how some people really are difficult to talk to, and how places cause and relieve stress. To us, these are the killer apps of health metrics - how the ways you live your life affects how you feel.

[tomelders]

I don't see it the same way. Everywhere I go I see people consuming health and fitness products, from easy fad diets to high end sports equipment it seems to me that people have an insatiable appetite for it. Not everyone of course, but in the UK alone the Health and Fitness industry is worth £3.6 billion. I shudder to think what the medical equipment industry is worth. I suspect that whoever can marry the two in a way that is acceptable to consumers will effectively have a license to print money.

[king_magic]

You'll have to pry my FitBit Force from my arm (at least until the iWatch comes along). I would love if it was part of an Apple device, and would instantly drop $200/$300 for a combination iWatch & fitness device.

[encoderer]

Everybody has a body. And one look at recent trends in food service shows you the move people are making to (psuedo) healthy alternatives. I think this will be huge and personally can't wait.