Live data from Hacker News

Track infections through resting heart rate

github.com

1–10 of 54 posts

Re: Track infections through resting heart rate

#2
Infections raise resting heart rate. so resting heart rate is a good indicator of an infections.

I've made an app that collect heart rate data from the apple watch and posts it to a public server together with an approximate location. Data is anonymized.

Apple rejected the app, since it relates to human subject research and need IRB approval.

The app and backend are open source. If anyone want to push this through their university and do some research, you have my full support.

-- rejection

Hello Peter,

Thanks for your time on the phone today.

As we discussed, we noticed that your app is conducting health-related human subject research however the seller and company names associated with your app are not from a recognized institution and we were unable to verify independent ethics review board approval.

We have now rejected your app for the App Store Review Guidelines detailed below.

Guideline 5.1.3 - Legal - Privacy - Health and Health Research

Your app is conducting health-related human subject research, but we were unable to verify independent ethics review board approval.

Next Steps

Apps conducting health-related human subject research must secure approval from an independent ethics review board. You can attach proof in the App Review Notes section of App Store Connect.

Guideline 5.1.1 - Legal - Privacy - Data Collection and Storage

We found in our review that your app provides services in a highly-regulated industry and requires sensitive user information, however the seller and company names associated with your app are not from a recognized institution.

Per section 5.1.1 (ix) of the App Store Review Guidelines, apps that provide services or collect sensitive user information in highly-regulated fields should be submitted by a legal entity that provides these services, and not by an individual developer.

Re: Track infections through resting heart rate

#3
post #2

Infections raise resting heart rate. so resting heart rate is a good indicator of an infections. I've made an app that collect heart rate data from the apple watch and posts it to a public server together with an approximate location. Data is anonymized. Apple rejected the app, since it relates to human subject research and need IRB approval. The app and backend are open source. If anyone want to push this through th…

Bloody bureaucrats. Is there some way you could get a recognized institution to back you?

I'll tweet out a request see if someone is willing to take it up.

Re: Track infections through resting heart rate

#4
post #3
post #2

Infections raise resting heart rate. so resting heart rate is a good indicator of an infections. I've made an app that collect heart rate data from the apple watch and posts it to a public server together with an approximate location. Data is anonymized. Apple rejected the app, since it relates to human subject research and need IRB approval. The app and backend are open source. If anyone want to push this through th…

Bloody bureaucrats. Is there some way you could get a recognized institution to back you? I'll tweet out a request see if someone is willing to take it up.

On the other hand, this is quite sensitive data, which is why a respected nonprofit organization would be much more trustworthy, and which is why I understand the decision of the referees.

Re: Track infections through resting heart rate

#5
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bloody bureaucrats. Is there some way you could get a recognized institution to back you? I'll tweet out a request see if someone is willing to take it up.

On the other hand, this is quite sensitive data, which is why a respected nonprofit organization would be much more trustworthy, and which is why I understand the decision of the referees.

People install apps voluntarily, they should be able to make these sort of decisions for themselves.

It's one thing to protect users from malware, quite another to treat them like legal incompetents.

Re: Track infections through resting heart rate

#7
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bloody bureaucrats. Is there some way you could get a recognized institution to back you? I'll tweet out a request see if someone is willing to take it up.

On the other hand, this is quite sensitive data, which is why a respected nonprofit organization would be much more trustworthy, and which is why I understand the decision of the referees.

I have had HIPAA training. TLDR:

"Certain other people, like doctors and insurance companies, need to comply with strict rules surrounding your privacy when handling your health data. You, on the other hand, can do any fucking thing you want with your personal health data. Sign here in triplicate to assign this right to others. Have a nice day."

(I might be making up the triplicate thing for dramatic effect. It might only be duplicate. shrug)

Re: Track infections through resting heart rate

#9
Yeah, not gonna fly, that one. Although Apple could get off its ass and publish an official app to track if I've been in the proximity of a (self reported) infected person. And if they actually gave a shit, they'd convince Google to share data. And then I'd be able to delete the data from both when this is over. Is this too much to ask? Why this is still not a thing is beyond me, PR wins alone would be worth the ~10 person-days of engineering work this would take to put together (2 days, Apple 1FE, 1BE, Google 1FE, 1BE, and half a person from each company to coordinate efforts; conservative schedule).

Re: Track infections through resting heart rate

#10
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other hand, this is quite sensitive data, which is why a respected nonprofit organization would be much more trustworthy, and which is why I understand the decision of the referees.

People install apps voluntarily , they should be able to make these sort of decisions for themselves. It's one thing to protect users from malware, quite another to treat them like legal incompetents.

Just like they made the decisions for themselves when faced with the Cambridge Analytica quizes, right? Regulations are there for a reason.
Post reply on HN