Google is reportedly working on a Fitness API that will allow applications to view and edit health related data obtained from sensors on Android devices.
Google is an active participant when it comes to innovation in the tech industry. Undoubtedly, the web giant has the biggest search engine and recently introduced the world to its masterpiece, the Google Glass. This is just one of its many achievements. However, nothing is stopping Google from growing bigger.
The Mountain View, California based tech giant was not satisfied with the addition of plain pedometer functions in its latest Android 4.4 KitKat. Therefore, it is now reportedly working on a "Fitness API" that can fill in apps with activity data from an Android device's sensors.
Google will contribute its share of innovation to the wearable tech industry by adding fitness sensor support into Android devices that will allow users to "view and edit your fitness tracking, health and activities data, including reading and writing raw and transformed data," according to Google Operating System.
The details on the new API are skimpy, but Google may add the new function in the next iteration of Android. It could also be available in the Google Play Store as a standalone app.
According to the unofficial Google news blog, the tech giant has added some new sensors for detecting and counting steps in ANDroid 4.4 KitKat. "These sensors are implemented in hardware and are only available on Nexus 5," the blog read. But the possibility of the feature arriving on other models is very likely, and there is no fixed time frame.
Google has neither officially announced these changes nor made any comments about the news.
As wearable tech gets popular with every ticking minute, several startups and well-established companies are participating in the emerging market. In June last year, Heapsylon, a Redmond Washington startup company announced smart-socks that could tracks foot movements, fitness and display it on a smartphone. The accessory does not change the way socks are worn and can also be washed. Several other techs were showcased at this year's CES. The year 2014 seems promising for the wearable tech industry.
