Apple patent involves using iPhone cameras to gather health, fitness data

Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,524,671) for an “electronic device that computes health data” that involves using the cameras on the iPhone to provide more health and wellness data.

Per the patent, the iPhone would use one or more of its camera and a proximity sensor to shine light into a body part of a user touching a surface of the smartphone. The cameras, an ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor would receive at least part of the emitted light reflected by the body part of the user. 

Then a combination of the iPhone and software would compute health data of the user based upon sensor data regarding the received light. The hardware/software combo may also include one or more electrical contacts that contact one or more body parts of the user. In such cases, the health data may be further computed based on the an electrical measurement obtained using the electrical contacts.