Google has teamed up with Samsung to create a new platform and application programming interface (API) which syncs health-related data between Android apps and devices. Called Health Connect, it supports over 50 data types, including vitals, sleep, nutrition, activity, body measurement, cycle tracking and more.
Announced by Google in a recent Android Developers Blog post, the API simplifies connectivity between apps. With users' permission, developers can securely read from and write data to Health Connect using standardised schema and API behaviour.
Furthermore, Google also assured that users will have full control over privacy with the new API. These include granular control to see which apps are requesting access to data at any given time.
All the data will also be encrypted and stored only on-device. Besides that, users are also given the ability to shut off access or delete data they don’t want on their device, and the option to prioritise one data source over another when using multiple apps.
Speaking of the collaboration, Samsung in a press statement dubbed it a breakthrough innovation for health and wellness enthusiasts. The South Korean tech giant’s executive vice president TaeJong Jay Yang said that Samsung Health will adopt Health Connect later this year.
He further lauded the new API, saying that it will benefit app developers to take advantage of accurate and optimised data from Samsung devices and apps. These include those measured on Galaxy Watch for Samsung Health to be used in other fitness apps made by Android developers.
Health Connect is currently on open beta with developers such as MyFitnessPal, Leap Fitness and Withings in its early access programme. More fitness-related app developers as well as device manufacturers will follow suit in the near future.
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