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Singapore and Apple partner for national health initiative using Apple Watch

The LumiHealth app features challenges designed to help users sleep better, move more, eat well, and live more mindfully. (PHOTO: Apple)
The LumiHealth app features challenges designed to help users sleep better, move more, eat well, and live more mindfully. (PHOTO: Apple)

SINGAPORE – Singapore and Apple today (16 Sept) announced their partnership on the health initiative LumiHealth, a personalised program to encourage healthy activity and behaviours using Apple Watch.

The first-of-its-kind program was designed by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board in conjunction with Apple as part of the country’s Smart Nation initiative, a national effort to leverage technology to deliver benefits to its citizens and businesses.

A team of physicians and public health experts collaborated on this program, which uses technology and behavioural insights to encourage Singaporeans to keep healthy and complete wellness challenges through their Apple Watch and iPhone. The LumiHealth app is available in the App Store for pre-order now, and the two-year programme will be offered from late October 2020.

“Even as all of us around the world are dealing with the challenges of COVID-19, we must keep investing in our future. And there is no better investment than in our own personal health,” said Heng Swee Keat, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister. “This partnership between Singapore and Apple will enable Singaporeans to lead healthier lives, but equally important, it will contribute valuable insights to improving the health of people all over the world.”

Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said, “Singapore has one of the world’s leading healthcare systems, and we are thrilled to be partnering with them to incorporate Apple Watch and LumiHealth into their holistic approach to well-being.”

Singapore, in partnership with Apple, presents LumiHealth, a first-of-its-kind program that encourages healthy activity and behaviours using Apple Watch. (PHOTO: Apple)
Singapore, in partnership with Apple, presents LumiHealth, a first-of-its-kind program that encourages healthy activity and behaviours using Apple Watch. (PHOTO: Apple)

The LumiHealth program encourages Singaporeans to adopt healthy habits through personalised reminders, programs, activity coaching, and incentives. Within the app, users travel through worlds with a friendly intergalactic explorer who guides them through tasks that are personalised based on their age, gender, and weight.

The tasks include weekly activity goals that can be met through not just walking, but also swimming, yoga, and other activities. LumiHealth also reminds users to go for health screenings and immunisations, and participate in wellness challenges that aim to improve sleep habits and mindfulness as well as encourage better food choices.

By completing these goals and challenges, users help the intergalactic explorer get back home, all while being able to earn rewards worth up to S$380 over the two-year duration of the programme. An Apple Watch is necessary to participate, as is downloading the LumiHealth app from the App Store.

The programme is voluntary: users must opt-in and provide consent to share information with LumiHealth when they join and may opt-out at any time. The collection of any personal identifiable information will be limited to information that will enable the app to provide an experience that is personalised and relevant to the user’s needs.

Apple also added that all user data will be encrypted to protect privacy. Data will be stored in a highly secure system that is fully compliant with Singapore’s data privacy and security laws.

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Apple unveils Watch Series 6 and new, more affordable Apple Watch SE

Apple unveils all-new iPad Air with A14 Bionic chip

Apple bundles TV, music, news and more in services push