Apple’s new watch fitness apps include a wheelchair user friendly version
The latest Apple Watch software update, coming this fall, promises new fitness and health applications (apps), including one made especially for wheelchair users.
The free update, watchOS 3, allows wheelchair users to complete rings in the Activity app. Wheelchair pushes contribute to all-day calorie goals, the “time to stand” reminder is now “time to roll,” and there are dedicated wheelchair-specific workouts.
Share, compare and compete with friends, family or even a personal trainer. Users receive notifications about their friends’ progress, including completed Activity rings, finished workouts and earned achievements.
Activity sharing will be directly connected to the Messages app, so users can communicate, motivate and celebrate with friends and family with the new Smart Replies.
Apple partnered with the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Ala., and the Challenged Athletes Foundation in San Diego. The two groups recruited about 300 people in wheelchairs for more than 3,000 hours of activity research.
Apple Watch requires iPhone 5 or later running iOS 8.2 or later.
For more information, visit apple.com/watchos-preview.
