Posted by Brenda Shaw – Well being & Dwelling Associate Engineering Technical Author
At Google, we’re dedicated to empowering builders as they construct distinctive well being and health experiences. Core to that dedication is Well being Join, an Android platform that permits well being and health apps to retailer and share the identical on-device knowledge. Android units operating Android 14 or which have the pre-installed APK will robotically have Well being Join by default in Settings. For pre-Android 14 units, Well being Join is out there for obtain from the Play Retailer.
We’re excited to announce vital Well being Join updates just like the Jetpack SDK Beta, new datatypes and new permissions that can allow richer, extra insightful app functionalities.
Jetpack SDK is now in Beta
We’re excited to announce the beta launch of our Jetback SDK! Since its preliminary launch, we have devoted vital effort to enhancing knowledge completeness, with a selected deal with enriching the metadata related to every knowledge level.
Within the newest SDK, we’re introducing two key adjustments designed to make sure richer metadata and unlock new prospects for you and your customers:
Make Recording Technique Obligatory
To ship extra correct and insightful knowledge, the Beta introduces a requirement to specify considered one of 4 recording strategies when writing knowledge to Well being Join. This ensures elevated knowledge readability, enhanced knowledge evaluation and improved consumer expertise:
In case your app at the moment doesn’t set metadata when making a document:
Earlier than
StepsRecord(
depend = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
) // error: metadata isn't offered
After
StepsRecord(
depend = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
metadata = Metadata.manualEntry()
)
In case your app at the moment calls Metadata constructor when making a document:
Earlier than
StepsRecord(
depend = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
metadata =
Metadata(
clientRecordId = "consumer id",
recordingMethod = RECORDING_METHOD_MANUAL_ENTRY,
), // error: Metadata constructor not discovered
)
After
StepsRecord(
depend = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
metadata = Metadata.manualEntry(clientRecordId = "consumer id"),
)
Make Gadget Kind Obligatory
You may be required to specify machine sort when making a Gadget object. A tool object will likely be required for Mechanically (RECORDING_METHOD_AUTOMATICALLY_RECORDED) or Actively (RECORDING_METHOD_ACTIVELY_RECORDED) recorded knowledge.
Earlier than
Gadget() // error: sort not offered
After
Gadget(sort = Gadget.Companion.TYPE_PHONE)
We imagine these updates will considerably enhance the standard of information inside your purposes and empower you to create extra insightful consumer experiences. We encourage you to discover the Jetpack SDK Beta and evaluate the up to date Metadata web page and familiarize your self with these adjustments.
New background reads permission
To allow richer, background-driven well being and health experiences whereas sustaining consumer belief, Well being Join now includes a devoted background reads permission.
This permission permits your app to entry Well being Join knowledge whereas operating within the background, offered the consumer grants specific consent. Customers retain full management, with the power to handle or revoke this permission at any time by way of Well being Join settings.
Let your app learn well being knowledge even within the background with the brand new Background Reads permission. Declare the next permission in your manifest file:
<utility>
<uses-permission android:identify="android.permission.well being.READ_HEALTH_DATA_IN_BACKGROUND" />
...
</utility>
Use the Characteristic Availability API to test if the consumer has the background learn characteristic accessible, in accordance with the model of Well being Join they’ve on their units.
Enable your app to learn historic knowledge
By default, when granted learn permission, your app can entry historic knowledge from different apps for the previous 30 days from the preliminary permission grant. To allow entry to knowledge past this 30-day window, Well being Join introduces the PERMISSION_READ_HEALTH_DATA_HISTORY permission. This permits your app to supply new customers with a complete overview of their well being and wellness historical past.
Customers are accountable for their knowledge with each background reads and historical past reads. Each capabilities require builders to declare the respective permissions, and customers should grant the permission earlier than builders can entry their knowledge. Even after granting permission, customers have the choice of revoking entry at any time from Well being Join settings.
Further knowledge entry and kinds
Well being Join now presents expanded knowledge sorts, enabling builders to construct richer consumer experiences and supply deeper insights. Take a look at the next new knowledge sorts:
- Train Routes permits customers to share train routes with different apps for a seamless synchronized exercise. By permitting customers to share all routes or one route, their related train actions and maps for his or her exercises will likely be synced with the health apps of their selection.
- The pores and skin temperature knowledge sort measures peripheral physique temperature unlocking insights round sleep high quality, reproductive well being, and the potential onset of sickness.
- Well being Join additionally offers a deliberate train knowledge sort to allow coaching apps to jot down coaching plans and exercise apps to learn coaching plans. Recorded workout routines (exercises) could be learn again for personalised efficiency evaluation to assist customers obtain their coaching objectives. Entry granular exercise knowledge, together with periods, blocks, and steps, for complete efficiency evaluation and personalised suggestions.
These new knowledge sorts empower builders to create extra related and insightful well being and health purposes, offering customers with a holistic view of their well-being.
To study extra about all new APIs and bug fixes, take a look at the full launch notes.
Get began with the Well being Join Jetpack SDK
Whether or not you might be simply getting began with Well being Join or want to implement the most recent options, there are various methods to study extra and have your voice heard.
- Subscribe to our publication: Keep up-to-date with the most recent information, bulletins, and assets from Google Well being and Health. Subscribe to our Well being and Health Google Developer E-newsletter and get the most recent updates delivered straight to your inbox.
- Take a look at our Well being Join developer information: The Well being and Health Developer Heart is your one-stop-shop for constructing well being and health apps on Android – together with a sturdy information for getting began with Well being Join.
- Report a problem: Encountered a bug or technical challenge? Report it on to our workforce by means of the Subject Tracker so we will examine and resolve it. You can too request a characteristic or present suggestions with Subject Tracker.
We will’t wait to see what you create!
