Apple Inc. and the government of Singapore have partnered on a two-year health initiative dubbed LumiHealth, which is built around tracking and rewarding user behaviour through the Apple Watch gadget and an iPhone app.
As part of the scheme, Singapore residents will be able to earn as much as $380 by completing goals and tasks set within the app. Goals can be accomplished by walking or doing other exercises like swimming or yoga, and the LumiHealth app will offer personalized coaching and reminders for health screenings and immunizations. Wellness challenges will nudge users toward making better food choices and improving sleep habits.
The LumiHealth program is voluntary and its announcement stresses that it’s “designed with user privacy and security at its core.” All user data will be encrypted and none will be sold or shared for marketing purposes, according to Apple. The service is the product of a solicitation from the Singapore government -- which has a reputation for being an early adopter of new technology -- for proposals from tech and health-care companies to help improve the lives of its population.
