At this point, smartwatches are expected to tell you more than just the time of day or your step count. So more technology companies have turned to your health, such as tracking sleeping patterns and your heart rate, as the next key upgrade.
Though Qualcomm is most known for its chips and modems that power smartphones and laptops, the San Diego company has applied its expertise to a variety of other segments such as cars and virtual reality headsets. Joe Kiani, founder and CEO of Masimo, said it was a natural decision for the company to use Qualcomm’s chips to power its latest upcoming smartwatch technology called Masimo Freedom. The forthcoming watch – which is not cleared for medical applications – tracks vitals such as relative hydration, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and pulse rate.
Irvine-based Masimo makes health-centered technology used by hospitals, such as pulse-oximeters, and consumer devices, like watches and baby monitors, that help track vitals.