Apple CareKit Release Date, News: Personal Health Platform Will See Spring Release, Requires Strong Data Protection

Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams confirmed the details of the tech giant's Apple CareKit, an open source platform for iOS applications. The Apple CareKit is designed to support the development of applications for healthcare management.

The Apple CareKit is geared toward bridging the gap between professional, critical, healthcare and home health management.

According to Vine Report, the Apple CareKit is among the products unveiled at the March 21 event. Apple CareKit is expected to push forward the development of iOS applications that can assist users in monitoring, recording and scheduling reminders for their health needs.

Apps designed using the Apple CareKit can assist with care plans, medication monitoring and maintaining a regular recording of blood pressure, heartbeat, pulse and similar vital functions. The Apple CareKit will have these first four intended modules for now: Care Card, Symptom and Measurement Tracker, Insight Dashboard, and Connect. With the fourth module, the Apple CareKit apps will allow users to share their monitoring and information with their healthcare providers and medical experts.

"We're thrilled with the profound impact ResearchKit has already had on the pace and scale of conducting medical research, and have realized that many of the same principles could help with individual care," Jeff Williams shared. "We believe that giving individuals the tools to understand what is happening with their health is incredibly powerful, and apps designed using CareKit make this a reality by empowering people to take a more active role in their care."

With the help of Apple CareKit, which will be released in April, Apple hopes to initiate applications that can assist different health conditions. These include Parkinson's disease, diabetes, pregnancy, post-surgery care, mental health, etc.

We’re always looking for new ways to help you get the most from Apple products. Meet @AppleSupport! https://t.co/YhdvY44PPS

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) 3 March 2016

Wired points out that the Apple CareKit and iOS apps under its umbrella should strengthen the resolve of Apple to maintain its protection of user privacy with secure encryption. Referring to the encryption debacle with the FBI requiring Apple to divulge specific user data, Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted their goal for user security and data protection during the March event.

Given that users have to entrust Apple with sensitive and personal health records by using Apple CareKit apps, Tim Cook and his team said that they would remain firm on their stand with regards to data security.