Posted by Brenda Shaw – Well being & House Accomplice 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 gadgets working Android 14 or which have the pre-installed APK will mechanically have Well being Join by default in Settings. For pre-Android 14 gadgets, Well being Join is on the market 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 may 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 bettering knowledge completeness, with a specific concentrate on enriching the metadata related to every knowledge level.
Within the newest SDK, we’re introducing two key modifications 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 one in all 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 presently doesn’t set metadata when making a document:
Earlier than
StepsRecord(
rely = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
) // error: metadata shouldn't be offered
After
StepsRecord(
rely = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
metadata = Metadata.manualEntry()
)
In case your app presently calls Metadata constructor when making a document:
Earlier than
StepsRecord(
rely = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
metadata =
Metadata(
clientRecordId = "consumer id",
recordingMethod = RECORDING_METHOD_MANUAL_ENTRY,
), // error: Metadata constructor not discovered
)
After
StepsRecord(
rely = 888,
startTime = START_TIME,
endTime = END_TIME,
metadata = Metadata.manualEntry(clientRecordId = "consumer id"),
)
Make Machine Sort Obligatory
You can be required to specify gadget sort when making a Machine object. A tool object will likely be required for Mechanically (RECORDING_METHOD_AUTOMATICALLY_RECORDED) or Actively (RECORDING_METHOD_ACTIVELY_RECORDED) recorded knowledge.
Earlier than
Machine() // error: sort not offered
After
Machine(sort = Machine.Companion.TYPE_PHONE)
We consider these updates will considerably enhance the standard of knowledge inside your purposes and empower you to create extra insightful consumer experiences. We encourage you to discover the Jetpack SDK Beta and overview the up to date Metadata web page and familiarize your self with these modifications.
New background reads permission
To allow richer, background-driven well being and health experiences whereas sustaining consumer belief, Well being Join now contains a devoted background reads permission.
This permission permits your app to entry Well being Join knowledge whereas working within the background, offered the consumer grants express consent. Customers retain full management, with the flexibility 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:
"android.permission.well being.READ_HEALTH_DATA_IN_BACKGROUND" /> ...
Use the Function Availability API to test if the consumer has the background learn function accessible, in accordance with the model of Well being Join they’ve on their gadgets.
Permit 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 enables your app to offer new customers with a complete overview of their well being and wellness historical past.
Customers are in charge of 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.
Extra knowledge entry and kinds
Well being Join now gives expanded knowledge varieties, enabling builders to construct richer consumer experiences and supply deeper insights. Take a look at the next new knowledge varieties:
- 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 supplies 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) may 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 varieties 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, try the full launch notes.
Get began with the Well being Join Jetpack SDK
Whether or not you’re simply getting began with Well being Join or wish to implement the most recent options, there are numerous 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 Publication 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 strong information for getting began with Well being Join.
- Report a difficulty: Encountered a bug or technical situation? Report it on to our staff by way of the Subject Tracker so we will examine and resolve it. You may also request a function or present suggestions with Subject Tracker.
We will’t wait to see what you create!