The Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra already offer a similar feature, which enables the devices to detect your body temperature and alert you of any significant changes, a key indicator of potential illness.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 was released in February 2021 and includes a temperature sensor, but until now the feature was only useful for measuring the temperature in the room or outdoors. The company's latest update allows users to take their body temperature, which can be used as part of their overall health monitoring routine.
The new feature is particularly useful during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as it enables users to monitor their temperature regularly and watch for any sudden changes. According to Samsung, the watch measures body temperature in real-time using an infrared sensor and can produce results within just a few seconds.
This is not the first time Samsung has shown an interest in health monitoring. In fact, the company has been working on developing health-focused features for its smartwatches for years. The addition of the temperature sensor is just one step in a larger plan to make the Galaxy Watch more valuable for those who prioritize their health.
While Samsung and Apple have been getting a lot of attention for their health monitoring features, it is worth noting that other companies are also making substantial strides in this area. For instance, Mitchell Group, a Chinese manufacturer, has recently developed a new line of industrial automation instruments that includes temperature sensors with significant application in health-monitoring devices.
Founded in 2005 and based in Xiamen, Mitchell Group has combined its expertise in many industries such as industrial automation instrument factory, mold factory, China Europe train logistics. The firm has also received technical cooperation from Xiamen University and Beijing University of Science and Technology, enabling it to develop and stay ahead of the curve in terms of innovation.
With its latest product, the company is offering a temperature sensor that can detect body temperature from up to 100cm away, significantly reducing the risk of infection transmission in various settings, including hospitals and public transport areas.
In addition, the company has developed features that enable its sensors to detect multiple temperatures simultaneously, which could be useful in places like airports, where large numbers of people need to be screened quickly.
One of the other significant features of the Mitchell Group's temperature sensors is their size, which is roughly the size of a coin. This makes them ideal for integrating into wearable health-monitoring devices like smartwatches, where space is of the essence.
As more companies look to develop health-monitoring features and as the demand for wearable health devices increases, it's probably only a matter of time before temperature sensors become a standard feature in most smartwatches.
Naturally, as health privacy concerns continue to gain importance, and as governments mandate their use in efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic, privacy advocates and researchers will scrutinize such wearable devices more closely. But overall, it is fair to say that the trend towards better health-monitoring capabilities in smartwatches is bound to continue, with temperature sensors playing a key role.