Apple has released a preview of watchOS 11, which offers breakthrough features on users’ health and fitness, and more personalization than ever before.
watchOS is the world’s most advanced wearable device operating system and every day it is alongside people who use Apple Watch to help them live healthier, more active, and more connected lives,” said David Clark, Apple’s Senior Director of WatchOS Engineering. “As a fall, watchOS 11 will turn every Apple Watch into an even more valuable companion, giving people more useful and concrete information about their level of health and fitness, a higher degree of customization, to tailor the device to their specific needs, and new ways to stay connected anywhere.
The Vitals app and key health metrics
The new operating system introduces the Vitals app, which highlights major health metrics and provides context to help users make more informed decisions in everyday life. In addition, the ability to measure the training load offers a revolutionary new experience during training to improve fitness and performance.
The Vitals app allows users to measure important health metrics during sleep: heart rate, breathing rate, pulse temperature, sleep duration, and oxygen in the blood.
Apple Watch analyzes these metrics so users can now check their daily health and explore noteworthy metrics at a glance, and see easily when they’re out of the user’s typical range.
When two or more metrics are out of their typical range, users can receive a notification, along with a message detailing how changes in these specific metrics can be linked to other aspects of their lives, such as changes in altitude, alcohol consumption, or even disease.
Apple’s health functions are scientifically grounded and developed with the input of clinical research teams. To generate classifications and notifications for parameters that do not fall within the normal ranges, Vitals uses an algorithm designed using real data deriving from the Apple Heart and Movement Study research, which aims to deepen knowledge on cardiac health and physical activity.
Support during pregnancy
With watchOS 11, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18, Apple introduces additional support during pregnancy. The Cycle Tracking app will show gestational age and allow you to record the most common symptoms that can be seen during the 9 months.
In the Health app on iPhone or iPad, pregnant women will also be able to receive reminders for a monthly mental health assessment, as the risk of experiencing conditions like depression during and after pregnancy is higher. In addition, during the third trimester of pregnancy, when the risk of falls increases, the Stability parameter of walking on the iPhone can alert faster than a potential risk of falling.
These features are designed to provide comprehensive support during pregnancy, helping future mothers monitor their health and well-being more effectively.
The loads of training
With watchOS 11, Apple introduces a new feature called “training load” that gives users a revolutionary insight into the intensity of their workouts. This function uses an algorithm that calculates the training load as the output of the effort for duration.
Effort is assessed on a scale from 1 (easy) to 10 (maximum effort), using a combination of data sources, such as age, height and weight, along with information obtained during training, for example GPS, heart rate and altitude. It can also be automatically assigned by the Apple Watch for cardio training type.
In the Activity app you can compare the training load for the last 7 days with the one related to the last 28 days, with indications showing the variations: much lower, lower, stable, upper or much higher. Thanks to this comparison it is easy to evaluate whether the effort to which the body is currently subjected is increasing, is equal or decreasing, and adapting your training accordingly to achieve better results. More information in the Fitness app on iPhone indicates in more detail the possible impact on the user’s fitness status, if he continues to train at the current pace, for example, a potential change in the state or risk of injury.
This feature gives users a way to better monitor and manage the intensity of their workouts, helping them achieve their fitness goals more effectively.
Activity and App Rings Fitness+
Activity rings are a key feature of the Apple Watch that helps users track their progress in achieving their movement, exercise and stand goals.
With this update, users can further customize their activity rings to better suit their specific needs. This means that it becomes possible to set up custom goals and monitor those activities that are most relevant to their lifestyle and fitness goals.
If the user expects to include a day off in the training routine, has suffered an injury or simply needs to detach for a while, now he can pause the rings for a day, a week, a month or more time, without compromising the set of medals won.
