Google has announced its latest plans to utilize smartphones for monitoring the health condition of its users, stating that it will test whether recording heartbeats and capturing images of the eye can help people detect health problems at home. Greg Corrado, head of the artificial intelligence in health department at Google, owned by tech giant Alphabet, mentioned that the company is conducting tests to determine if the smartphone's built-in microphone can read heartbeats and murmurs when placed on the chest. He indicated that these readings could facilitate the early detection of heart valve disorders.
Corrado stated, "It won't be as precise as medical diagnostics, but it allows knowing whether there is a worsening risk." Research focusing on the eyes aims to detect diseases, including those related to diabetes, from images. Google reported having "promising early results" using professional cameras in clinics and will now explore whether smartphone images can also be utilized. Last year, Google announced technology that allows measuring heart rate and breathing patterns using smartphone cameras, a feature now available on many devices through the Google Fit app.
