According to reports, the code for the Oculus app for the iPhone version of the virtual reality headset shows that Facebook is studying to synchronize Oculus’ exercise data with the Apple Health app. This feature will allow users of the Oculus Move movement system to add various exercise data, such as calories burned, to the iPhone’s Health app. The code also shows that users will be able to view the exercise data that has been saved in the Health application through the Oculus virtual reality headset.
Oculus’ support for Apple Health represents the latest bond between the two giants. For many years, Facebook and Apple have been both partners and competitors. The appearance of such code in the Oculus app does not mean that the relevant feature will definitely be released, but it shows that Facebook is indeed exploring such a feature. A Facebook spokesperson declined to comment.
Since its release in 2014, the Apple Health app has supported a variety of third-party devices, including smart scales, blood pressure monitors, sleep monitors, thermometers, and many third-party exercise apps. In addition, the Health app also supports the direct collection of data from the Apple Watch and iPhone.
Facebook announced last year that Oculus Move will be a system-level feature that can track the calories and various exercise data users consume during gameplay. This feature is still in its infancy, but Facebook executives said that sports and fitness features will be an important part of the future development of virtual reality. At the same time, Apple is also developing a mixed reality headset, which will be released as early as next year. Apple also hopes to add health sensors to future AirPods headsets.
