Originally Posted By: artie505
And someday it will hopefully be able to tell you to get a shot to protect yourself.

The Apple Watch already warns wearers of potentially dangerous heart conditions, sends the wearer recommendations to see a doctor and together with the Health app on the iPhone provides doctors and first responders with amazingly complete medical histories. In some cases unless the wearer responds to the watch/phone prompting the devices will call 911 and the wearer's designated emr=ergency contacts. So why not make a recommendation to seek medical attention for Coronavirus exposure?
Originally Posted By: artie505
Is it impossible for some reason for Apple to inject the API into older versions of iOS as a security update, similar to what they do with macOS, in order to reach a wider audience?

Good question! It would appear to depend on several factors...
  1. does the API rely on hardware functionlity that is not available in earlier versions of Bluetooth?
  2. how much re-design and re-work would be required in earlier iOS versions?
  3. how long would it take and how much would it cost to run every previous version of iOS software and compatible iOS devices through a complete release cycle including alpha and beta testing to assure there wold be no unintended consequences from the changes?
  4. given iOS upgrades/updates are generally very widely and rapidly adopted are there enough iOS devices out there still running outdated iOS hardware or software to make the effort worthwhile?
  5. given the upgrade rate and breadth of iOS update/upgrade acceptance, would adding something as esoteric as a "tracking API" encourage enough non-upgraders to upgrade (and install the necessary app) to make the development cost and effort worth-while?


Last edited by joemikeb; 05/20/20 09:28 PM. Reason: two questions

If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein