Google unveiled Health Connect, an Android app developer platform and also an API. A single set of APIs can securely access as well as share health and fitness data across all Android devices, with user consent.
Creating this new unified platform with Samsung to optimize app connectivity “We value Samsung’s support as we roll out Health Connect, which will enhance app experiences whilst also providing the user with highly centralized privacy controls,” says Google.
Users will have complete control over their privacy settings, including the ability to monitor which apps are seeking data at any moment. Health Connect data is stored on-device and encrypted. Users will be able to limit access to data, delete data they don’t want, and put data sources in order of importance when using different apps.
Health Connect can track activity, sleep, nutrition, body measurements, and vitals like heart rate and blood pressure, among other things. As part of our early access process, Google worked with MyFitnessPal, Leap Fitness, and Withings. Samsung Health, Google Fit, and Fitbit are also adopting Health Connect. The Android Jetpack now gives all developers access to Health Connects common set of Android APIs.
During its I/O 2022 event, Google also announced a slew of updates and new features for its Android 13 operating system.
Speaking on the introduction, Chris Wilk, Product Manager, said,
From helping you log your meals with MyFitnessPal to getting a holistic view of your health with Withings, apps and devices are a source for many kinds of useful health and fitness data. As Android developers, connecting and sharing this data between apps can help you provide more meaningful experiences and insights for your users.
However, much of this information is spread across multiple experiences and different devices, making it difficult to bring together. Moreover, there are no centralized privacy controls for Android users.