Smart tracking tech has really started to blossom during the past couple of years, with wearables and other similar devices now enjoying prominence and popularity across the globe.
One firm poised to become a major player in this field is Apple.
After recently becoming the first company in history to hit a $800 billion market cap, the tech giant from Cupertino has bought sleep tracking experts Beddit for an undisclosed amount.
After CNBC reporting the news of the acquisition, Beddit made a very subtle announcement on its website’s privacy page, simply stating: “Beddit has been acquired by Apple. Your personal data will be collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Apple Privacy Policy.”
The question inevitably arises — why would Apple buy a specialist enterprise like Beddit?
The answer is actually rather simple. Beddit’s extensive experience in the field of sleep tracking will fit in very nicely with Apple’s existing healthcare products.
Beddit produces an in-bed smart tracker that monitors the user’s sleep patterns. Individuals place the sensor on their beds to track nocturnal activity such as resting heart rate, snoring and general sleep quality. It then transmits this data to the Beddit app, providing users with a more detailed analysis on exactly what they do while they sleep.
Beddit users will be able to navigate their bed sensors using either the existing Health app or by switching to Apple’s HealthKit suite.
It is also possible to utilise the sensor to gather information about sleep disorders.
Data from Research and Markets shows that the sleep disorder sector was worth around $49 billion last year, with projections indicating that it will grow to $80 billion over the next five years.
The fine print of the acquisition deal is yet to be announced.