Get The Lowdown on Google Fit

As the health monitoring app space begins to heat up, Google is looking to take a second swipe at it after the misstep that was Google Health was.

Google Fit versus Apple HealthKit

The Apple HealthKit app on iOS 8 is a clear push towards wearable technology that can permit monitoring via the iPhone. Google is looking to do the same. Set to be announced at the company's developer conference soon, as Google Fit, wearable technology is likely to link to their ubiquitous Android OS which now has more digital devices than the iPhone.

Aggregating Data

Aggregating data via APIs and wearable technology is the name of this game. Monitoring everything from heart rate to steps taken to calories theoretically burned. With the latter, that's likely to be as much of a rough estimate as the digital readout on a treadmill.

Samsung Gear Fit

Such approaches are not new. Samsung Gear Fit is already on the market as a watch or arm band that provides access to health related information. This is now in its second iteration with more improvements planned. There are also a few other ideas thrown in, but the features are mostly focused on information useful for exercisers.

Wearables

It is understood that Google has been busy signing up manufacturers to develop wearable gear in much the same way as they have previous done with their Nexus line of smartphones and tablets which over time have been made by several manufacturers.

Data security

With so much data already being collection by Google, it remains to be seen whether wearable technology will get around the unease that some people already feel about giving so much personal information to the technology giant. A few people are already comparing the informational power of Google as something akin to Microsoft in the 1990s.

What will Google do with the data? This will be a common concern among many. In these days of shifting privacy agreements, data capturing overseas and data breaches, it is easy to worry about data falling into the wrong hands especially as it becomes far more personal.

Useful Tracking

With that said, the convenience of being able to track your body, exercising and other health routines, and see summary information is a useful one for people who are working out to lose weight. Weight comes off in fits and starts, so a more useful measurement is to track miles jogged, footsteps taken and other measurements rather than just to look at the scale every morning.