Samsung announced the Samsung Health Stack 1.0 at HIMSS 2023. Developed by Samsung Research and Samsung Research America, the Samsung Health Stack is an open-source project that streamlines digital health research by enabling researchers to build apps, backend servers, and analysis tools for wearable devices running on Android and Wear OS operating systems.
The rapid advancements in smartphones and wearables hold the potential to transform healthcare research and the development of data-based biomarkers. However, utilizing these devices for research often necessitates the creation of new mobile health apps and services, which can be time-consuming and costly for medical researchers. Samsung Health Stack aims to overcome these obstacles by simplifying system construction with an included App SDK, web portal, and backend system.
Yunsu Lee, Vice President and Head of Data Intelligence Team at Samsung Electronics, stated that the Samsung Health Stack intends to bridge the gap between medical researchers and digital technology experts, thereby fostering innovation in the digital health industry. Lee expressed hope that the open-source project would benefit many in the field and welcomed the participation of interested developers and researchers.
The Samsung Health Stack allows researchers to streamline the data collection process in wearable-based studies on conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Applications developed with the App SDK can support frequent communication between researchers and participants, potentially leading to better research outcomes.
After revealing an alpha version at the 2022 Samsung Developer Conference (SDC), Samsung released the beta version of Health Stack in March 2023. Version 1.0 is set to launch in June and offers improvements in research introduction, participant onboarding, wearable data collection, basic survey functions, security, and stability.
Attendees of HIMSS 2023 can experience the new features of Samsung Health Stack through a mobile app created using the App SDK, as well as learn about healthcare research and data collection with wearables through the mobile app, integrated wearable devices, and web portal. Researchers who contributed to the development of Samsung Health Stack will be available at the booth to provide explanations and technical details.
Several healthcare companies, including startups like SALTED and All Round Doctors, are considering utilizing the Samsung Health Stack for research and potential healthcare service provision. The technology is expected to find applications in various fields in the future.
