With FDA approval to add an electrocardiogram sensor and other health features to its new Apple Watch Series 4, the tech giant has a clear demographic in mind for the technology: baby boomers, according to CNBC's Christina Farr.
Apple showcased the new watch during its product launch in Cupertino, Calif., Sept. 12. Along with the EKG sensor, the watch also includes a number of new health features, including recognizing when the user has fallen and a feature to detect atrial fibrillation — a condition also more common in senior-age patients.
"Fall prevention, AFib detection and slow heart rate alerts are ideally targeted to baby boomers, where the prevalence of these conditions is much higher," said Jeffrey Wessler, MD, a third-year cardiology fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. "If, and that's a big if, Apple can get older populations to properly use the devices, the results could be outcome-changing."
However, Ms. Farr notes encouraging seniors to use the technology may not be all that simple. The latest Apple Watch may be too costly for individuals living on a fixed income and who already spend a significant sum of money to manage chronic disease. Users that did not grow up on smart devices may also have a tough time incorporating the device into their daily lives.
Ms. Farr speculates the watch symbolizes the beginning of Apple's dive into health monitoring and broadening the target demographic for health devices. The company also recently teamed up with insurer Aetna, which may lead to the watch and Apple's other technology being subsidized for millions of Americans, the report states.
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