Revealed last month alongside the new MacBooks and the Apple Watch launch details, ResearchKit was a surprising turn for Apple – a “help the world” initiative surrounded by lavish, beautiful consumer products. And now it’s opening up wide.
Last month, ResearchKit launched in a limited trial with five initial apps developed with key partners, and Apple says that more than 60,000 iPhone users enrolled in trials during that span. With the open-source system now allowing a much wider array of apps to enter the fray, surely that number will balloon as more specific tests and trials are developed.
“Studies that historically attracted a few hundred participants are now attracting participants in the tens of thousands,” notes Jeff Williams, Apple senior vice president of operations. “Medical researchers all over the world are actively exploring how ResearchKit can help them study even more diseases, and we believe the impact on global understanding of health and wellness will be profound.”
“Our deep understanding and history in the healthcare industry will help ensure that doctors and researchers can maximize the insights available through Apple’s HealthKit and ResearchKit data,” said John E. Kelly III, senior vice president of IBM’s research and solutions portfolio. “IBM’s secure data storage and analytics solutions will enable doctors and researchers to draw on real-time insights from consumer health and behavioral data at a scale never before possible.”
IBM also plans to develop HealthKit apps for iOS devices, which will allow businesses the ability to better interact with their employees on health and fitness needs.