Posted in: Apple, Tech Tips

The latest Apple Watch – known as the Series 4 – enhances existing, and introduces new features geared toward monitoring health and wellness. It can monitor stress, steps, calories, heart-rates and even falls! Yes, you heard me, the new Series 4 comes with a smart “fall detection” sensor. Here are some key features to know about:

An Optical Heart Sensor monitors the heart and offers high, low or irregular rhythms notifications. High heart rate alerts are sent when Apple Watch detects a heart rate above 100-150 beats per minute during a 10 minute period of inactivity. Low heart rate alerts are triggered when it notices a heart rate below 40-50 bpm for a 10 minute period. You can customize those thresholds.  Irregular rhythm alerts pop when the watch identifies multiple heart rhythms that could be atrial fibrillation or other abnormalities.  Electrical heart sensor / electrodes are capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. Electrodes built into the Digital Crown and the sensors on the back of the watch (the part that touches your skin) work together with the ECG app to read your heart’s electrical signals. You can read more about heart rate notifications here.

A integrated accelerometer and gyroscope offers “fall detection” and an SOS services. This amazing new feature intelligently detects when someone wearing the Series 4 takes a spill. When it detects a fall it presents the wearer – yes, you must be wearing it! –  with an option to dismiss the alert (they are OK) or call emergency services. If no option is selected, it automagically notifies the emergency contact identified by the watch owner and calls emergency services. Read more about fall detection on the Series 4 here.